Olympus Hamamatsu Video & Digital Cameras

Olympus Updated: 2007-09-10
Olympus Hamamatsu Video & Digital Cameras

Hamamatsu Photonics® is a recognized worldwide source of imaging hardware. Among their products is a specialized line of video and digital cameras with many features that are specifically designed and suited for microscopy and other scientific applications. Specialty features included in the cameras are analog gain and offset controls for contrast enhancement, special low noise readout circuits and patented vacuum sealing technology for permanent trouble-free cooling.

Offering high resolution coupled with high sensitivity, Hamamatsu digital cameras are designed for a broad range of imaging applications. These cameras are designed to excel at rapid acquisition of low-light level fluorescence images.

Hamamatsu digital cameras offer analog contrast enhancement before the signal is digitized. This feature is important for microscopy applications since it provides additional gray levels in low contrast images. Most other digital cameras depend upon software to increase the brightness between existing gray levels after the image has been digitized.

As light levels decrease, the image signal levels approach the noise levels of most cameras. In these cases, different cameras are needed that have features to either decrease the camera noise, increase the signal level or increase the difference between the signal level and the noise level. To meet these requirements, Hamamatsu cameras are available with special features for low noise signal integration (cooled CCDs), signal amplification (Electron Multiplication CCD), or signal and camera noise separation (Intensified CCD and Electron Bombardment CCD).