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Microscopes

Gurdon Institute Imaging Facility Microscopes

  • Leica SP8 upright confocal SP8
  • Leica SP8 White Light laser inverted confocal SP8 WL
  • Zeiss 880 Airyscan inverted confocal 880
  • Zeiss Z1 Light-sheet microscope Z1
  • Nikon SoRa inverted spinning disk confocal SoRa
  • Nikon AX inverted confocal AX

Rough guide to choosing a microscope

A point scanning confocal is ideal for fixed fluorescent samples. Try one of the Leica SP8 confocals, the Zeiss 880 or the Nikon AX confocal. If your sample is mounted on a slide, you can use an upright or inverted configuration. If mounted on an imaging dish, use an inverted. 
The Zeiss Z1 Light-sheet is ideal for large cleared or transparent samples. Low light-load makes it ideal for live imaging. If your live sample is not transparent you might need a Multi-photon set-up. 
A spinning disk confocal is faster and has a lower light-load than a point scanning confocal making it ideal for live imaging. Try our Nikon SoRa Spinning Disk or alternatively the Zeiss 880 Airyscan in FAST mode. Both have 37oC and CO2 incubation.

Please note that this is not a definitive guide but meant as a starting point. Please email us to discuss your imaging needs and we can help you find the right system for your application. See also iBiology – Choosing the Right Microcsopy Technique.

Members

Training requests and equipment bookings are done through PPMS