Previous cell microscopy and bulk phase studies of SF8 dyes indicated order of magnitude enhancements in photostability over conventional pentamethine cyanine dyes such as Cy5.  When compared to Cy5, the SF8-based dye SF8(D4)2 possesses a three-fold larger single molecule emission quantum yield, exhibits order of magnitude longer average times before photobleaching, and exhibits twenty times larger photon yields. 
Cy5
Previous cell microscopy and bulk phase studies of SF8 dyes indicated order of magnitude enhancements in photostability over conventional pentamethine cyanine dyes such as Cy5.  When compared to Cy5, the SF8-based dye SF8(D4)2 possesses a three-fold larger single molecule emission quantum yield, exhibits order of magnitude longer average times before photobleaching, and exhibits twenty times larger photon yields. 
Cy5