diff --git a/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/andor_sdk/andor_utils.py b/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/andor_sdk/andor_utils.py
index 4a0c5095..d385b359 100644
--- a/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/andor_sdk/andor_utils.py
+++ b/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/andor_sdk/andor_utils.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class AndorCam(object):
         'acquisition': 'single',
         'emccd': False,
         'emccd_gain': 50,
+        'em_gain_mode': 0,
         'preamp': False,
         'preamp_gain': 1.0,
         'exposure_time': 20 * ms,
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ class AndorCam(object):
         'cooldown': False,
         'water_cooling': False,
         'temperature': 20,
+        'wait_until_cool': True,
+        'wait_until_stable': True,
     }
 
     def __init__(self, name='andornymous'):
@@ -128,7 +131,7 @@ def check_capabilities(self):
             rich_print(f"   emgain_caps: {self.emgain_caps}", color='lightsteelblue')
 
     def enable_cooldown(
-        self, temperature_setpoint=20, water_cooling=False, wait_until_stable=False
+        self, temperature_setpoint=20, water_cooling=False, wait_until_stable=False, wait_until_cool=True,
     ):
         """ Calls all the functions relative to temperature control
         and stabilization. Enables cooling down, waits for stabilization
@@ -162,12 +165,13 @@ def enable_cooldown(
         self.temperature, self.temperature_status = GetTemperatureF()
 
         # Wait until stable
-        if wait_until_stable:
+        if wait_until_cool:
             while 'TEMP_NOT_REACHED' in self.temperature_status:
                 if self.chatty:
                     print(f"Temperature not reached: T = {self.temperature}")
                 time.sleep(thermal_timeout)
                 self.temperature, self.temperature_status = GetTemperatureF()
+        if wait_until_stable:
             while 'TEMP_STABILIZED' not in self.temperature_status:
                 if self.chatty:
                     print(f"Temperature not stable: T = {self.temperature}")
@@ -201,7 +205,7 @@ def enable_emccd(self, emccd_gain):
         """ Calls all the functions relative to the 
         emccd gain control. """
 
-        if not emccd_gain in self.emccd_gain_range:
+        if not (emccd_gain > self.emccd_gain_range[0] and emccd_gain <self.emccd_gain_range[1]):
             raise ValueError(
                 f"""Invalid emccd gain value, valid range is {self.emccd_gain_range}"""
             )
@@ -282,6 +286,24 @@ def setup_horizontal_shift(self, custom_option=None):
         # Get actual horizontal shifting (i.e. digitization) speed
         self.horizontal_shift_speed = GetHSSpeed(ad_number, 0, self.index_hs_speed)
      
+    def setup_acquisition_fast(self, added_attributes=None):
+        #should only be called if the normal setup_Acquisition has already been done
+        #I tried pairing this down to just the essentials that gets reset when reverting to manual
+        #although your mileage may vary
+        if added_attributes is None:
+            added_attributes = {}
+
+        # Override default acquisition attrs with added ones
+        self.acquisition_attributes = self.default_acquisition_attrs.copy()
+        self.acquisition_attributes.update(added_attributes)
+
+        # We setup trigger and shutter since they are likely to be set for manual mode
+        self.setup_trigger(**self.acquisition_attributes)
+        print(f'full attrs: {self.acquisition_attributes}')
+        self.setup_shutter(**self.acquisition_attributes)
+         # Arm sensor
+        self.armed = True
+
     def setup_acquisition(self, added_attributes=None):
         """ Main acquisition configuration method. Available acquisition modes are
         below. The relevant methods are called with the corresponding acquisition 
@@ -297,15 +319,14 @@ def setup_acquisition(self, added_attributes=None):
 
         if self.acquisition_attributes['preamp']:
             self.enable_preamp(self.acquisition_attributes['preamp_gain'])
-        
-        if self.acquisition_attributes['emccd']:
-            self.enable_emccd(self.acquisition_attributes['emccd_gain'])
 
+        #we need to do cooldown before emccd gain
         if self.acquisition_attributes['cooldown']:
             self.enable_cooldown(
                 self.acquisition_attributes['temperature'],
                 self.acquisition_attributes['water_cooling'],
-                wait_until_stable = True,
+                wait_until_stable = self.acquisition_attributes['wait_until_stable'],
+                wait_until_cool= self.acquisition_attributes['wait_until_cool'],
             )
 
             # Get current temperature and temperature status
@@ -317,6 +338,17 @@ def setup_acquisition(self, added_attributes=None):
                     color='magenta',
                 )
 
