Zeiss Axiocam 305 color User manual

User Guide
ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono

ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono
Original Manual
Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10
07745 Jena
Germany
[email protected]
www.zeiss.com/microscopy
Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
ZEISS Group
Kistlerhofstr. 75
81379 München
Document Name: ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono User Guide
Revision: 1
Language: en-US
Effective from: 10/2018
© 2018 This document or any part of it must not be translated, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, elec-
tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information or retrieval system. Violations will be prose-
cuted. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this document does not imply, even in the
absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore
free for general use. Software programs will fully remain the property of ZEISS. No program, documentation, or subsequent up-
grade thereof may be disclosed to any third party, unless prior written consent of ZEISS has been procured to do so, nor may be
copied or otherwise duplicated, even for the customer's internal needs, apart from a single back-up copy for safety purposes.
ZEISS reserves the right to make modifications to this document without notice.
authorized dealer:
Pulch + Lorenz microscopy
Am Untergrün 23, -79232 March
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]
mail: [email protected]
web: pulchlorenz.de

 Content ZEISS
Content
1 About this guide ................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 4
1.2 Safety notes conventions ........................................................................................ 4
1.3 Text formats and conventions................................................................................. 5
2 Safety .................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Safety notes............................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Limitation of liability ............................................................................................... 7
2.3 Warranty ................................................................................................................ 7
3 Technical Data....................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Axiocam 305 color/mono........................................................................................ 8
3.2 Quality Parameters.................................................................................................. 10
3.3 Frame Rates............................................................................................................ 10
3.4 Spectral Sensitivity .................................................................................................. 11
4 Shipment............................................................................................................... 12
5 Connecting the camera......................................................................................... 13
5.1 Camera Connections & Status LED .......................................................................... 13
5.2 Building in the interface card .................................................................................. 14
5.3 Mounting the camera on the microsope ................................................................. 15
5.4 Connecting the camera to the PC ........................................................................... 16
5.5 Function Indicator................................................................................................... 16
6 Installing software and drivers ............................................................................ 17
7 Trouble-shooting................................................................................................... 18
7.1 Software................................................................................................................. 18
7.1.1 The camera does not appear in the menu of selectable cameras ................ 18
7.1.2 You don't see a camera image on your screen ........................................... 18
7.1.3 The color of my image does not correspond to the impression through
the ocular .................................................................................................. 18
7.2 Hardware................................................................................................................ 18
7.2.1 Vibrations .................................................................................................. 18
8 Maintenance ......................................................................................................... 19
8.1 Cleaning the infrared filter or protective glass ......................................................... 19
9 Disposal and Recycling ......................................................................................... 20
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 3

1 About this guide | 1.1 Introduction ZEISS
1 About this guide
1.1 Introduction
Welcome Welcome to the Axiocam 305 user documentation.
The camera is a professional digital camera for universal light microscopy with a high resolution 5
Megapixel sensor and a USB 3.0 interface. To set up the camera correctly, follow the instructions in
this guide step by step.
This color camera is capable of covering a broad range of imaging needs due to its robust engineer-
ing to fully utilize the sensor's remarkable performance capabilities.
Content Chapter Content
About this manual Introduction and overview about this manual.
Safety Important information on a safe handling with the camera. Read
this chapter, before unpacking the camera and putting it
into operation.
Shipment The contents of delivery and optional attachments will be de-
scribed here.
Technical Data Here you will find the technical data of your camera.
Connecting the camera In this chapter you will find detailed instructions on connecting
and using the camera.
Installing software and drivers Here you will learn how to install ZEISS software and camera driv-
ers.
Trouble-shooting In this chapter we have listed some solutions to various problems.
If you can not solve your problem, contact the ZEISS support.
Maintenance This chapter describes some measures for the maintenance and
care of your camera. For greater damage always contact ZEISS
support.
Disposal and Recycling Important instructions for disposal and recycling.
1.2 Safety notes conventions
The safety notes in this document follow a system of risk levels, defined in the following manner:
CAUTION
Risk of personal injury
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor
or moderate personal injury.
NOTICE
Risk of property damage
NOTICE indicates a property damage message. In addition, NOTICE is used for data loss or cor-
rupt data.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 4

