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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 physical sciences and astronomy, the multi-megapixel cameras offer a large field of view and high resolution, without compromising noise, dynamic range or frame rate.
sCMOS camera features include:
Andor offers a complete range of sCMOS cameras, spanning a wide envelop of performance attributes. Whether your application requires a large field of view, ultimate sCMOS sensitivity, highest speed capability, high resolution, nanosecond shuttering, X-ray or Neutron detection, or even a compact and light design, you can be confident that we can guide you towards the optimal solution.
Please view our selection of sCMOS cameras below. You can use the drop-down to find a camera suitable for your application.
Model | Balor F17-12 | Marana 4.2B-11 | Marana 4.2B-6 | ZL41 Wave 4.2 | ZL41 Wave 5.5 | iStar sCMOS | Zyla HF |
Sensor Format | 4128 x 4104 | 2048 x 2048 | 2048 x 2048 | 2048 x 2048 | 2560 x 2160 | 2560 x 2160 | 2560 x 2160 |
Sensor Diagonal (mm) | 70 | 31.9 | 18.8 | 18.8 | 21.8 | Ǿ18/25mm intensifiers | 21.8 |
Pixel Size (µm) | 12 | 11 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
QE max (%) | 61 | 95 | 95 | 82 | 64 | Up to 50% (Gen3 intensifier) | 64 |
QE Profile Options | FI | BV, BU | BV | FI | FI | Intensifier dependent | FI |
Cooling (°C) | -30 | -45 | -45 | -5 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
Exposure (Shutter) Modes | Rolling and Global | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling and Global | Global | Rolling and Global |
Max. Frame Rate (fps, full array) | 54 | 48 | 135 | 100 (CameraLink) 53 (USB 3.0) |
100 (CameraLink) 40 (USB 3.0) |
50 |
100 (CameraLink) 40 (USB 3.0) |
Read Noise Median (e-) | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 |
0.9 (Rolling) 2.3 (Global) |
2.3 (< 1 with Gain) |
0.9 (Rolling) 2.3 (Global) |
Pixel Well Depth (e-) | 80,000 | 85,000 | 55,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Fast shuttering capability | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes (< 2 ns) | N/A |
Indirect X-ray & Neutron detection | Lens coupled | Lens coupled | Lens coupled | Lens coupled | Lens coupled | N/A | Fiber-optic coupled |
Interface |
CoaXPress (4 Lane CXP-6) |
USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 CoaXPress (4 Lane)) |
USB 3.0 Camera Link |
USB 3.0 Camera Link |
USB 3.0 |
USB 3.0 Camera Link |
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The flagship Balor 17F-12 camera offers the largest field of view sCMOS solution that is commercially available on the market. The huge 70 mm sensor diagonal from the 4128 (W) x 4104 (H) array is ideal for demanding ‘dynamic’ astronomy applications such as Orbital Debris tracking and Solar astronomy, capable for example of dynamically imaging entire sunspots at high resolution. It is also ideal for atmospheric freezing techniques (Speckle/Lucky imaging) over a much large field of view than is available from Adaptive Optics.
When absolute maximum sensitivity is required over a large field of view, such as for Near Earth Asteroid detection, the Marana 4.2B back-illuminated sCMOS camera utilizes a unique technology approach to usefully access the entire 2048 x 2048 array, offering an impressive 32 mm sensor diagonal.
The Marana models contain a back-illuminated sCMOS sensor with up to 95% QE, complemented by market-leading vacuum cooling of the sensor for lowest noise floor. The Marana 4.2B-11 model features larger 11 µm pixels, optimal for maximum photon capture in light starved applications. The Marana 4.2B-6 has a new Low Noise Mode that reduces read noise down to only 1.0 e-.
Comparative Signal to Noise under low light conditions (10 incident photons per 100 µm2 sensor area) - Under identical low light optical conditions, the Marana 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 ‘multi-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. In the physical sciences, high dynamic range capability is central to countless measurement types, such as in astronomical photometry.
Model | Well Depth (e-) | Dynamic Range |
Marana 4.2B-11 | 85,000 | 53,000:1 |
Marana 4.2B-6 | 55,000 | 34,375:1 |
Balor 17F-12 | 80,000 | 27,586:1 |
ZL41 Wave 4.2 | 30,000 | 33,000:1 |
ZL41 Wave 5.5 | 30,000 | 33,000:1 |
Measurements taken of a high dynamic range test chart using Marana 4.2B-11 in Extended Dynamic Range Mode, which enables accurate quantification of signal intensities that range from the noise floor detection limit to the full pixel well depth.
Furthermore, to achieve best in class quantification accuracy, Andor have implemented enhanced on-head intelligence to deliver market-leading linearity of > 99.7%.