Dear Martin:

I think using the words "virtually never" to describe the occurence of
12-bit confocal S/N is certainly appropriate if the manufacturers refuse
to give users this option.


Jeff Reece
Biomedical Engineer
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Confocal Microscopy Center
P.O. Box 12233, MD F2-02
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Ph: (919) 541-0311
Fx: (919) 541-1898
email: [log in to unmask]


> ----------
> From:         Hoppe, Martin[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Tuesday, April 21, 1998 5:31AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Buying a new confocal -Reply
>
> > Dear Linda
> >
> > a comment from the manufacturer (Leica).
> >
> >       technology, and Leica would have to undergo a major retooling
> of
> > the
> >       entire system ($$$) to get to 12 bit.  We did not want to buy
> >
> > The new Spectral Confocal Microscope Leica TCS SP does have
> dedicated
> > hardware and software to capture and quantitatively measure a signal
> > dynamic range of 4096/1 (12 bit) per
> > channel (for 1-4 detector channels simultaneously)
> > For storage and display the data are then compressed to 8
> bit/channel
> > This compression does not result in loss of relevant data, as the
> > signal-to-noise ratio in confocal
> > fluorescence microscopy virtually never exceeds 8 bit.
> >
> > For Leica TCS NT systems, this hardware/software change will be
> > available from the middle of 1998 on.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Martin
> >
> > Martin Hoppe, Ph. D.
> > VP Sales & Marketing
> > Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
> > Im Neuenheimer Feld 519
> > D 69120 Heidelberg
> > Germany
> >
> > Phone +49-6221-41480
> > Fax +49-6221-414822
> > email: [log in to unmask]
> >           www.llt.de
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>