1 About this guide | 1.3 Text formats and conventions ZEISS
Info
Indicates useful additional information. It helps you to make your daily work easier, but it is op-
tional. There is no risk for personal injury or property damage involved.
1.3 Text formats and conventions
Bold texts
Bold is used for texts within the software like names of GUI elements (e.g. buttons, sections, tools,
menus), buttons on a device, and product names (e.g. MTB 2011).
Font type "Courier"
Used for programming code, e.g. macro code as well as for anything
that you would type literally when programming, including keywords,
data types, constants, method names, variables, class names, and in-
terface names.
Shortcuts and key commands
Shortcuts are written like Crtl+C, meaning you should press Crtl-Key and C-Key simultaneously.
Procedures
The following formats are used for procedures (instructive sequences):
Prerequisite üstands for a condition which must be fulfilled before starting with the action.
1. stands for a single step the user is asked to perform.
Web-Links
Web links appear in blue text. To open the linked website, simply click on the link. Please make sure
you have an internet connection established before opening the web link.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 5

2 Safety | 2.1 Safety notes ZEISS
2 Safety
2.1 Safety notes
The camera has been manufactured and tested by ZEISS according to the regulations specified in CE
and has left the manufacturer’s premises in perfect working order. In order to ensure that this condi-
tion is maintained and to avoid any risks when operating the system, the user must comply with any
notes and warnings contained in this manual. The manufacturer shall be exempt from statutory liabil-
ity for accidents should the operator fail to observe the safety regulations.
CAUTION
Personal Injury
To avoid personal injury, read and adhere to the safety notes below.
4To avoid the risk of fire or explosion, do not use the camera near inflammable liquids or
gases.
4Setup, expansions, re-adjustments, alterations, and repairs must be carried out only by
persons who have been authorized by ZEISS.
4Do not allow any cables, particularly power cords, to trail across the floor, where they can
be snagged by people walking past.
4Protect the cables from excessive heat (e.g. halogen lamps, microscope fluorescence illu-
mination).
NOTICE
To avoid equipment damage, data loss, or corrupted data, read and adhere to the safety notes
below.
4Protect the camera against mechanical impact. External damage may affect the operation
of inner components.
4Keep chemicals and fluids away from the camera.
4Make sure there is sufficient ventilation of the camera head. Avoid direct exposure to sun-
light and locations near heat sources (radiators, stoves). Overheating can cause noisy im-
ages.
4Use the camera in a clean and dry location.
4Attach all connectors firmly and securely.
4Use only the accessories supplied by ZEISS, when applicable.
4Use only normal microscope cleaning material to clean the camera housing.
4Contact your local ZEISS service organization if a repair is necessary.
4Save all your data, such as images, measurement data, archives, reports, forms and docu-
ments, at regular intervals on an external storage medium. Otherwise it cannot be avoided
that access to this data may be lost as a result of operational errors or hardware defects.
ZEISS accepts no liability for consequential damage resulting from insufficient data protec-
tion.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 6

2 Safety | 2.2 Limitation of liability ZEISS
2.2 Limitation of liability
No warranty shall be assumed by ZEISS during the warranty period if the equipment is operated
without observing the safety regulations. In any such case, ZEISS shall be exempt from statutory lia-
bility for accidents resulting from such operation.
2.3 Warranty
ZEISS shall be exempt from any warranty obligations should the user fail to observe the safety regula-
tions. ZEISS only guarantees the safety, reliability, and performance of the system if the safety notes
are closely observed.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 7

