Leica DFC360 FX User Manual

Leica DFC360 FX

High Speed Camera System for Fluorescence Microscopy

Ultrafast High-Resolution Fluores

Leica DFC360 FX – High-End Live Cell Imaging

Speed is often the deciding factor for successful
imaging in demanding high-resolution image doc­umentation of living cells, molecular processes
and rapidly fading fluorescence specimens. The
monochrome digital camera Leica DFC360 FX is
designed to produce brilliant images at maximum
temporal resolution. Thanks to state-of-the-art
CCD technology, the high-end Progressive Scan
Camera achieves maximum frame rates of 20
frames per second for full frame up to more than
100 frames per second in binning mode. The highly
sensitive sensor and active Peltier cooling ensure
a high dynamic range even for low light intensities.

The Leica DFC360 FX will convince even the most
demanding user with its performance on PC and
MAC systems, intuitive Leica Imaging Software
and optimal integration into high-end fluorescence
systems from Leica Microsystems. The Leica
DFC360 FX is the ideal solution for excellent results
in live cell imaging.

Enjoy all of these advantages every day:

•Fast data transmission via FireWire IEEE1394b

•20 frames per second and up to more than 100

frames per second for binning mode due to
overlapping mode and interline sensor

•Highly sensitive 1.4 megapixel CCD in the visible

and infrared spectrum

•Ideal for living cells and rapidly fading fluores-

cence specimens

•High linearity over the whole dynamic range and

minimum noise

•Temperature-controlled Peltier cooling

•The progressive scan of each exposure provides

complete full images without disturbing horizon­tal skipping artefacts

•12 or 8 bit digitization option allows the selection

of the right degree of detail for the particular
application.

•Partial Scan Mode: Ultrafast read-out of defin-

able areas at full resolution, also in overlapping
mode and in combination with binning

•Camera power supply via FireWire IEEE1394 b

•Trigger port for exact synchronization (e.g. via

CTR7000)

•Shutter speeds from 4µs to 10 minutes

•Long integration times and up to tenfold signal

amplification

•Easy installation on to the microscope

•Connection of PC and MAC via TWAIN and

FireCam

•Full system integration in Leica Application Suite

(LAS) and Leica Application Suite Advanced
Fluorescence (LAS AF)

2

Leica Imaging – Ultrafast Image Recording

Convenient, Intuitive Operation

Extremely high frame rates determined only by the
necessary shutter speed: With the overlapping
mode, the 2/3" Progressive Scan CCD sensor reads
out imaging data while the next exposure is being
taken. The optimized sensitivity of the sensor
allows shorter exposure times for rapidly fading
fluorescence specimens and a significant reduc­tion of the excitation light for sensitive living cells.
Microlenses on each chip ensure a high quantum
yield right into the near infrared range.

The light sensitivity and the frame rate can be fur­ther enhanced by binning for example over 100 fps
with 8x8 binning. If the picture area is reduced for
detailed analysis, the recording speed increases.
Binning and region of interest can be used, as can
multi-channel experiments with different amplifi­cations, in the fast overlapping mode.

The active Peltier cooling minimizes the dark cur­rent and guarantees noise-free images even at low
light intensities. With shutter speeds of 4 µs to 10
minutes and up to tenfold signal amplification, the
Leica DFC360 FX offers maximum flexibility.

The Leica Application Suite LAS enables intuitive,
convenient image acquisition and image process­ing. Leica’s LAS AF Advanced Fluorescence Soft­ware is ideal for swift and effective control of
experiments such as z-stack, multi-channel fluo­rescence with overlay, 3D deconvolution, time­controlled analysis and many other applications.
Ultrafast, uncomplicated data transmission is en­sured by the FireWire1394b interface.

Convincing System Solutions

Harnessing high-end CCD technology for high-res­olution, ultrafast fluorescence image recording,
the Leica DFC360 FX provides the ideal solution for
excellent live cell imaging results. Integrated imag­ing systems such as the Leica AM TIRF MC or
Leica AF6000 LX offer optimally matched compo­nents and therefore perfect time and light manage­ment. The Leica DFC360 FX proves its full perfor­mance potential with ultrafast fluorescence filter
wheels, high-precision light sources and perfect
sequencer synchronization, satisfying even such
demanding applications as Ca++ and FRET experi­ments.

3

Leica DFC360 FX– Technical Data

Camera type Ultrafast, high-sensitivity monochrome digital camera with cooling and control

Camera body Aluminum dimensions (L x W x D) 132mm x 74mm x 71mm, weight 470g
Shutter speed 4µs – 600s, step 1µs
Cooling Peltier cooling element
Cooling temperature ∆ – 20°C to ambient temperature
External manual shutter release Yes
Flash synchronization Yes
Shading Correction Yes

Sensor

CCD-Sensor 2/3” – CCD ICX285 Progressive Scan Interline Transfer
Sensor area 9.0 mm x 6.7 mm
Pixel size 6.45 µm x 6.45 µm
Full-well capacity 18000 electrons
Read-out noise σ < 3 LSB (12 Bit) typical
Dark current 0.75 electrons/pixel/second
Signal-to-noise ratio > 1250:1; 62 dB

Bildformate Pixel FireWire IEEE1394a

Full Frame 1392 x 1040 10 20
Binning 2 x 2 696 x 520 19 39
Binning 3 x 3 464 x 346 29 58
Binning 4 x 4 348 x 260 35 71
Binning 8 x 8 172 x 130 54 109
A/D converter 12 / 8 bit
Analogous amplification 1 x – 10 x

Software

Operating systems supported PC Win2000, Win XP
Operating systems supported MAC Mac OS X 10.4 and above (Intel-CPU recommended)
Software PC Leica DFC Twain, Leica Image Maker, Leica Application Suite (LAS), Leica

Software MAC Leica FireCam

Interfaces

Optical C-Mount
Recommended Video-Adapter 0,7x
Data FireWire IEEE1394b, 800 MBit / Sek., 9-pin

Power supply 12 V via FireWire
Energy consumption 5 W

Miscellaneous

Minimum configuration Computer PC PC Pentium 4, 1 GB RAM, 24 Bit True Color, FireWire onboard or

Minimum configuration Computer MAC G4 or Intel CoreDuo, 1GB RAM
Operating temperature +5 bis +35°C
Relative humidity max. 80%, non-condensing

software for fluorescence microscopye

FireWire IEEE1394b

[Frames/s]

[Frames/s]

Application Suite Advanced Fluorescence (LAS AF), Leica MMAF

(downstream-compatible with FireWire 1394a, 6-pin via FireWire bilingual
cable)

1 freier PCI-slot

02/09/???/????

•

Part-No. 501-359

•

Italian 914 639

•

Spanish 914 638

•

French 914 637

•

German 914 635

•

Components

Scope of delivery:

11 547 000 Leica DFC360FX Leica DFC360FX camera

11 600 255 High-Speed FireWire-Kit

required for usage

of LAS AF based systems
11 600 253 FireWire1394b-Kabel FireWire1394b-cable, 9-pin
11 600 254 FireWire Bilingual-Kabel FireWire bilingual cable von 1394b auf 1394a
12 730 188 FireWire-Notebook-Kit Notebook Kit Notebook adapter (bilingual cable

www.leica-microsystems.com

Leica FireCam software
Leica TWAIN software
Leica LAS software

FireWire1394b PCI-Karte (32bit, OHCI)
FireWire1394b-cable, 9-pin

required)

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Order nos. of the editions in: English 914 636