ORCA-Fusion & ORCA-Fusion BT | Low Noise sCMOS Cameras

Hamamatsu’s ORCA-Fusion camera, built from the sensor up, balances the complex nuances of camera features to provide beautiful images and robust data at all lights levels, but especially in tough low-light conditions. The exceptionally low and highly uniform read noise of the ORCA-Fusion means that when the sample emits even just a handful of photons, either by default or by experimental design, they are not lost in the noise, but detected and reliably quantified.

With the introduction of the ORCA-Fusion, users are now able to stream 5 megapixel images to their computers 89 frames per second. The computer recommendations for this high data rate can be met by using the guidelines listed this PC Recommendations for ORCA-Fusion.

“Lightsheet Readout Mode” is a unique and patented feature of Hamamatsu sCMOS cameras which can improve signal to noise ratios in Lightsheet microscopy. Utilizing selective plane illumination, Lightsheet microscopy is a fluorescence method that places a thin sheet of excitation light across only the focal plane being imaged. The sheet of light is swept in very precise synchronization to the rolling shutter of the camera. The scan height of the rolling shutter effectively becomes a slit, enabling less background signal and scattered light. By using this combination of illumination and camera readout, very fast acquisition of optically sectioned images is enabled. Additionally, there is significantly reduced photobleaching and phototoxicity to the sample as compared to many other methods. Lightsheet microscopy is used for live cell imaging at scales that range from small groups of cells to whole organisms. The rapid increase in the use of this technique over the past several years has been remarkable.

The ORCA-Fusion BT camera by Hamamatsu is the pinnacle of scientific CMOS (sCMOS) performance, it is a back-thinned camera. The specifications are without compromise: ultra-low readout noise, CCD-like uniformity, fast frame rates and back-thinned camera enabled high QE. But the beauty of the ORCA-Fusion BT is what this combination of exceptional photon detection and collection can do for you. See the dimmest whisper of signal, acquire visually stunning, high S/N images from the fewest photons, capture previously unresolved temporal events and perform computational methods with confidence. The ORCA-Fusion BT is the camera that makes the difficult experiments easy and previously impossible experiments possible.

ORCA-Fusion BT advantages versus other BT CMOS cameras

• Extremely low readout noise
• High QE, across a wide range of wavelengths
• CCD-like uniformity; minimal high readout noise pixels
• High dynamic range
• 3 readout speeds
• Lightsheet readout mode
• 5.3 Megapixels
• Both USB 3.0 and high speed CoaXPress interfaces

Advantages versus EM-CCD cameras

A practical and functional replacement for expensive EM-CCDs with uncompromising sensitivity, speed and versatility

• Resolution
• Binning versatility
• No amplification or excess noise
• High dynamic range
• Large field of view

Check out the rest of our Scientific and Industrial Cameras.