Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet
CMOS, EMCCD AND CCD CAMERAS FOR LIFE SCIENCES

Back Illuminated Scientific CMOS
Discovery depends on every photon
Prime 95B is the Scientific CMOS with extreme sensitivity using highQuantum Efficiency (QE) Backside Illumination (BSI), a first for Scientific
CMOS cameras. The 95B’s sensor converts up to 95% of incident photons
into a measurable signal. Unlike microlens approaches to increasing QE, whichlose effectiveness as objective magnification is increased, Prime 95B’s BSIsensor brings light into the pixel photodiode from behind, avoiding structuresthat reflect or absorb light. When combined with large 11µm pixels, Prime
95B can deliver over 300% more signal than other sCMOS cameras at 100Xmagnification.

Primary applications:Super-Resolution Microscopy
Confocal Microscopy

More importantly, Prime 95B outperforms EMCCD cameras—with no excess
noise that negates the benefit of using a high QE sensor, and additional
limitations from EM gain calibration, stability, expense, and sensor lifetime
With a true 16-bit dynamic range, Prime 95B easily accomplishes what
EMCCD can not—detect weak and bright signals within the same image withphoton-noise limited performance.

Single Molecule Fluorescence
Light Sheet Microscopy
95% Quantum Efficiency

The extreme sensitivity not only allows fainter signals to be detected, it
provides the flexibility to increase frame rates, or turn down the excitation
intensity to reduce cellular photo-damage. Yet Prime 95B maintains the samehigh frame rates, field-of-view and extremely low read noise that has madesCMOS so popular for live-cell imaging.

11µm x 11µm Pixel Area
1.6e- Read Noise (median)
41fps @ 16-bit / 82fps @ 12-bit
PrimeEnhance increases SNR 3-5X

Features

Advantages

High Quantum Efficiency
95% Peak QE

Maximizes ability to detect weak signals, enables short exposure times for high frame rates, minimizes phototoxicity
across a wide range of wavelengths

Large 11µm Pixel Size

Maximize light collection while maintaining proper spatial sampling

Extremely Low Read Noise

Maximize your ability to detect faint fluorescence

Fast Frame Rates

Capture highly dynamic events with high temporal resolution

Large Field of View

Maximize the number of cells that can be tracked and monitored per frame

PrimeEnhance

Real-time quantitative denoising algorithm that improves image clarity by reducing photon-shot (Poisson) noise.
Delivers an increase in Peak Signal to Noise Ratio of 3X to 5X

PrimeLocate

Dynamically evaluates and acquires only the relevant data for localization based super-resolution applications

Enhanced Dynamic Range

Measure both bright and dim signal levels within the same image
50,000:1 Dynamic Range (94 dB)

Multiple Expose Out Triggering

Control up to four light sources for multi-wavelength acquisitions

SMART Streaming

Faster acquisition rates with variable exposures, ideal for multi-probed live cell imaging
Compatible with Multiple Expose Out Triggering

Rev A5-053102017©2017 Photometrics. All rights reserved.

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95% Quantum Efficiency

Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet

1.4 Megapixel BSI CMOS Sensor
Backside Illuminated Sensor
1.6e- Read Noise (Median)>95% peak QE
80,000e- full well
11 x 11μm pixels
18.7mm diagonal

Easily Mounted and Secured
C-mount
Two ¼”-20 mounting holes per side

Convenient Interfaces
16-bit Data
• 41fps12-bit Data
• 82fpsMultiple Cooling Options
Forced Air Cooling• -10ºC Cooling• Selectable Fan Speed
Liquid Cooling• -25ºC Cooling• Leak-proof, quick-disconnect ports

Advanced Triggering Capabilities
Effective Global Shutter
Up to four selectable expose-out lines

Rev A5-053102017©2017 Photometrics. All rights reserved.

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Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet

95% Quantum Efficiency

Embedded Signal Processing (ESP™) Features
PrimeEnhanceWith the near-perfect sensitivity of Backside Illuminated Scientific CMOS sensors, the latest
generation of scientific cameras have enabled imaging using only a few photons per pixel.
Unfortunately, these minute signals are dominated by the natural Poisson variation in lightlevels preventing useful quantitation.
PrimeEnhance uses a quantitative SNR enhancement algorithm used in Life Science imaging
to reduce the impact of photon shot-noise present in acquired images, leading to an increasein Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) by 3x to 5x with equivalent exposure times.
With PrimeEnhance, the exposure times can be reduced by a factor of 8-10X while
maintaining the Signal to Noise ratio. This reduces the effects of cellular photo-damage andextends cell lifetimes.

Increase SNR 3x to 5x at low
light levels by reducing photon
shot-noise
Preserve signal intensities
ensuring quantitative measurements

Invented at INRIA and further optimized for fluorescence microscopy at the Institut
Curie, the denoising algorithm used in PrimeEnhance uses a patch based evaluation ofimage data and knowledge of the each individual camera’s performance parameters toreduce the effects of photon shot-noise. The patches of image intensities and their noisecharacteristics are processed and evaluated with increasing neighborhood sizes during
which weighted intensity averages are taken. This iterative process preserves not only thequantitative nature of the measured intensities, but also the maintains the finer features
present in biological samples.

