Camera
Cornell University researchers break their record with stunning high-res photo of atoms
Macro lenses are awesome photographic tools because they let you see the world around you with greater detail and in fresh, new ways. But what if you had a way to see even closer, so close that you could see actual atoms? This is what a research team led by David Muller has been doing at Cornell University. In 2018, researchers at Cornell built a high-powered detector that, when combined with an algorithm-driven process called ptychography, captured an image of atoms at triple the resolution of a state-of-the-art electron microscope. Three years later, Muller, the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, is leading research with an even more impressive detector.
The team’s paper, ‘Electron Ptychography Achieves Atomic-Resolution Limits Set by Lattice Vibrations,’ outlines a new electron microscope pixel array detector (EMPAD) that includes more sophisticated 3D reconstruction algorithms. The combination of the EMPAD and algorithms is so finely tuned that the only blurring of atoms in the image is due to the atoms’ ‘thermal jiggling.’
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| ‘This image shows an electron ptychographic reconstruction of a praseodymium orthoscandate (PrScO3) crystal, zoomed in 100 million times.’ Image and caption credit: Cornell University, 2021. |
‘This doesn’t just set a new record,’ said Muller, ‘It’s reached a regime which is effectively going to be an ultimate limit for resolution. We basically can now figure out where the atoms are in a very easy way. This opens up a whole lot of new measurement possibilities of things we’ve wanted to do for a very long time. It also solves a long-standing problem – undoing the multiple scattering of the beam in the sample, which Hans Bethe laid out in 1928 – that has blocked us from doing this in the past.’
This scattering problem impacted Muller’s team back in 2018, image seen below. At that time, given the detector and algorithm they were using, the ptychography process was limited by the thickness of the sample. They could only image samples that were only a few atoms thicker. Thicker samples would cause electrons in the sample to scatter in ways that were then impossible to disentangle.
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| ‘A ptychographic image of two sheets of molybdenum disulfide, with one rotated by 6.8 degrees with respect to the other. The distances between individual atoms range from a full atomic bond length down to complete overlap.’ Image and caption credit: Cornell University, 2018 |
‘Ptychography works by scanning overlapping scattering patterns from a material sample and looking for changes in the overlapping region,’ said David Nutt of Cornell University. ‘We’re chasing speckle patterns that look a lot like those laser-pointer patterns that cats are equally fascinated by,’ Muller said. ‘By seeing how the pattern changes, we are able to compute the shape of the object that caused the pattern.’
Whereas traditional photographers typically aim to achieve perfect focus, when capturing images to atoms, it’s better to have the EMPAD slightly defocused. This allows the team to capture a wider range of data, which can then be reconstructed via complex algorithms to create a final, precise and sharp image. The image is precise down to one-trillionth of a meter, or a picometer.
‘With these new algorithms, we’re now able to correct for all the blurring of our microscope to the point that the largest blurring factor we have left is the fact that the atoms themselves are wobbling, because that’s what happens to atoms at finite temperature,’ said Muller.
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| ‘This schematic shows how an electron probe is defocused to capture a wide range of data that is reconstructed into an ultraprecise image. The bottom three images are the diffraction patterns simulated when the probe is illuminated at the positions circled above.’ Image and caption credit: Cornell University, 2020 |
While Muller believes the team has reached a plateau, it’s possible the team could outdo itself yet again by using a material with heavier atoms, which would wobble less, or by reducing the temperature of the sample. Although, even so, atoms still experience quantum fluctuations, so the improvement may not be large, certainly not as large as the improvement from 2018’s image to the image published this month.
The team’s imaging method has possible applications outside of academia. Being able to locate individual atoms in three dimensions could prove useful when searching for impurities in semiconductors, catalysts and quantum materials, such as those used in quantum computing. The imaging method could be used on biological cells or tissues, perhaps even synapse connections inside the brain.
Muller, who co-directs the Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science and co-chairs the Nanoscale Science and Microsystems Engineering (NEXT Nano) Task Force, says, ‘We want to apply this to everything we do. Until now, we’ve all been wearing really bad glasses. And now we actually have a really good pair. Why wouldn’t you want to take off the old glasses, put on the new ones, and use them all the time?’
The paper’s lead author is postdoctoral researcher Zhen Chen. Co-authors include Darrel Schlom, Yi Jiang, Yu-Tsun Shao, Megan Holtz and researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute and the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation through Cornell’s Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM). The researchers also used the Cornell Center for Materials Research, which is supported by the NSF’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center program.
Image credits: Photos courtesy of Cornell University
| Photo: Dale Baskin |
Canon Announced its PowerShot V1 compact just a few weeks ago, with pre-orders only recently opening for those in Asia. Despite that, DCWatch reported that Canon has already warned that demand is high and delivery may be delayed as a result, potentially delaying its availability to the rest of the world.
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| A screenshot of the messaging on Canon Japan’s website. |
Visiting the PowerShot V1 product page reveals a message (translated from Japanese) stating, “Apologies and information regarding product supply status.” That message links to a page that briefly explains that Canon is “currently receiving more orders than expected for the following products, which is causing delays in delivery.” Notably, three compact cameras are affected, with the PowerShot V1 at the top of the list. Canon plans to ship these products sequentially but says delivery may take longer than usual.
The PowerShot V1 is the company’s first compact camera since the PowerShot G7 X III, which was released back in July 2019. Canon also launched the PowerShot V10 in June 2023, but that model is more video-focused and targets a different user base. Even though the Powershot V1 is only available in Asia, it is a welcome addition. After all, we are currently seeing an increased interest in compact cameras, which is driving up prices and causing issues with availability across the board.
