Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same journal

Detection and Sorting of Extracellular Vesicles and Viruses Using nanoFACS.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Same journal

Live Imaging of the Lung.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Same journal

Small Particle Fluorescence and Light Scatter Calibration Using FCM<sub>PASS</sub> Software.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Same journal

Optimized Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy for Imaging Chromatin Structure in Pathological Tissue.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Same journal

Flow Cytometric Quantification of Granulocytic Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Unlysed Whole Blood.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Same journal

Practical Guidelines for Collection, Manipulation and Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Clinical Specimens.

Current protocols in cytometry·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Published on: March 24, 2011

Light microscopy digital imaging.

¹Quantitative Imaging, Germantown, Maryland, USA.

Current Protocols in Cytometry

|October 31, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This unit explores digital imaging hardware for light microscopy, focusing on CMOS, CCD, and EMCCD sensors. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses helps select the right sensor for specific microscopy applications.

More Related Videos

Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM) of Weakly-scattering Subjects

Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM) of Weakly-scattering Subjects

Published on: February 8, 2014

Quantifying Microorganisms at Low Concentrations Using Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)

Quantifying Microorganisms at Low Concentrations Using Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)

Published on: November 1, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Published on: March 24, 2011

Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM) of Weakly-scattering Subjects

Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM) of Weakly-scattering Subjects

Published on: February 8, 2014

Quantifying Microorganisms at Low Concentrations Using Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)

Quantifying Microorganisms at Low Concentrations Using Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)

Published on: November 1, 2017

Area of Science:

Microscopy
Digital Imaging Technology

Background:

Light microscopy relies on advanced digital imaging hardware for capturing high-resolution images.
Various sensor technologies are available, each with unique characteristics impacting image quality and application suitability.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of digital imaging hardware utilized in light microscopy.
To compare the performance and applications of different image sensor types.

Main Methods:

Review of primary digital imaging sensors: CMOS, CCD, and EMCCD.
Analysis of sensor architecture, formats, and performance characteristics.
Discussion of color camera design and sensor maintenance.

Main Results:

CMOS, CCD, and EMCCD sensors have distinct strengths and weaknesses.
These characteristics dictate their optimal applications in light microscopy.
Sensor architecture and format significantly influence performance.

Conclusions:

The selection of appropriate digital imaging hardware is crucial for effective light microscopy.
Understanding sensor technologies enables researchers to optimize image acquisition for their specific needs.