Detailed performance and methodology of the algorithm is available in the following publication:

Patch-based nonlocal functional for denoising fluorescence microscopy image sequences.
Boulanger J, Kervrann C, Bouthemy P, Elbau P, Sibarita JB, Salamero J. IEEE Trans. Med Imaging 2010 Feb.

Extend cell lifetimes with
reduced phototoxicity andphotobleaching
Extremely useful for low light
imaging applications dominatedby noise

150 150150 150145 145145 145140 140140 140135 135

135 135

130 130

Fig
Fig2b2bOriginal
Original
130 130

125 125
125 125
00 20 2040 4060 6080 80100 100
120 120140 140160 160
180 180
200 200
00 20 2040 4060 6080 80100 100
120 120140 140160 160
180 180
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95% Quantum Efficiency

Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet

Embedded Signal Processing (ESP™) Features
PrimeLocate
Localization based super-resolution microscopy requires asparsity of data to ensure proper localization of emitting
molecules. Even with this sparsity, the full image frame
is transferred to the host to be analyzed, creating a large
amount data to be processed without adding useful
information.

Transmission+(1320,492)+(1460,625)+(1400,700)

PrimeLocate dynamically evaluates image data and locates
500 regions per frame containing single molecule data
relevant for super-resolution localization. Only these 500
regions are transferred to the host computer, drasticallyreducing the amount of data and time required foranalysis.

Only the data within the patches is transferred to the hostcomputer

By transferring only the relevant raw data, users have thefreedom to use their preferred localization algorithm togenerate super-resolution images.

Allows freedom to select preferred super-resolution
localization algorithm

Processing time and storage requirements are easier tomanage with the acquisition of only relevant data
Ability to transfer 500 regions per frame

Multi-ROIThe surplus of data generated by sCMOS devices ischallenging to acquire, analyze, and store, requiring
special interfaces and expensive SSDs. While a large
Field of View (FOV) is convenient for imaging,at times, only certain areas contain the desired
information.
Multi-ROI allows users to select up to 15 unique
ROIs within the FOV, and only these selected regions
are transferred to the host computer. This allows fora large reduction in the amount of data acquired but
ensures that the critical information is obtained.

Only the data within the user-defined ROIs istransferred to the host computer
Select up to 15 unique regions
Significantly reduce the amount of data being
acquired

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Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet

95% Quantum Efficiency

Specifications

Camera Performance

SensorGPixel GSense 144 BSI CMOS Gen IV, Grade 1 in imaging area

Active Array Size

1200 x 1200 pixels (1.44 Megapixel)

Pixel Area

11μm x 11μm (121μm2)

Sensor Area

13.2mm x 13.2mm
18.7mm diagonal

Peak QE%>95%
1.6e- (Median)

Read Noise

1.8e- (RMS)

Full-Well Capacity
Dynamic Range

80,000e- (Combined Gain)
10,000e- (High Gain)
50,000:1 (Combined Gain)
16-bit (Combined Gain)

Bit Depth

12-bit (High Gain)

Readout Mode

Rolling Shutter
Effective Global Shutter

Binning

2x2 (on FPGA)

Cooling Performance

Sensor Temperature

Dark Current

Air Cooled-10ºC @ 30ºC Ambient

2.9e-/pixel/second

Liquid Cooled-25ºC @ 30ºC Ambient

0.7e-/pixel/second

Specifications

Camera Interface

Digital Interface

PCIe, USB 3.0

Lens Interface

C-Mount

Mounting Points

2 x ¼ 20” mounting points per side to prevent rotation

Liquid Cooling

Quick Disconnect Ports

Triggering Mode

Function

Input Trigger Modes

Trigger-First: Sequence triggered on first rising edge
Edge: Each frame triggered on rising edge
SMART Streaming: Fast iteration through multiple exposure times

Output Trigger ModesFirst Row: Expose signal is high while first row is acquiring data
Any Row: Expose signal is high while any row is acquiring data
All Rows: Effective Global Shutter – Expose signal is high when all rows are acquiring data
Signal is high for set Exposure time
Rolling Shutter: Effective Global Shutter – Expose signal is high when all rows are acquiring data
Signal is High for set Exposure time – Readout Time

Output Trigger Signals

Rev A5-053102017©2017 Photometrics. All rights reserved.

Expose Out (up to four signals), Read Out, Trigger Ready

Note: Specifications are subject to change.

5Prime 95B™ Scientific CMOS Camera Datasheet

95% Quantum Efficiency

100
Frame Rate (PCIe interface)

QUANTUM EFFICIENCY (%)

9080

Array Size

16-bit12-bit1200 x 1200

4182

1200 x 512

96

192

1200 x 256

192

384

1200 x 128

384

736

70
60
50
4030
20
100300

400

500

600
700
WAVELENGTH (NM)800

Accessories (Included)

900

1000

Accessories (Additional)

PCIe Card/Cable

Power Supply

Liquid Circulator

USB 3.0 Cable

Manuals and QuickStart Guide

Liquid Cooling Tubes

Trigger Cable

Performance and Gain Calibration Test Data

Distance from C-mount to sensor

Photometrics is a registered trademark.
Prime 95B is a trademark of Photometrics.
All other brand and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Specifications in this datasheet are subject to change.
Refer to the Photometrics website for most current specifications.

Rev A5-053102017©2017 Photometrics. All rights reserved.

www.photometrics.com
info@photometrics.com
tel: +1 520.889.9933
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