FastGene® FAS-DIGI PRO: Safe, Sensitive Gel Documentation Without UV
The FastGene® FAS-DIGI PRO is a compact gel imaging system for documenting DNA and RNA in agarose gels, designed and built in Germany by NIPPON Genetics. It removes the two biggest compromises of conventional gel documentation: UV exposure for the user, and UV damage to the nucleic acids you may want to clone or sequence.
Illumination comes from a Blue/Green LED transilluminator emitting visible light at 470 to 520 nm, paired with a 24 megapixel Canon camera and the NIPPON Genetics Camera Studio software. The system is fully networkable, so when it’s connected to an external PC, images can be saved straight to your network drives instead of being scanned from printouts or thermal paper.
Key Benefits:
- Safe: No UV, no damage, no exposure risk. Visible Blue/Green light leaves nucleic acids intact, which matters when excised bands go on to cloning or sequencing, and removes the need for UV protection when cutting bands.
- Sensitive: Faint bands don’t get missed. A light-sensitive Canon camera with a large APS-C CMOS sensor and exposures from 0.00025 to 30 seconds covers everything from bright bands to barely visible ones.
- Dye compatible: One system for your usual stains. The 470 to 520 nm range detects common green dyes (such as Midori Green and SYBR™ Green), yellow dyes (such as SYBR™ Safe) and red dyes (such as ethidium bromide and GelRed™).
- Flexible: Nucleic acid and protein gels in one cabinet. A white LED plate with an integrated battery is included, so Coomassie-stained gels and Petri dishes can be imaged by removing the amber filter from the lens.
- Easy to use: Live control, fewer repeat shots. Aperture, exposure time, zoom and focus are adjusted in real time in Camera Studio, so you see the effect before you capture.
- Network compatible: Simple image transfer. Connect the system to a PC and save images directly to your network storage.
- Large work surface: Big illuminated area, small footprint. The 26 x 21 cm Blue/Green LED surface sits in a benchtop unit measuring 57 x 35 x 32.5 cm.
Technical Insights
▼ Blue/Green LED Technology
The heart of the FAS-DIGI PRO is a strong Blue/Green LED transilluminator emitting visible light between 470 and 520 nm. In contrast to UV, this light doesn’t damage nucleic acids. The broad excitation range allows detection of all the common green, yellow and red DNA dyes listed above, so there’s no need to change your staining routine.
▼ Removable Hood for Band Excision
The hood lifts off easily, giving open access to the 26 x 21 cm Blue/Green LED work surface for cutting out DNA bands. Twelve LED arrays on each side provide uniform illumination across the whole area. If you’d rather keep the hood on while cutting, the FastGene amber filter shield attaches magnetically inside the box.
▼ Included White LED Plate for Protein Gels
A white LED plate with an integrated battery (22 x 16 cm view area) is supplied as standard for protein detection. Remove the amber filter from the lens and you can image Coomassie-stained gels or Petri dishes in the same cabinet.
▼ The Camera
Images are captured by a Canon 250D with a large APS-C CMOS sensor, giving 24 megapixel images at 6000 x 4000 pixels. The 18-55 mm manual zoom lens carries a FastGene amber filter. The camera is powered directly from the FAS-DIGI PRO’s own power supply, so there are no batteries to charge or swap mid-session.
▼ NIPPON Genetics Camera Studio Software
The FAS-DIGI PRO is supplied with Camera Studio software for Windows. All the key camera settings (aperture, exposure time, zoom and focus) can be optimised in real time against a live view. Images are saved as TIFF or JPEG.
Zooming in on the live image lets you check focus and band definition on fine details before you commit to a capture.
▼ Videos and Webinar
Product Video: FastGene® FAS-DIGI PRO
Webinar: FastGene® FAS-DIGI PRO
LabDay: mCherry and GFP Detection Using the FAS-DIGI PRO
Specifications
- Catalogue number: G5-0744
- Camera: Canon 250D, DIGIC 8 processor, WiFi enabled
- Image sensor: APS-C CMOS
- Resolution: 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 MP), 8-bit output
- Lens: 18-55 mm manual zoom lens, F/4-5.6, with FastGene amber filter
- Exposure time: 0.00025 to 30 seconds
- Built-in Blue/Green LED: 470 to 520 nm, view area 26 x 21 cm
- White LED plate (included): view area 22 x 16 cm, integrated battery
- Hood: front door opens 180°, hood fully removable, FastGene amber filter shield
- Power unit: powers both the transilluminator and the camera
- Control software: NIPPON Genetics Camera Studio v1.0, Windows 10
- Image formats: TIFF, JPEG
- Image storage and interface: host computer dependent
- Dimensions (H x L x W): 57 x 35 x 32.5 cm
- Weight: 14 kg
- Material: painted aluminium
- Rated voltage: 100-240 V~, 50/60 Hz