November 16, 2009 - Leica Microsystems has developed the new Leica DFC345 FX digital camera to provide low light fluorescence signals in live cell experiments.
Along with high sensitivity and high resolution, the camera features a fast image capture rate and a broad dynamic range, making it ideal for multidimensional live cell observation under low light conditions.
The two-megapixel CCD sensor (pixel size 4.4 µm) excellent
resolution of detail. The high dynamic range allows the acquisition of
multicolor images in one shot without time-consuming overlay. There is a choice of 40 MHz pixel clock rate for fast image readout or a 20 MHz pixel clock rate, ensuring low noise for top picture quality.
In low light conditions, photoelectric components have to be cooled so
that the camera can produce noise-free pictures during long exposure times. Leica DFC345 FX is equipped with one-stage Peltier cooling for effective suppression of background noise. This, combined with the high resolution of detail, produces brilliant images rich in contrast – even for weak fluorescence signals.
The FireWire-B interface allows users to transfer data to the computer without an additional power supply. The Leica DFC345 FX is fully integrated into the software platforms of Leica Microsystems: the modular Leica Application Suite (LAS) for fluorescence documentation and image archiving, the user-friendly LAS AF for high speed, fluorescence applications and Leica MM AF (powered by MetaMorph) for demanding analysis.