3 Technical Data | 3.1 Axiocam 305 color/mono ZEISS
3 Technical Data
3.1 Axiocam 305 color/mono
Feature Value
Sensor Model Sony IMX 264, Exmor Pregius Global Shutter CMOS
Sensor Pixel Count 5.07 Megapixel: 2464 (H) × 2056 (V)
Pixel Size 3.45 μm x 3.45 μm
Sensor Size Image Diagonal 11.1 mm , equivalent to 2/3" Sensor Format,
Image Field 8,5 mm (H) x 7,1 mm (V)
Spectral Sensitivity Axiocam 305 color:
App. 400 nm-720 nm,
coated Hoya C5000 IR Cut Filter,
RGB Bayer color filter mask
Axiocam 305 mono:
App. 350 nm-1000 nm (QE 69% at 525 nm),
broadband coated BK7 protection glass
Full Well Capacity (typical) 10 500 e- per pixel, at gain 1x (typ.)
Digitization 12 Bit / Pixel,
optional reduction for data reduction to 8 Bit
Read Out Speed 37 MHz
Dark Current (typical) < 1 e-/p/s at 25°C sensor temperature
Cooling Temperature stabilized at 25°C for ambient temperatures be-
tween 18°C and 30°C
Dark Current Compensation Digital Dark Current Compensation for optimum low light
performance at long exposure time,
Automatic Hot Pixel Correction
Exposure Time Range 100 μs to 4 s
Data-Post Processing (optional) Objective specific shading correction,
Sharpening, Noise Filter,
Black Reference for Dark Current Compensation
Color Interpolation Modes Axiocam 305 color:
'Fast': optimum speed color interpolation
'High': optimum quality color interpolation
Special Features Metadata Acquisition Time Stamp for precise acquisition time
point
Special Operation Modes Eight preloadable sets of imaging parameters for speed-opti-
mized multi-modal image acquisition,
Overlapping exposure and readout for fast time lapse imag-
ing
Binning Digital Binning from 1x1 up to 5x5 for increased image inten-
sity and improved Signal/Noise ratio
Subsampling Camera subsampling from 1x1 to 2x2 for faster image acqui-
sition speeds and data reduction,
Software subsampling from 1x1 to 5x5 for data reduction
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 8

3 Technical Data | 3.1 Axiocam 305 color/mono ZEISS
Feature Value
Region of Interest (ROI) User defined imaging sub area for improvement of readout
speed and reduction of image data load
Hardware Trigger Not available
Status LED Camera Status (acquisition, power, speed)
Adjustable intensity (dimmable)
Interface USB3.0 SuperSpeed (5 Gbit/s), bandwidth max. 300 Mbytes/s
USB2.0 compatibility at reduced speed
Optical Interface C-Mount (17.5 mm)
Max. File Size per image Axiocam 305 color:
app. 29.8 MB per image with 2464 x 2056 Pixels at 3 x 12
Bit/Pixel
Axiocam 305 mono:
app. 10 MB per image with 2464 x 2056 Pixels at 12 Bit/Pixel
Operating Systems Windows 10 x64 Enterprise, Windows 7 SP1 x64 Profes-
sional/Ultimate
Size / Weight 10.8 cm x 7.8 cm x 4.3 cm / 580 g
Housing Blue anodized aluminum, ¼“ thread for camera equipment,
Cooling fins on the top plate,
Teflon coated C-mount thread
Certificates CE
Power Supply Max. 4W power consumption,
power by USB3.0-Bus from PC
Ambient Conditions (Operation) +5° ... +35° Celsius
max. 80% relative humidity, non-condensing,
free air circulation required
Ambient Conditions (Storage) -15° ... +60° Celsius
90% relative humidity at +40° Celsius
80% relative at +20° Celsius, non-condensing
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 9

3 Technical Data | 3.2 Quality Parameters ZEISS
3.2 Quality Parameters
Gain Readout Noise Saturation Capacity Dynamic Range
1x 2,2 e- 11.000 e- 1 : 5000
2x 1,74 e- 5.500 e- 1 : 3100
4x opt. Gain 1,48 e- 2.700 e- 1 : 1800
8x 1,29 e- 1.300 e- 1 : 1000
16x 1,15 e- 690 e- 1 : 600
3.3 Frame Rates
Subsampling H x V FPS@1ms
1x1 2464 x 2056 36
2x2 1232 x 1028 88
1x1, ROI 2048 x 2048 36
1x1, ROI 1920 x 1080 67
1x1, ROI 1024 x 1024 70
1x1, ROI 512 x 512 136
1x1, ROI 256 x 256 255
1x1, ROI 128 x 128 456
Info
Computer hardware, operating system and software may decrease the frame rates. Selecting a
part of the sensor area or applying binning can increase the frame rate. All specifications are sub-
ject to change without notice.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 10