+        if self.acquisition_attributes['emccd']:
+            #set the emccd gain mode so the gain range is correct
+            print(f'setting em gain mode to {self.acquisition_attributes['em_gain_mode']}')
+            print(GetEMGainRange())
+            SetEMGainMode(self.acquisition_attributes['em_gain_mode'])
+            self.emccd_gain_range = GetEMGainRange()
+            print(GetEMGainRange())
+            self.enable_emccd(self.acquisition_attributes['emccd_gain'])
+
+        
+
         # Available modes
         modes = {
             'single': 1,
@@ -362,7 +394,13 @@ def setup_acquisition(self, added_attributes=None):
         # Arm sensor
         self.armed = True
 
-        self.keepClean_time = GetKeepCleanTime()
+        #on the ixon 855 in the caf lab this does not seem to work somehow
+        try:
+            self.keepClean_time = GetKeepCleanTime()
+        except AndorException:
+            print('could not get keepClean time, defaulting to 1s')
+            self.keepClean_time = 1
+        
         # Note: The GetReadOutTime call breaks in FK mode for unknown reasons
         if 'fast_kinetics' not in self.acquisition_mode:
             self.readout_time = GetReadOutTime()
@@ -516,8 +554,29 @@ def setup_readout(self, **attrs):
             if self.acquisition_attributes['crop']:
                 SetOutputAmplifier(0)
                 SetFrameTransferMode(1)
-                SetIsolatedCropModeEx(
-                    int(1),
+                if self.model[0]=='IXION ULTRA': #only impolemented with IXON ultra cams
+                    SetIsolatedCropModeEx(#only impolemented with IXON ultra cams
+                        int(1),
+                        int(attrs['height']),
+                        int(attrs['width']),
+                        attrs['ybin'],
+                        attrs['xbin'],
+                        attrs['left_start'],
+                        attrs['bottom_start'],
+                    )
+                else:
+                    SetIsolatedCropMode(
+                        int(1),
+                        int(attrs['height']),
+                        int(attrs['width']),
+                        attrs['ybin'],
+                        attrs['xbin'],
+                    )
+        else:
+            SetFrameTransferMode(0)
+            if self.model[0]=='IXON ULTRA':
+                SetIsolatedCropModeEx( #only impolemented with IXON ultra cams
+                    int(0),
                     int(attrs['height']),
                     int(attrs['width']),
                     attrs['ybin'],
@@ -525,17 +584,14 @@ def setup_readout(self, **attrs):
                     attrs['left_start'],
                     attrs['bottom_start'],
                 )
-        else:
-            SetFrameTransferMode(0)
-            SetIsolatedCropModeEx(
-                int(0),
-                int(attrs['height']),
-                int(attrs['width']),
-                attrs['ybin'],
-                attrs['xbin'],
-                attrs['left_start'],
-                attrs['bottom_start'],
-            )
+            else:
+                SetIsolatedCropMode(
+                    int(0),
+                    int(attrs['height']),
+                    int(attrs['width']),
+                    attrs['ybin'],
+                    attrs['xbin'],
+                )
         SetImage(
             attrs['xbin'],
             attrs['ybin'],
@@ -545,7 +601,7 @@ def setup_readout(self, **attrs):
             attrs['height'] + attrs['bottom_start'] - 1,
         )
 
-    def acquire(self):
+    def acquire(self,semaphore=None):
         """ Carries down the acquisition, if the camera is armed and
         waits for an acquisition event for acquisition timeout (has to be
         in milliseconds), default to 5 seconds """
@@ -566,7 +622,7 @@ def homemade_wait_for_acquisition():
                         color='firebrick',
                     )
                     break
-                time.sleep(0.05)
+                time.sleep(0.001)
             if self.chatty:
                 rich_print(
                     f"Leaving homemade_wait with status {self.acquisition_status} ",
@@ -583,11 +639,16 @@ def homemade_wait_for_acquisition():
             self.acquisition_status = GetStatus()
             if 'DRV_IDLE' in self.acquisition_status:
                 StartAcquisition()
+                #print(f'StartAcquisition finished at time {time.time()}')
+                #this semaphore we passed around from the IMAQdx worker should now be released because the actual acquisition has started
+                if semaphore is not None:
+                    semaphore.release() 
                 if self.chatty:
                     rich_print(
                         f"Waiting for {acquisition_timeout} ms for timeout ...",
                         color='yellow',
                     )
+                
                 homemade_wait_for_acquisition()
             
