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CCP4BB  October 2007

CCP4BB October 2007

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Subject:

Re: Cost-effective imaging systems: recommendations and opinions requested

From:

Anastassis Perrakis <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Anastassis Perrakis <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:25:35 +0100

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

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text/plain (138 lines)

Just my two cents with a bit of a delay ...

1. I have tried the 'cheap' solution and simply lost not so much  
money since it was damped to the junk yard at the end. We now have an  
'expensive' solution (Crystal Farm) but - guess what - it works. Our  
cheap solution was the BioTom robot, from a company that - not  
shockingly - is bankrupt. Some of the machines they built had better  
fates. I have not checked current 'cheap' solutions for a while  
though and this is by no means a critique of any existing systems.  
But, still, as far as I know capitalism won and you get what you pay  
for.

2. The best thing about an automated imager is that, unlike me or my  
group members, it is as happy to take pictures at 03:00 in the  
morning as at 11:00 or 15:30. The thing that makes that possible is  
the hotel. As said below a good microscope is difficult to beat. The  
automated imager beats it for the reason it can take pictures at  
various times. You see in day 2 a thing that could be dust or  
crystal ? You look at 'time 0' and 'day 0.5' and see if it was there  
or not. yes, the images are not as good as your old Leica/Olympus and  
your eyes and hands scanning, but the *hotel* attached to it that  
makes it possible to take many images, beats that.

For an imager I would choose one that:

1. Takes good images for my usual trays
2. Has a hotel that allows my plates to stay there for a month or so  
and good scheduling (we use 0, 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24, hrs, 2 days 7 days,  
2 weeks I think)
3. Comes with a good DB and software for viewing, or even better it  
is supported in PiMS ;-) (coming soon!)
4. Make sure the hotel is either thermostated or that my  
crystallization room will not suffer from the extra machine(s) inside.

There are quite a few solutions that meet these criteria out there  
and I would not be shocked if some cheaper ones work fine.

A.

On Oct 29, 2007, at 9:52, mesters wrote:

> Dear Rebecca,
>
> a good microscope is very difficult to beat. The reason for this is  
> the larger numerical aperture (= the maximum cone of light that can  
> enter the lens) when compared to long and small-diameter tubes with  
> a camera on top. The resolution of the camera is less important  
> here and it does not compensate for poor optics.
> What is most important is a proper illumination of the sample!
>
> To the best of my knowledge and I am sure I have forgotten a few, a  
> listing of all more or less simple, medium throughput (without  
> plate-hotel), not so expensive, imagers:
>
> Crystal Pro
> Minstrel 1
> Rockimager 1
> Crystal Monitor
> CrysCam
>
> The best thing is to go and test these yourself with your favorite  
> plate and a difficult protein.... a specifically selected 96-well  
> plate with lysozyme crystals always look great in almost any  
> imager. Nevertheless, the crystal pictures in brochures of some  
> companies already reveal problems with the illumination as a clear  
> dark ring is visible at the rim of the image...........
>
> Good luck.
>
> J.
>
> *R. Page wrote:
> *
>
> *
> From:* CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On  
> Behalf Of *Page, Rebecca
> *Sent:* Friday, October 26, 2007 6:10 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* [ccp4bb] Cost-effective imaging systems: recommendations  
> and opinions requested
>
> Dear CCP4 community,
>
> I know this question has been posted before, but imaging systems  
> are updated so often that I’d like to post it again.
>
> I am considering purchasing *a crystal imaging system*.
>
> I am looking for a system that is
>
> 1) cost-effective
>
> 2) straightforward to use
>
> 3) suitable for a low-medium throughput (2-4 academic laboratories;  
> with primary use by graduate students)
>
> 4) nice clear crystals images
>
> I am interested in all systems, but I’d be especially interested to  
> know how people feel about the ArtRobbins CrysCam, including its  
> pros and cons and if there are any other comparable systems  
> available for a similar price. If you have an imaging system you  
> are especially fond of (or regret buying), any information that you  
> can provide about that system is very welcome as well, as is any  
> information about the associated software.
>
> I’ll compile and re-post all comments and opinions for everyone  
> else who might find this information useful.
>
> Thanks very much in advance,
>
> Rebecca
>
> Rebecca Page
>
> Brown University
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Jeroen Raymundus Mesters, Ph.D.
> Institut fuer Biochemie, Universitaet zu Luebeck
> Zentrum fuer Medizinische Struktur und Zellbiologie
> Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Luebeck
> Tel: +49-451-5004070, Fax: +49-451-5004068
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Http://www.biochem.uni-luebeck.de
> Http://www.iobcr.org
> Http://www.opticryst.org
> --
> If you can look into the seeds of time and say
> which grain will grow and which will not - speak then to me  (Macbeth)
> --

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