3 Technical Data | 3.4 Spectral Sensitivity ZEISS
3.4 Spectral Sensitivity
Axiocam 305 color
Axiocam 305 mono
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 11

4 Shipment ZEISS
4 Shipment
Fig.1: Shipment Axiocam 305 color
Content Order Number
1 x Axiocam 305 color camera or
1 x Axiocam 305 mono camera
426560-9030-000
426560-9040-000
1 x USB 3.0 cable for power supply and data transfer
1 x PCI express interface card (2 x USB 3.0)
1 x DVD with device driver for ZEISS software as well as this guide as a
PDF file.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 12

5 Connecting the camera | 5.1 Camera Connections & Status LED ZEISS
5 Connecting the camera
5.1 Camera Connections & Status LED
Fig.2: Camera (Back Side)
Number Description
1Status LED, see Function Indicator [}16]
2 USB 3.0 connection for image / controller data and power supply
3 ¼ “ photo thread (tripod connection)
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 13

5 Connecting the camera | 5.2 Building in the interface card ZEISS
5.2 Building in the interface card
This chapter describes how to insert the PCI express interface card (2 x USB 3.0) into your PC.
NOTICE
Static Electricity
Static electricity can damage electronic components, e.g. the interface card. To protect it
against static electricity, do not touch it until you have grounded yourself to the casing of the
device. Never touch the contacts of an electronic component. We also recommend that you
work only on an antistatic mat when inserting in the interface card.
Prerequisite üYou have read the documentation of the interface card and of your computer before inserting
the interface card.
1. Switch off your PC and all connected peripherals.
2. Disconnect the PC and the peripherals from the mains and open the computer case.
3. Insert the PCIe interface card into the appropriate slot on your computer.
4. Close the computer case and reconnect the peripherals.
You can now mount the camera on the microscope and connect it to the PC via the USB 3.0 inter-
face, see Connecting the camera with PC [}16].
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 14

5 Connecting the camera | 5.3 Mounting the camera on the microsope ZEISS
5.3 Mounting the camera on the microsope
To mount the camera onto your microscope’s TV port, use a C-mount adapter. The adapter is not in-
cluded in the shipment. You will find some suitable examples for adapters in the list below:
NOTICE
Loss of warranty
The Axiocam 305 color is delivered with an integrated IR filter (infrared cut filter). The Axio-
cam 305 mono is delivered with an integrated BK7 protective glas. This will protect the cam-
era against dust and reduces optical interferences.
4The IR filter is situated approx. 5 mm behind the outer edge of the C-mount opening in
the camera.
4Due to this pre-mounted IR barrier filter, C-mount adapters that screw more than 5 mm
into the thread cannot be screwed into the camera.
4Do not remove the filter or the protective glas otherwise the warranty will be lost.
Port Name Order Number
44 Video Adapter 44 C 2/3" 1.0x 452995-0000-000
60 Camera Adapter 60 C 1" 1.0x 456105-9901-000
60 Video Adapter 60 C 2/3" 0.63x 000000-1069-414
60 Video Adapter 60 C 1/2" 0.5x 000000-1069-415
60N Camera Adapter 60N-C 1" 1.0x 426114-0000-000
60N Camera Adapter 60N-C 2/3" 0.63x 426113-0000-000
60N Camera Adapter 60N-C 2/3" 0.5x 426112-0000-000
1. Remove the dust cap from the camera’s C-mount port.
2. Screw the adapter in as far as it will go.
3. Mount the camera onto the microscope’s TV port. Ensure that no dust enters the opening
of the camera or the microscope’s TV port.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 15

5 Connecting the camera | 5.4 Connecting the camera to the PC ZEISS
5.4 Connecting the camera to the PC
1. Lay the USB cable carefully between the camera and the PC.
2. Connect the USB cable to the USB 3.0 interface card of the PC.
3. Connect the USB cable with the camera.
4. If you switch on the PC, the camera will be also switched on.
Power is supplied via the USB 3.0 cable. By switching off the PC, the camera will be switched of
as well. If the camera is installed correctly, the status LED will be red. If you start the software the
LED will turn blue. You`ll find a detailed description of the LED status light in the chapter Function
indicator [}16].
5.5 Function Indicator
Signal color Description
Blue USB 3.0 connection (Camera) connected with USB 3.0 connection (PC)
Recommended configuration for best camera performance
Green USB 3.0 connection (Camera) connected with USB 2.0 connection (PC)
Red Power supply attached, no driver loaded, camera not yet initialized
No light No power supply or software shut down (camera in power down mode)
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 16

