Choosing a Camera

Capturing images with IPLab requires the integration of three basic components: a digital CCD camera, a computer interface board or connection port, and the camera's software drivers, including the IPLab Camera Control module. The information below should help you select the hardware and software needed for your imaging system, based upon your applications and budget.

Cameras

Selection of the proper camera for your applications can be crucial. Color and monochrome digital CCD cameras are available in a wide range of resolution, signal gain, sensitivity, degree of cooling, noise reduction, and price. IPLab supports a large number of scientific grade CCD cameras from leading manufacturers including Andor, Cooke-PCO, Diagnostic Instruments, Hamamatsu, Nikon, Photometrics, QImaging, and Scion. The list of IPLab's supported cameras is constantly growing.

Before choosing a camera, you should understand the demands of your applications, and then list the types of images you need to capture. Fluorescence images require sensitivity to low light levels, and may require optimal sensitivity to a specific band of wavelengths. Ratiometric images usually must be acquired very rapidly, and often require a triggering mechanism. Histological samples and other brightfield imaging often involve capturing high resolution color images.

When you begin the budgeting process for your camera, keep in mind that the price will depend largely upon the camera's sensitivity and degree of cooling. The newer EMCCD cameras with electron multiplication offer very high sensitivity compared to standard CCDs, and are priced accordingly. Most all of the current generation of digital cameras operate at a readout speed of 20 MHz, so they are much faster than cameras from a decade ago. The camera manufacturers, in general, are moving away from the need of third-party frame grabber boards, in favor of their own PCI interface or the use of the computer's IEEE 1394 Firewire port.

Computer Platform and Interface

Ten years ago many CCD cameras used third-party frame grabber boards as the interface between the camera and the computer. These are PCI boards that fit into your computer's expansion slots. The cameras' cables plug into the end of the boards. Now, most digital cameras come with their own interface boards, or they plug into the IEEE 1394 Firewire port in your computer. Keep in mind that the evolution of the computer's PCI expansion slot is moving toward the PCI Express (PCIe) format, and away from the original standard PCI and PCI Extended (PCI-X) format. It is essential that you understand what type of PCI format your computer has and if the camera manufacturer's interface board is compatible. If the camera uses a Firewire port, then the issue of PCI slots is eliminated.

When you receive a new camera, follow the instructions that come with it. You should install the camera drivers first, from the CD provided by the manufacturer. Then install the IPLab Camera Control software module. Lastly, plug in the camera and turn on the power before starting IPLab.

IPLab Camera Controls

Camera controls are software additions to IPLab which tell it how to control the camera. BD Biosciences Bioimaging makes and provides camera controls free of charge; you can download them from our Downloads page. Go to our downloads section and choose the page of Camera Controls. From time to time, we will release new camera controls for new cameras or to update features.

Your camera dealer and the technical support staff at BD Biosciences Bioimaging can help you define what functions your camera must perform, and which camera is best suited for your needs and budget. Call us at 301-340-7320 or email us at Sales Staff .

Continue Reading

Please continue reading about Image Acquisition:

• Supported Cameras : Lists the cameras and frame grabbers that IPLab suports
• Choosing a Camera : Some advice for selecting a scientific camera
• IPLab : Information about IPLab, our image acquisition, processing, and analysis program for Windows