             # Last chance, check if the acquisition is finished, update
diff --git a/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/blacs_workers.py b/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/blacs_workers.py
index 241992d2..d0aec4ec 100644
--- a/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/blacs_workers.py
+++ b/labscript_devices/AndorSolis/blacs_workers.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from labscript_devices.IMAQdxCamera.blacs_workers import MockCamera, IMAQdxCameraWorker
 
 class AndorCamera(object):
+    supportSemaphore = True
 
     def __init__(self):
         global AndorCam
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.camera = AndorCam()
         self.attributes = self.camera.default_acquisition_attrs
         self.exception_on_failed_shot = True
+        self.conf_attributes = {}
 
     def set_attributes(self, attr_dict):
         self.attributes.update(attr_dict)
@@ -43,7 +45,11 @@ def snap(self):
         return images # This may be a 3D array of several images
 
     def configure_acquisition(self, continuous=False, bufferCount=None):
-        self.camera.setup_acquisition(self.attributes)
+        if self.attributes == self.conf_attributes: #this is still very crude but it should help a lot
+            self.camera.setup_acquisition_fast(self.attributes)
+        else:
+            self.camera.setup_acquisition(self.attributes)
+            self.conf_attributes = self.attributes.copy() #cache the latest configured attributes
 
     def grab(self):
         """ Grab last/single image """
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ def grab(self):
         # Consider using run til abort acquisition mode...
         return img
 
-    def grab_multiple(self, n_images, images, waitForNextBuffer=True):
+    def grab_multiple(self, n_images, images, acquisitionSemaphore=None, waitForNextBuffer=True):
         """Grab n_images into images array during buffered acquistion."""
     
         # TODO: Catch timeout errors, check if abort, else keep trying.
@@ -71,11 +77,12 @@ def grab_multiple(self, n_images, images, waitForNextBuffer=True):
 
         if 'single' in self.camera.acquisition_mode:
             for image_number in range(n_images):
-                self.camera.acquire()
+                self.camera.acquire(acquisitionSemaphore)
+                acquisitionSemaphore = None #once we've done one acquisition we don't need this anymore
                 print(f"    {image_number}: Acquire complete")
                 downloaded = self.camera.download_acquisition()
                 print(f"    {image_number}: Download complete")
-                images.append(downloaded)
+                images.append(downloaded[0])
                 self.camera.armed = True
             self.camera.armed = False
             print(f"Got {len(images)} of {n_images} acquisition(s).")
diff --git a/labscript_devices/IMAQdxCamera/blacs_workers.py b/labscript_devices/IMAQdxCamera/blacs_workers.py
index 2433fa19..61b2087c 100644
--- a/labscript_devices/IMAQdxCamera/blacs_workers.py
+++ b/labscript_devices/IMAQdxCamera/blacs_workers.py
@@ -260,6 +260,12 @@ class IMAQdxCameraWorker(Worker):
 
     def init(self):
         self.camera = self.get_camera()
+        # Check if the camera supports semaphores for acquisition start, and if so use them to avoid missing shots. 
+        # If not, we just hope the camera is fast enough.
+        if hasattr(self.camera, 'supportSemaphore'):
+            self.supportSemaphore = self.camera.supportSemaphore
+        else:
+            self.supportSemaphore = False
         print("Setting attributes...")
         self.smart_cache = {}
         self.set_attributes_smart(self.camera_attributes)
@@ -410,12 +416,25 @@ def transition_to_buffered(self, device_name, h5_filepath, initial_values, fresh
         print(f"Configuring camera for {self.n_images} images.")
         self.camera.configure_acquisition(continuous=False, bufferCount=self.n_images)
         self.images = []
-        self.acquisition_thread = threading.Thread(
-            target=self.camera.grab_multiple,
-            args=(self.n_images, self.images),
-            daemon=True,
-        )
-        self.acquisition_thread.start()
+
+        #if the camera supports semaphores, we pass it, if not, we don't.
+        #this is done to remain backwards compatible
+        if self.supportSemaphore:
+            aquisitionSemaphore = threading.Semaphore(0)
+            self.acquisition_thread = threading.Thread(
+                target=self.camera.grab_multiple,
+                args=(self.n_images, self.images,aquisitionSemaphore),
+                daemon=True,
+            )
+            self.acquisition_thread.start()
+            aquisitionSemaphore.acquire()
+        else:
+            self.acquisition_thread = threading.Thread(
+                target=self.camera.grab_multiple,
+                args=(self.n_images, self.images),
+                daemon=True,
+            )
+            self.acquisition_thread.start()
         return {}
 
     def transition_to_manual(self):