6 Installing software and drivers ZEISS
6 Installing software and drivers
Prerequisite üTo acquire images with the Axiocam 305 on a PC, you must install ZEISS software (e.g. ZEN
or AxioVision). You will find the software installation on the DVD delivered. The camera driv-
ers will be installed automatically during the installation of the software.
üIn some instances, an extra file is needed for proper camera installation. If the camera is not
recognized after software installation, check the camera product website for installation
notes.
üBefore starting the installation of the software and drivers, the camera must be connected to
the PC, see chapter Connecting the camera to the PC [}16].
1. Install the software according to the installation guide delivered with the software.
2. During the installation you will be asked to install the camera drivers. Follow the procedure
by confirming the upcoming messages.
3. Restart your PC after the installation.
4. You can check in the device manager if the driver installation was successful.
You have installed the software and the camera drivers. You can now start acquiring images with
your camera using ZEISS software. For more information, please read the software documentation.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 17

7 Trouble-shooting | 7.1 Software ZEISS
7 Trouble-shooting
7.1 Software
7.1.1 The camera does not appear in the menu of selectable cameras
§Make sure that you have connected the camera and installed the software and drivers in ac-
cordance to the instructions in this manual.
§Make sure that you installed the software and drivers with administrative rights. Install the
driver with administrative rights again if necessary.
7.1.2 You don't see a camera image on your screen
§Check the light path setting of the microscope.
§Is the status LED on the camera on? If not, check the cable connections between camera and
computer.
§Execute a reset of the camera.
§Execute an automatic exposure measurement.
§Check the display adjustments for the live image.
§Check the aperture diaphragm of the microscope.
§Check the position of the beam splitter between the ocular and the TV port.
7.1.3 The color of my image does not correspond to the impression through the ocular
In case of color cameras:
§Check white balance and, if necessary, repeat white balance.
§Check the monitor’s color temperature setting. If necessary, reduce this to the lowest value
that can be set (usually 5200 K).
In case of monochrome cameras:
§Images of monochrome cameras are displayed by using overlay colors to represent the colors
of fluorescence dyes on the monitor. If the color is different to the visual impression in the
eyepiece, select a different overlay color.
7.2 Hardware
7.2.1 Vibrations
Sudden jolt, vibration or moving objects during the acquisition can detract from the image quality.
The light intensity during exposure can change as well.
§To avoid jolts, use damping systems on your microscope.
§Repeat the acquisition and take care to ensure the conditions remain calm.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 18

8 Maintenance | 8.1 Cleaning the infrared filter or protective glass ZEISS
8 Maintenance
8.1 Cleaning the infrared filter or protective glass
Contamination of the IR filter (for color cameras only) or the protective glass has an adverse effect on
the quality of the resulting image (dark points, cloudy structures in the image). If there is dry dust on
the front side of the infrared filter or protective glass, you can clean it with a soft brush or with cot-
ton (wool). Use cleaning fluid for optics/lenses only to clean the IR filter. Do not use tap water to
clean the IR filter.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 19

9 Disposal and Recycling ZEISS
9 Disposal and Recycling
This product has been developed, tested and manufactured in accordance with the applicable envi-
ronmental provisions and directives of the European Union:
§The product and its accessories comply with EU directives 2002/95/EC (RoHS) and 2002/96/EC
(WEEE), insofar as these apply to this product.
§ZEISS has implemented a take-back and recycling process that ensures that proper recycling is
carried out in accordance with the aforementioned EU directives.
§Please contact your ZEISS sales/service organization for details relating to disposal and recy-
cling.
§This product must not be disposed of with domestic waste or using municipal waste disposal
services. In the event of resale, the seller must inform the buyer of the need to dispose of the
product appropriately.
User Guide ZEISS Axiocam 305 color/mono | en-US | Rev.1 20