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Is the camera being run in "stream acquisition" mode? If so, is the display
live setting turned off (if there is one).

What happens when you bin, say 4x4, or max binning? Plus, select the
camera's shortest exposure time.

You can also check with MDC (formerly UIC) to find out if they have
maximized the frame rate for this camera.

You can also check with your Photometrics rep about trying out their
internal software to test camera speed (WinView?).

Why would the stage have any impact on camera readout? If MetaMorph is
sending any kind of trigger, or waiting for any feedback, get that out of
the test cycle and see what happens.

Best wishes,


George


George McNamara
CITI
City of Hope National Medical Center
Duarte, CA
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                -----Original Message-----
                From:   swatkins [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent:   Sunday, March 20, 2005 4:15 AM
                To:     [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        Speed in 3D

                Search the CONFOCAL archive at
                http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

                Hi folks, We are using a MadCity Piezo Z stage (5mm/sec) (on
an ASI XYZ
                device), A Photometrics 512B backthinned camera the whole
system is driven
                by Metamorph.  The exposure time is 5ms, the stage is being
Z-streamed over
                maybe 35 microns(it doesn't stop).  Even with these nifty
components we seem
                to be limited to about 10 frames/second in Z.  The question
is... wheres the
                problem, Meta? The Stage?  If anyone has ideas as to how to
optimize this I
                would appreciate input

                Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. FRC Path.
                Professor, Cell Biology and Physiology and Immunology
                Director Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Physiology
                Vice Chair, Cell Biology and Physiology
                Director Center for Biologic Imaging
                BSTS 225
                University of Pittsburgh
                3500 Terrace St.
                Pittsburgh PA 15261
                Tel:412-648-3051
                Fax:412-648-2797
                URL: http://www.cbi.pitt.edu