Do you want an imager, or a more sophisticated system that will store plates and image them according to a schedule?
With imaging, it is important to think about what you want out of the system, as it is easy to be disappointed with them. The images you get will not be as good as what you see down a microscope (imagine if you set the microscope up to have drop A1 in focus and well lit, and after that you only translated the plate).
Do you want to be able to find an xtal in an image, and then immediately know what was in the drop, reservoir, temperature of setup etc? In which case, you should look at the crystallisation database which is behind the imager - all software requires that you put information into it before you can retrieve it, so how easy is it to get information into your database?
Janet
-----Original Message-----
From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pedro M. Matias
Sent: Tuesday, 22 January 2008 12:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ccp4bb] Crystal Imaging Systems - possibilities and recommendations
Dear Colleagues,
We are currently contemplating the acquisition of
an automated imaging system for crystallization screen plates (96-well).
I am aware that Molecular Dimensions sells these
systems ranging in price between 47 and 71 k€ and
I am inviting your opinions, comments and advice
on these and other commercially available
systems, in particular regarding price, reliability and ease of use.
Thanks in advance,
Pedro Matias
Industry and Medicine Applied Crystallography
Macromolecular Crystallography Unit
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