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In our lab there are two Nikon System with PFS and one Olympus ZDC2 all 
controlled by Metamorph.  They are also compatible with the Micromanager 
(I tested the Olympus and it works fine) free software.
The PFS, once setted the interface position, applies a continuos 
feedback to maintain the sample in focus with a minimal time delay being 
the excursion limited. If you have to acquire Z stacks it has to be 
disactivated and then reactivated. Control softwares allows to memorize 
offset positions making it very useful in "Mark and find" timelapse. The 
continuos focusing is also fantastic with mosaic acquisitions over large 
areas making the procedure very fast and precise.  I think it's 
extremely useful and efficient. We tested it on different magnifications 
and numerical apertures with good results. The available objectives 
working with the PFS cover a wide range of nees, maybe the only 
limitation is that they usually have short working distance, but I am 
not up to date on the list of available solutions, maybe better for you 
to check if this is a strong limitation.
The Olympus ZDC works on the same principle but essentially do not work 
continuously: everytime you move, the position of the interface (and 
consequently of the focal plane according to the offset you set) has to 
be recalculated moving over a range of microns (you can set it). 
Essentially it works similarly to the software autofocus, with the 
advantage of being quite fast (let's say you have a time delay of the 
order of 1 second according to the range you set) and not dependent on 
the presence of "features" in the image.
I heard that Olympus is going to release a new version working in a 
continuous way,  but it's only a rumor for me no sure info about it.
Probably you already know,  remember that these systems works with a 
defined list of objectives only and on glass (or similar optical 
properties) substrates (someone told me years ago that in some 
conditions also plastic can be tried but I have non experience on it).
Hope it helps
Mario

Il 7/7/2011 10:26 AM, Christophe Leterrier ha scritto:
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> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> I use the Zeiss Definite Focus solution. It was retrofited on our
> AxioObserver inverted stand, initially it was quite difficult to get
> it installed (had to send the stand back to Germany), but I think this
> was one of the first retrofited system they installed. Now they can
> make it on the spot easily.
>
> The system works really well, nicely integrated in Zeiss' Axiovision
> software (can also be driven by MM, although I didn't test it yet
> because I'm not willing to pay yet another MM upgrade). Sometimes I'm
> just surprised how perfectly horizontal the coverslip is when
> wandering around the coverslip looking for the next cell to image,
> until I realized I left the focus on "constant update"! I have no
> problem using it with high mag, high NA TIRF objectives.
>
> I the end I think all these systems are quite mature now, so the
> choice will depend more on choosing a brand for other reason (stand,
> software etc.), given that all these system are proprietary and will
> only work with a stand from the same brand. One exception is ASI's
> CRIFF system which can be installed on any microscope, but as it is
> placed on the camera port it requires to have filters that let the 780
> nm laser through (as opposed to other systems which are place between
> the BFP of the objective and the filter cubes).
>
> Christophe
>
> On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 07:55, Adrian Smith
> <[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>> *****
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I found this email in the archives but I can't see any replies.
>>
>> I'm also interested in any comments on:-
>>
>> - PFS (Nikon) vs
>> - ZDC (Olympus) vs
>> - ZDC 2 (Olympus) vs
>> - UltimateFocus (API (Deltavision))
>> - Adaptive Focus Control (Leica)
>> - Definite Focus (Zeiss)
>>
>> Did I miss anyone? :)
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Adrian Smith
>> Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 17/05/2011, at 5:38 AM, Yuval Ebenstein wrote:
>>
>>> *****
>>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
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>>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I found no mention of the newer ZDC 2 in the archives.
>>> I'm wondering if anyone has experience with both systems and can point out some main differences between the ZDC and PFS.
>>> How fast is the ZDC? will it maintain focus during large stage xy movements?
>>> Thanks for you help
>>> Yuval Ebenstein


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Mario Faretta
Department of Experimental Oncology
European Institute of Oncology
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