What is an event-based detector?

One of the most common questions we have to answer when we describe why our Apollo detector is so effective at electron counting is the question of what an event-based detector is.

Event-based detectors have a fascinating history, dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, and efforts to replicate the way that animals see the world with our eyes, optic nerves, and brains.

For certain applications, including electron counting, event-based detectors promise to be a far more data efficient and cost effective alternative to conventional frame-based detectors.

To properly explain the differences between event-based and frame-based detectors, some of our applications specialists recently took the opportunity to write an article for Microscopy and Analysis magazine.

You can find their article at the link below for a full answer to the question “What is an event-based detector”?

https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/do/10.1002/was.000700117

What’s New

Direct Electron at M&M 2026!

Direct Electron is excited to attend Microscopy & Microanalysis 2026, the premier annual meeting for

M&M 2026 RUN GROUP

RUN WITH US AT M&M 2026! Make the most of your M&M experience with Direct

HIGH-THROUGHPUT CRYO-EM WITH APOLLO

Up to 2,904 movies per hour and sustained 1,820 movies per hour, reconstructing apoferritin at 1.72 Å in a single afternoon.

WEBINAR 4D-STEM in SEM: in-situ testing of metal alloys using a MAPS direct detector

Featuring Dr. Julia Pürstl from Forschungszentrum Jülich, this session will explore sample preparation considerations, experimental setup optimization, in-situ strain holder demonstration, data processing & more.

Ben Bammes to Give Talk at Gordon Research Conference in Barcelona, Spain

The conference will be held at the Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel in Castelldefels, Spain,

Direct Electron at M&M 2026!

Direct Electron is excited to attend Microscopy & Microanalysis 2026, the premier annual meeting for the microscopy community, taking place August 2–6, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We invite attendees to stop by Booth 1130 to explore our latest direct detection technologies and discover the right detector for their application. Visit us to learn more about our flagship Apollo and Celeritas direct detection cameras, as well as our newest detector solutions designed for cryo-EM, SEM, 4D-STEM, EBSD, TKD, LEEM, and PEEM applications. Looking to start your mornings with fellow attendees? Join the conference’s informal morning run/walk, organized by Direct Electron Sales Director Bob Monteverde and MSA member Janet Gbur. The group meets Monday through Thursday at 6:00 AM outside the Baird Center main entrance (400 W. Wisconsin Avenue) for runs of 2–4 miles or a 1-mile walk. We look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee and discussing how Direct Electron can help advance your research.

M&M 2026 RUN GROUP

RUN WITH US AT M&M 2026! Make the most of your M&M experience with Direct Electron Sales Director, Bob Monteverde, and MSA member, Janet Gbur, and join our morning running / walking group for an invigorating start to your day! Get up on the right foot by lacing up your running shoes and joining fellow attendees for an energizing run / walk through the city. Enjoy the fresh air, see beautiful downtown Milwaukee, and connect with fellow attendees in a casual and active setting. It’s the perfect opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and awaken your body and mind before diving into a day of exhibits and presentations. Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to make new connections while staying fit! We will meet each morning of the conference, Monday through Thursday, in front of the Baird Center main entrance at 400 W Wisconsin Avenue at 6:00 AM to run / walk a few different routes of 2 to 4 miles for runners and 1 mile for walkers.