Comparing EMCCD and Back-illuminated sCMOS Detectors for Single Molecule Studies

Single molecule imaging is a challenging application in part due to the very weak signals that are inherent to single molecule studies. This makes the sensitivity of the detector an important consideration for these experiments.

In this second webinar in the Single Molecule Imaging Series, Dr Justin Cooper covers the topic of “what is the most suitable detector for single molecule studies”. The researcher is faced with two different camera technologies in EMCCD and sCMOS. EMCCD cameras have been the only option to consider for many years in these applications due to their unmatched sensitivity. However, the latest back-illuminated sCMOS cameras now claim exceptional sensitivity, while allowing higher speeds and larger fields of view than EMCCD. So what parameters of these detectors are the most important for single molecule detection? How do they really compare in real experiments rather than on a specifications sheet? Justin addresses these questions by providing an overview of these camera technologies, their strengths and weaknesses and finally how the latest cameras compare in some single molecule experiments.