MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Does anyone have any experience with any of the Michrome cameras?

Apochronaut,

There are a few different cameras, also the software has various levels.
Some of the cameras will only work for as they say " compatible" microscopes.
Cameras are pricey. Here is the 20 megapixels one.

https://microscopes.com.au/products/michrome-20

No experience with them, out of my league.
They sure look impressive!

V

Thanks. I was hoping that someone would have used one.
CMOS microscope cameras are a bit of a minefield. The reason for the question about the Tucsen Michrome is that it has built in automatic stitching and stacking software. It reads the lowest to highest focus in real time and creates a fully depth focused image and can stitch fields to produce a full panorama.
I have been slow to take on stacking software, probably due to there being too many choices and I am unsure of the best way to go. This may solve the problem. I can get a 20 mpx Michrome for about 400.00. Has up to 72 fps. but at lower resolution and a capture resolution of 5472x3648.
Prices are all over the place on them. Spectra Services wants over 1000.00 for the same camera + shipping.

One specification I am unsure of is the rolling shutter vs. global shutter choice. The Michrome 5 mpx. is the only one with a global shutter. The other 3 models, 6, 16 and 20 mpx. all have a rolling shutter and a larger sensor, with smaller pixels. In still image quality, the 5 sits below the 6 but for fast moving organisms would the global shutter be the defining feature?

Software wise helicon and zerene are kind of the big two if you don't mind paying for it, and either should give good results. Both have good free trials so it should be easy to try them out and compare results. In-camera should have some big advantages but it may also reduce your level of control on the output.

I am willing to try the in camera system. I need a video camera of this type anyway. The cameras themselves seem good, at a 400.00 price point and the stitching/stacking feature a nice bonus. I can see a future where add on stacking programs are as obsolete as roll film and everything is in camera.
Any ideas regarding the limitations of a rolling shutter? At what point do vorticella cilia start deforming? I like the idea of the resolution if the Michrome 20 but if the rolling shutter is a deal breaker then the 5 pro it is. The 5 pro is more money by the way, presumably because of the global shutter.
Does anyone know of another competetive camera, worth considering?

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 1:44 pm

One specification I am unsure of is the rolling shutter vs. global shutter choice. […] for fast moving organisms would the global shutter be the defining feature?

It would for me

MichaelG.

.
This is a useful note: https://www.photometrics.com/learn/whit ... al-shutter

Yes. I guess what I am indecisive about is not knowing how fast is fast when it comes to biological samples? ...and how that relates to a frame rate of 53 fps., at which speed the increased resolution of the 20 mpx. model is still relavent. The global shutter model achieves slightly better resolution at 35 fps but has the advantage of a global shutter at that speed.

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:17 pm

Yes. I guess what I am indecisive about is not knowing how fast is fast when it comes to biological samples?

.
There seems to be little by way of specific microscopy evidence available, but if we think in terms of angular displacements with time ... the classic demonstration with fan blades can serve as a reasonable model for cilia in motion.
See Fig.2 here: https://andor.oxinst.com/learning/view/ ... al-shutter
... if you want to visualise the motion; rolling shutter is a non-starter.

MichaelG.

Sony seems to be heading in the right direction
... Shame I can’t justify a new camera at the moment

MichaelG.

Apocronaut, I'm curious as to where you get this price. " I can get a 20 mpx Michrome for about 400.00. "

Thanks,
lorez2

The Michrome 20 is right around $U.S. 400.00 on AliExpress. The sight only coughs up CDN. prices to me which is 472.00 CDN. with free shipping.

Thanks, I'll take a look for it.

lorez2