Re: digital cameras

Posted by Dale Callaham on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/digital-cameras-tp2846998p2883657.html

Hi Michael,

We have a Spot-RT. Typically the LCD-RGB filters are not used for
fluorescence capture, only for brightfield-color (natural/stained),
using the normal fluorescence "cubes" to produce fluorescence and filter
  it, and the camera is operated in monochrome mode for that. The Spot
software makes it very easy to merge multiple separately acquired images
  - as in  R,G, and B emission + DIC. However, the movement of the
sliding fluorescence cubes produces some errors in registration for the
most critical work, so we also use a system including a polychroic in
the "epi-cube" position and automated excitation and emission filter
wheels (Ludl)that can be changed without image registration issues. The
system also has a motorized focus (Prior) for multicolor fluorescence
stack collection. All of this is currently run by Compix SimplePCI
although I hope to switch to MicroManager as soon as a Spot-RT driver is
available :-(

Dale
Umass@Amherst

Michael Weber wrote:

> Steve, you are right, the SPOT RT uses a LCD.
>
> If one already has to capture 3 images, I am wondering if it would be a
> good idea to use a monochrome camera plus three R/G/B filters sitting in
> the fluorescence filter turret. The acquisition software can be set up in
> a way that it takes three images and changes the filters in between. Not
> the fastest solution, but offers high resolution and sensitivity w/o the
> need for an additional b/w camera. One just needs a filter turret and
> three filters...
>
> Michael
>
>
>> Just a minor correction for the archives more than anything else. If I'm
>> not
>> mistaken the SPOT RT slider does not use a Bayer Mosaic filter but an
>> LCD RGB color changing filter, so that three shot colour images may be
>> taken
>> at full chip resolution.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Steve Cody
>> 2009/5/12 David Barnes <[hidden email]>
>>
>>> Thanks Brian, and on that note, the newer RGB Sliders from QImaging have
>>> three ports, a clear port for most fluro, a clear port w/ IR blocking,
>>> and
>>> the LCF port. In addition, the Q filter is easily rotatable with respect
>>> to
>>> the camera body, to eliminate polarization interference. The filter is
>>> controlled thru the Q camera, or can be used with other cameras via a
>>> CRI
>>> control box.
>>>
>>> dave
>>>
>>>   On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Armstrong, Brian
>>> <[hidden email]>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Elaine, we have both systems, that is: SPOT RT Slider, and a Retiga EXi
>>>> with a CRI Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter. I think both are viable
>>>> options. The SPOT system will most likely cost less and I like the SPOT
>>>> software which is easy to use and free. The Retiga/CRI system is a
>>>> better system in my humble opinion, and we operate this with Image Pro
>>>> Plus software.
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Brian D Armstrong PhD
>>>> Light Microscopy Core Manager
>>>> Beckman Research Institute
>>>> City of Hope
>>>> Dept of Neuroscience
>>>> 1450 E Duarte Rd
>>>> Duarte, CA 91010
>>>> 626-256-4673 x62872
>>>> http://www.cityofhope.org/research/support/Light-Microscopy-Digital-Imag
>>>> ing/Pages/default.aspx
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Confocal Microscopy List
>>>> [mailto:[hidden email]]
>>>>  On Behalf Of Glen MacDonald
>>>> Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 8:59 AM
>>>> To: [hidden email]
>>>> Subject: Re: digital cameras
>>>>
>>>> Dear Elaine,
>>>> Along the same approach, CRI makes tunable filters that can be fitted
>>>> to most microscopes to allow RGB brightfield images with any
>>>> monochrome camera.  then you still have the ability for fluorescence,
>>>> provided your camera has a QE curve and sufficient cooling for long
>>>> exposures (or you have bright fluorescent labels).  Such filters can
>>>> be readily controlled by most acquisition software and provide
>>>> automatic white balance to set exposure times.  With most acquisition
>>>> software, you can also set the fluorescent filters for sequential
>>>> acquisition  of red, green and blue channels of a brightfield image.
>>>> Although, white balance may not be automated.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Glen
>>>>
>>>> On May 10, 2009, at 11:42 PM, Cameron Nowell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Elaine,
>>>>>
>>>>> I concur with Peter. I have been using SPOT RT (and Pursuit) Sliders
>>>>> for the last 4 years. They work great, very sensitive for
>>>>> fluorescence and take good quality colour images. Basically you get
>>>>> two cameras in one. The software they use is simple and fairly
>>>>> intuitive to use. I don't think i have ever had a user say that it
>>>>> was difficult to use.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>
>>>>> Cam
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Cameron J. Nowell
>>>>> Microscopy Manager
>>>>> Centre for Advanced Microscopy
>>>>> Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
>>>>> PO Box 2008
>>>>> Royal Melbourne Hospital
>>>>> Victoria, 3050
>>>>> AUSTRALIA
>>>>>
>>>>> Office: +61 3 9341 3155
>>>>> Mobile: +61422882700
>>>>> Fax: +61 3 9341 3104
>>>>>
>>>>> Facility Website
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> From: Confocal Microscopy List
>>>> [mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>> ] On Behalf Of Peter Pitrone
>>>>> Sent: Monday, 11 May 2009 4:34 PM
>>>>> To: [hidden email]
>>>>> Subject: Re: digital cameras
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello Elaine,
>>>>>
>>>>> I would recommend a SPOT RT Slider, or something similar. It is a
>>>>> Monochrome camera with a bayer filter slider that you can remove for
>>>>> fluorescence. Monochrome cameras are always better for fluorescence
>>>>> (bayer filters  always eat a lot of light) with higher Quantum
>>>>> Efficiencies.
>>>>>
>>>>> Pete
>>>>>
>>>>> On May 8, 2009, at 8:51 PM, Elaine Kunze wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> One of our labs is planning to buy a color digital camera for bright-
>>>>> field and fluorescence pictures.   They are considering the PAXcam2+
>>>>> and Infinity X32.  Does anyone have any experience with either of
>>>>> these two color cameras or any other camera suggestions?
>>>>>
>>>>> Elaine Kunze
>>>>> Cytometry Facility
>>>>> Huck Institute of the Life Sciences
>>>>> 319 Life Sciences Building
>>>>> Penn State University
>>>>> University Park, PA 16802
>>>>> http://www.huck.psu.edu/facilities/cytometry-up/
>>>>> 814-863-2762
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Glen MacDonald
>>>> Core for Communication Research
>>>> Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
>>>> Box 357923
>>>> University of Washington
>>>> Seattle, WA 98195-7923  USA
>>>> (206) 616-4156
>>>> [hidden email]
>>>>
>>>> ************************************************************************
>>>> ******
>>>> The box said "Requires WindowsXP or better", so I bought a Macintosh.
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>>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Stephen H. Cody