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| Photo: Dale Baskin |
The increased demand is reflected across the compact market. Retro compacts that used to sell for $5 at garage sales and thrift stores now go for anywhere from $40 to $250 or even higher. The PowerShot G7 X III, despite being six years old, has such high demand that Canon is suspending orders indefinitely to catch up. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm X100VI, which was announced a year ago, is still out of stock on most websites and is selling for as much as double its already steep $1,599 retail price on sites like eBay. CIPA’s January numbers also showed a rise in the popularity of compact cameras, with an increase in shipments and value compared to January 2024.
While The PowerShot V1 was released exclusively for Asia, many are eagerly waiting for broader availability. Unfortunately, a delay so early on in the release potentially complicates that, meaning those hoping to get their hands on the camera outside of Asia will likely have to wait even longer. Canon hasn’t provided specific timing or details on the extent of the delays. That means it’s a waiting game for now, with another compact camera bogged down by supply constraints.
| Photo: Richard Butler |
The Camera and Imaging Product Association (CIPA) recently published its total production and shipment data for January. The latest data shows that demand for compact cameras remains strong. Shipments of interchangeable lens systems also increased year over year, while those of SLR systems slowed.
CIPA breaks down its data into camera types, with dedicated sections for cameras with built-in lenses and interchangeable lens systems. It also differentiates between SLRs and mirrorless cameras and provides specific data regarding various regions. All digital still cameras saw a 6% increase in shipment compared to January 2024 data, while interchangeable lens cameras were up 5% year-over-year.
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| A graph showing the total number of shipments of digital still cameras. |
Built-in lens systems, though, saw the biggest increase of all categories. With 124,085 units shipped in January, cameras with integrated lenses saw an increase in shipments of 11% compared to January last year. Also notable was the 50% increase in the value of shipped compact cameras compared to January last year. The fact that the value is increasing faster than the number of units shipped indicates prices are higher for those cameras.
The growth in value isn’t entirely surprising, given that demand for compacts is high right now. Cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI have been extremely popular. According to Map Camera, one of the largest photography retailers in Japan, the Fujifilm X100VI was its best-selling camera in February 2025. The buzz surrounding the Canon Powershot V1, which was only recently announced at CP+, is also significant. The Powershot V1 is only available in Asia and wasn’t scheduled to start shipping until April. Despite all that, DCWatch reported that Canon has already announced it is experiencing supply shortage issues and that delivery times may be longer than usual as a result.
While that growth in compact camera shipments is interesting, it seems to be largely the result of two regions. China saw the greatest increase; shipments of compact cameras grew substantially year-over-year, with just 6,055 units shipped in January 2024 versus 18,955 units shipped in January 2025, a 213% increase. Asia (excluding China and Japan) also saw an increase, though at a more modest 22%. Europe and the Americas, however, actually saw a few thousand fewer shipments of compact cameras year-over-year (around a 6% fall).
While compacts saw an increase in shipments, SLRs saw a decline in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Shipments of SLRs were down 16% year-over-year. This isn’t much of a surprise, given that the last DLSR that was released was the Pentax K-3 Mark III in March 2021, and Canon and Nikon last released DSLRs in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Sigma is also no longer developing new DSLR lenses. Needless to say, it seems the sun is setting on DSLRs, so it makes sense that shipments would be slowing.
| Photo: Richard Butler |
The Camera and Imaging Product Association (CIPA) recently published its total production and shipment data for January. The latest data shows that demand for compact cameras remains strong. Shipments of interchangeable lens systems also increased year over year, while those of SLR systems slowed.
CIPA breaks down its data into camera types, with dedicated sections for cameras with built-in lenses and interchangeable lens systems. It also differentiates between SLRs and mirrorless cameras and provides specific data regarding various regions. All digital still cameras saw a 6% increase in shipment compared to January 2024 data, while interchangeable lens cameras were up 5% year-over-year.
|
| A graph showing the total number of shipments of digital still cameras. |
Built-in lens systems, though, saw the biggest increase of all categories. With 124,085 units shipped in January, cameras with integrated lenses saw an increase in shipments of 11% compared to January last year. Also notable was the 50% increase in the value of shipped compact cameras compared to January last year. The fact that the value is increasing faster than the number of units shipped indicates prices are higher for those cameras.
The growth in value isn’t entirely surprising, given that demand for compacts is high right now. Cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI have been extremely popular. According to Map Camera, one of the largest photography retailers in Japan, the Fujifilm X100VI was its best-selling camera in February 2025. The buzz surrounding the Canon Powershot V1, which was only recently announced at CP+, is also significant. The Powershot V1 is only available in Asia and wasn’t scheduled to start shipping until April. Despite all that, DCWatch reported that Canon has already announced it is experiencing supply shortage issues and that delivery times may be longer than usual as a result.
While that growth in compact camera shipments is interesting, it seems to be largely the result of two regions. China saw the greatest increase; shipments of compact cameras grew substantially year-over-year, with just 6,055 units shipped in January 2024 versus 18,955 units shipped in January 2025, a 213% increase. Asia (excluding China and Japan) also saw an increase, though at a more modest 22%. Europe and the Americas, however, actually saw a few thousand fewer shipments of compact cameras year-over-year (around a 6% fall).
While compacts saw an increase in shipments, SLRs saw a decline in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Shipments of SLRs were down 16% year-over-year. This isn’t much of a surprise, given that the last DLSR that was released was the Pentax K-3 Mark III in March 2021, and Canon and Nikon last released DSLRs in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Sigma is also no longer developing new DSLR lenses. Needless to say, it seems the sun is setting on DSLRs, so it makes sense that shipments would be slowing.
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