Teledyne Photometrics Kinetix22 sCMOS camera

The 5.7 MP back-illuminated Kinetix22 scientific CMOS (sCMOS) camera from Teledyne Photometrics delivers high speed, high dynamic range and low noise imaging with an optimised field of view for microscopes and other optical devices with industry-standard C-mount image ports. It is suitable for researchers using super-resolution imaging, light sheet microscopy, multi-channel and voltage imaging.

The product features four modes, allowing users to prioritise different camera specs and optimise imaging. The 8-bit Speed mode offers 498 fps across the full frame; the 12-bit Sensitivity mode offers low 1.2 e- read noise while operating at ~90 fps; the 12-bit Ultra Low Noise mode offers sub-electron read noises of 0.7 e- for EMCCD-like sensitivity; and the 16-bit Sub Electron mode has a large full well capacity for imaging varied signal levels in a sample.

The camera delivers 498 fps full frame across the entire 22 mm diagonal field of view, outperforming typical sCMOS devices while featuring a higher megapixel sensor, the company says. The optimised line time results in a data rate of almost 3000 MP/s — around seven times greater than typical sCMOS devices, the company claims — and achieves 95% quantum efficiency.

The camera features 6.5 µm x 6.5 µm pixels, the accepted standard for most live cell applications using 40x and 60x magnification. This pixel size provides detailed images across the imaging plane and is suitable for a broad range of microscope objectives.

Featuring Pattern Noise Reduction Technology and Correlated Noise Reduction Technology, the product delivers clean, pattern-free images with minimal pixel defects, delivering improved image quality in low light conditions. By bringing the light in from the back of the sensor, photons land directly onto the light-receiving surface, maximising light collecting capability. This allows for the weakest signals to be displayed as high-quality images, even if the sample typically only emits a handful of photons.

PCIe and USB 3.2 interfaces are supported and the spectrum capabilities are UV (200–400 nm), visible (400–700 nm) and near infrared (700–1000 nm).