1. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision Strong points of Cell Observer system: Zeiss name, Zeiss’s success in high-end application, especially in LSM, gives them very strong references and existing user. Axiovert 200 Axiocam MRm in cheap price, to support microscope sales. Software and hardware from single source, smooth control. Integrated complete Cell cultivation system : temperature, air, CO2 controls, incubators, culture chambers. Strong points of Axiovision: 1.Modern look. 2.Good user interface for hardware controls (graphical Microscope control, User definable tool bar, every components can be assign as a button). 3.Good database and reporter.

2. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Where we win 1.Hardware support: MediaCy is very strong here! a. Camera: Zeiss only supports Axiocam camera. Hamamatsu Orca ER was supported, but not sure how good is the driver and how often it is updated. When the customer prefers another cameras or already has a camera, Zeiss can’t offer. Axiocam is not the top range when it relates to sensitivity and speed, and where high-end applications need it. It is cooled -10 degree below ambient and the minimum time interval for time lapse imaging is 1 second. b. Third party components : Zeiss integrates the system themselves, the configuration are always somehow fixed - they have less flexibility than MediaCy. It is usually not possible for customization and Zeiss are quite slow in terms of new hardware support. So, for upgrading projects or projects with special requirements, MediaCy have an advantage.

3. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Where we win 2. The imaging platform Theoretically, Axiovision is not an image analysis platform yet, it is just an image capturing system. Regarding image analysis functionality, Axiovision is exactly equal to Image-Pro Express. It has no segmentation, auto-measurements, macro, advanced filters, etc. For a customer who wants advanced post processing and quantitative analysis, Zeiss has a huge disadvantage. It’s unique image format is also a negative here. Particularly, multi-dimensional applications, it is difficult for 3rd party software to support them. So for applications other than just image acquisition, Axiovision can not compare with IPP.

4. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Modules comparison Axiovision is also built on a modular concept. The available modules compare with IPP modules as below NoAxiovision ModulesEquivalent IPP products 1 Axiovision Basic (Microscope Control included) IPE - interactive measurements, EDF, color channel + Database, support Plugin 2Interactive measurementManual Measurements in IPE 3Extended FocusEDF in IPE 4Microscope ControlScope Pro 5Advanced AcquisitionAFA + Scope Pro 6 Deconvolution ( no spherical correction, no 2D) Sharp-Stark 4.5 7 4D Inside (no manual and auto measurements) 3D Constructor 4.5 8Mark and FindScope Pro or AFA multi sample position

5. Axiovision Multidemsional Acq. Module The workflow of it is quite similar to AFA : 1.User Configure microscope settings and save as setting files through Microscope control Window. Note : this window has Tabs for different components, while Scope Pro controls everything in one page which is much easier.

6. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision Compare with Axiovision, Scope Pro controls all components and does the settings from a single page interface, which is much easier.

7. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision A heavily demonstrated feature is this Graphic microscope, when user click on a component on the scope picture, the related setting page will jump out. This in most case, is just useful for demo or very new users, most of the users will finally find either control directly from the scope buttons (another sales points of Zeiss: control scope while observing) or from choosing setting files is much easier.

8. Axiovision VS. IPP + AFA 2. The multi dimension acquisition setup is just same as AFA.

9. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision AFA user interface.

10. AFA A very important feature for multi-dimensional imaging is an easy way to preview any dimension, to let the user confirm all settings are correct before starting the time consumed procedure. While AFA offers Preview function but Axiovision does nothing here.

11. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision Zeiss offers Mark and Find module for multiple sample position application, which has very simple functions compare with Stage Pro.

12. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Features Axiovision does not have 1. Pre-saved database for multi-well pattern. 2. Very easy set up of user defined patterns. 3. Image Tiling and Scan Area. For further request, IPP5.0 offers Auto-tiling function, while Axiovision does not have comparable feature. It is a waste for a scanning stage to just do “mark and find”.

13. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Features Axiovision does not have 4. Feature Mapping, 5. Relative measurements, 6. Macro recording. 5. Completed Z stack setting

14. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision: Features Axiovision does not have Scope Pro incorporated with IPP’s powerful EDF feature during acquisition. User can choose from 4 different EDF methods and set the software to return only best focused frame or EDFed frame to the end results. This is very useful when large amount of images are capturing, ensure only correct images are recorded. While one has to capture all the images in Axiovision, then use the Extended Focus model to find the need image in post process.

15. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision While IPP offers Set Manager to manage complex Multi-dimensional images, including dimension re-define, player, any dimension extraction and EDF incorporated, Axiovision has very simple capability to do this. One can only Export or Import a single dimension to hard disk, no direct workspace extraction, no multi dimension import of export. Only import one dimension at one time. Only Export to hard disk, and a single dimension at one time.

16. IPP & AFA vs. Axiovision The powerful Set Manager tool makes multi- dimension image importing, extraction, playing very simple.