Andor iXon Ultra 888 MP, back-illuminated EMCCD camera

The Andor iXon Ultra 888 MP, back-illuminated EMCCD camera offers single-photon sensitivity across a large field of view at 26 fps. It is claimed to represent a performance boost for the largest available EMCCD sensor, as well as the first USB 3.0-enabled EMCCD camera.

With a 1024 x 1024 sensor format and 13 μm pixel size, the resolving power, field of view and speed of the device render it attractive and versatile for demanding applications. It has been re-engineered to facilitate a 3x acceleration of the pixel readout speed to 30 MHz while maintaining quantitative stability, propelling the full frame performance to video rate.

The product is designed to be flexible yet easy to use, optimisable for a wide variety of application requirements in a single click via the OptAcquire feature. Signal can be quantitatively calibrated in units of electrons or photons, either in real time or post-processing. The camera’s technology offers automated recalibration of EM gain, alongside anti-ageing protection.

Applications include: single molecule detection; super-resolution microscopy (PALM, STORM); TIRF microscopy; spinning disk confocal microscopy; vesicle trafficking; ion signalling; cell motility; luminescence; FRET/FRAP; single photon counting; voltage-sensitive dyes.