To simplify the routine digital documentation of microscopic samples, the Axiolab 5 and Axioscope 5 microscopes and the Axiocam 202 mono and Axiocam 208 color microscope cameras from Zeiss, Jena, Germany, can be combined to form a smart microscopy system that takes away a large share of the workload from users. The system automatically adjusts many of the required settings to make digital documentation of microscopic specimens easier and more efficient.
To acquire detail-rich, true-color images of biomedical specimens, users typically need to repeat the same steps again and again and adjust the settings of the microscope and software. Suchconstant switching between microscope and PC is labor-intensive and time-consuming. To simplify digital documentation, the Zeiss smart microscopy system automatically adjusts brightness and white balance.
Users place the sample, find their region of interest, then press the ergonomic ‘snap’ button on the microscope stand to acquire the image. All elements are within reach and can be operated with one hand, including the stage drive, focus buttons, light intensity control, and the snap button. Users focus on the sample through the eyepieces and don’t need to take their hands away from the microscope stand. The system documents the sample reproducibly and precisely as users see it through the eyepieces—detail-rich and in true color. The correct scaling is always included automatically.
In addition to documenting stained samples in transmitted light, the system facilitates work on specimens with multicolored fluorescence markers. Users can combine the company’s Axioscope 5 microscope with the high performance LED light source Colibri 3 and the sensitive, standalone Axiocam 202 mono microscope camera; the Zeiss smart microscopy system then takes over and automatically adjusts the excitation intensity and exposure time, acquires the image, switches the channel, and starts again. Users get their overlaid multichannel fluorescence image, including a scale bar.
For more information, visit Zeiss.
Featured image: The Axiolab 5 microscope and Axiocam 208 color microscope camera (left), and the Axioscope 5 microscope with Axiocam 202 mono microscope camera and Colibri 3 LED light source (right), from Zeiss.
