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Andor’s Scientific CMOS (sCMOS) cameras series deliver an advanced set of performance features that render them ideal for high fidelity, quantitative scientific measurements. Providing a wide gamut of application advantages across the biological sciences, the multi-megapixel cameras offer a large field of view and high resolution, without compromising read noise, dynamic range or frame rate.
Andor offers a complete range of sCMOS cameras, spanning a wide envelop of performance attributes. Whether your life science or physical science application requires a large field of view, ultimate sCMOS sensitivity, high speed capability, high resolution or even a compact and light OEM design, you can be confident that we can guide you towards the optimal solution.
Back-illuminated | Front-illuminated | |||||
Model | Sona 4.2B-6 | Sona 4.2B-11 | Sona 2.0B-11 | Zyla 4.2 PLUS | Zyla 5.5 | Neo 5.5 |
Sensor Format | 2048 x 2048 | 2048 x 2048 | 1410 x 1410 | 2048 x 2048 | 2560 x 2160 | 2560 x 2160 |
Sensor Diagonal (mm) | 18.8 | 31.9 | 21.9 | 18.8 | 21.8 | 21.8 |
Pixel Size (µm) | 6.5 | 11 | 11 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
QE max (%) | 95 | 95 | 95 | 82 | 60 | 60 |
QE Profile Options | BV | BV | BV | FI | FI | FI |
Cooling (°C) | -45 | -45 | -45 | 0 | 0 | -40 |
Exposure (Shutter) Modes | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling and Global | Rolling and Global |
Max. Frame Rate (fps, full array) | 43(USB 3.0) 74 (CoaXPress) |
48 | 70 | 100 (CameraLink) 53 (USB 3.0) |
100 (CameraLink) 40 (USB 3.0) |
30 |
Read Noise Median (e-) | 1.2 (low noise mode) 1.6 (Fast HDR mode) |
1.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 (rolling) 2.3 (global) |
1.0 (rolling) 2.3 (global) |
Pixel Well Depth (e-) | 42,000 | 85,000 | 85,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Interface | USB 3.0 CoaXPress |
USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 Camera Link (10T) |
USB 3.0 Camera Link (10T) |
Camera Link (3T) |
SRRF-Stream Compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Learn More | Specifications | Specifications | Specifications | Specifications | Specifications | Specifications |
The flagship Sona 4.2B-11 back-illuminated cameras utilize a unique technology approach to usefully access the entire 2048 x 2048 array, offering an impressive 32 mm sensor diagonal.
Microscopy Field of View Advantage: Sona 4.2B-11 with 2048 x 2048 array has a 62% larger field of view than a competing back-illuminated sCMOS camera with a 1608 x 1608 array. A 60x objective and additional coupler magnification* is utilized to access the full 2048 x 2048 array, while preserving Nyquist resolving clarity.
*Magnifying Coupler Unit (MCU) available from Andor
For the commonly used 40x and 60x objectives and standard port sizes the new Sona 4.2B-6 with a 2048x2048 array and a smaller 6.5 µm pixel offers a perfect solution. Sona 4.2B-6 provides a stunning combination of sensitivity, speed and resolution to ensure the best performance from your microscope.
The NEW Sona camera contains back-illuminated sCMOS sensors with up to 95% QE which, coupled with either 6.5 or 11 µm pixels, means that they are optimized for maximum photon capture, ideal for light starved applications.
Comparative Signal to Noise under low light conditions (10 incident photons per 100 µm2 sensor area) - Under identical low light optical conditions, the Sona 4.2B-11 with back-illumination and large pixel size is well suited to maximizing photon capture and Signal to Noise.
Andor sCMOS cameras each offer an Extended Dynamic Range functionality, supported by a 16-bit data range. Harnessing an innovative ‘dual amplifier’ sensor architecture, we can access the maximum pixel well depth AND the lowest noise simultaneously, ensuring that we can quantify extremely weak and relatively bright signal regions in one snap.
Model | Well Depth (e-) | Dynamic Range |
Sona 4.2B-11 and 2.0B | 85,000 | 53,000:1 |
Sona 4.2B-6 | 55,000 | 34,000:1 |
Zyla 4.2 PLUS | 30,000 | 33,000:1 |
Zyla 5.5 | 30,000 | 33,000:1 |
Neo 5.5 | 30,000 | 33,000:1 |
Furthermore, to achieve best in class quantification accuracy, Andor have implemented enhanced on-head intelligence to deliver market-leading linearity of > 99.8%.
sCMOS technology is based on highly parallel pixel readouts and as such is superbly architected to combine high frame rates and high resolution, while maintaining very low noise.
The Sona and Marana back-illuminated cameras each offer high speed modes. The new Sona 4.2B-6 offers an impressive 74 fps at 16-bit. However, the Zyla modelsremain the ultimate solutions for following high speed processes, while maintaining lowest possible noise and maximum dynamic range.