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AxioImager DIC/Fluorescence Scope

Image © 2003 Carl Zeiss, Inc.

The AxioImager is a motorized, upright microscope equipped for both transmitted light (DIC) and fluorescence microscopy. This microscope is perfect for Prof. Stephen Smith's Array Tomography technique, as well as general-purpose widefield microscopy.

Fast Facts

  • Fully automated microscope allowing tiled images, z-stacks and time-lapse imaging

  • Dual CCD cameras: monochrome and color

  • Four-color multi-channel fluorescence with monochrome CCD

  • Histological stains with color CCD camera.

Technical Specifications

Z drive DC motorized Z-drive with optoelectronic coding, resolution 10 nm, reproducibility ±10 nm
XY stage Piezo-driven XY scanning stage with linear encoders, travel range: 225 × 85 mm, maximum speed: 100 mm/s, resolution: 0.2 μm, reproducibility: < 1 μm, absolute accuracy: ±5 μm
Transmitted light 12 V/100 W halogen light source, manual condenser, 0.9 NA, brightfield/DIC/phase
Optovar Manual 3-position tube lens: mag. 1.0×, mag. 1.6×, Bertrand lens
Fluorescence equipment EXFO X-Cite 120 illumination source, coupled to scope with liquid light guide, motorized 6-position reflector turret with DIC cube and five fluorescence filter cubes (see below).
Camera Zeiss AxioCam HRm Rev. 3. Full specifications below.
Software Zen 2.3 with z-stack, automated tiling, autofocus and multi-positional imaging

 

 

Objectives (each with DIC slider)
mag. type NA working distance
(mm)		 pdf file
2.5× Plan Neofluar 0.075 9.5 click here
10× Plan Apochromat 0.45 2.0 click here
20× Plan Apochromat 0.8 0.55 click here
40× Plan Apochromat 0.95 0.25 click here
63× (oil) Plan Apochromat 1.4 0.19 click here

 

 

Fluorescence filter sets
description excitation
peak/FWHM
(nm)		 dichroic
50% trans.
(nm)		 emission
peak/FWHM
(nm)		 pdf file
DAPI 365/50 395 445/50 DAPI.pdf
eGFP 470/40 495 525/50 eGFP.pdf
Cy3 550/25 570 605/70 Cy3.pdf
mCherry 560/40 585 630/75 mCherry.pdf
Cy5 640/30 660 690/50 Cy5.pdf

 

 

Camera Specifications: AxioCam HRm Rev. 3
Sensor Sony ICX 285, progressive readout
CCD Basic resolution 1388 × 1040 = 1.4 megapixels
Pixel size 6.45 μm (h) × 6.45 μm (v)
Sensor size Chip area 8.9 mm × 6.7 mm (equivalent 2/3 inch)
Spectral range Approximately 350 nm–1000 nm with BK-7 protection glass without IR filter (BG40 can be inserted if necessary).
NIR mode Mode for higher sensitivity in near IR
Dynamic range Typical > 1:2200 at 25 MHz with < 7.7 e readout noise
Typical > 1:2500 at 12.5 MHz with < 6.8 e readout noise
Full well Typical 17,000 e
Dark current Typical 0.7 e/pixel/s, optional dark current compensation for maximum low light performance at long exposure times
Resolution improvement Microscanning technology enables a configurable image resolution beyond the basic sensor resolution
Selectable resolution        H × V (single shot)
   276 × 208  (binning 5 × 5)
   346 × 260  (binning 4 × 4)
   462 × 346  (binning 3 × 3)
   694 × 520  (binning 2 × 2)
1388 × 1040  (no binning)		        H × V (microscanning)
2776 × 2080  (microscanning mode)
4164 × 3120  (microscanning mode)

 
Live image frame rates
H × V Mode / Binning Max. frame rate (25 MHz)
1388 × 1040 Slow / 1 12 images/s
694 × 520 Middle / 2 21 images/s
462 × 346 Fast / 2 31 images/s
Readout of sub-frames (ROI) Random definition of regions of interest (ROI) on the sensor enables further increase of achievable frame rates
Signal amplification Analog: 2×, digital: 32×
Digitization Two switchable readout speeds offer different depths of digitization:
High Quality: 14 bit / 12.5 MHz
High Speed: 12 bit / 25 MHz
CCD cooling Single stage Peltier cooling, regulated
Integration time 1 ms up to several minutes

For an exploded diagram overview of this microscope,PDF icon axioimagersystemoverview.pdf
For the complete AxioImager product brochure, PDF icon zeissaxioimagerbrochure.pdf