Inverted Microscope Platform with AI Assisted Experiment Startup
ZEISS Axio Observer for Life Science Research​

In life sciences research you come up against new challenges every day. That’s why you want a flexible microscope system that can be tailored to your needs. ZEISS Axio Observer is your inverse platform for demanding multimodal imaging of living and fixed specimens. Combine Axio Observer with a wealth of technologies and refine it to support your experiments precisely.

✓ Flexibility from widefield to super-resolution imagings

✓ Unique guidance through your experiments

✓ Efficient imaging thanks to a high degree of automation


VARIANTS COMING SOON
AI Sample Finder
Reduce your time to experiment from minutes to just seconds.​
Automated Sample Identification for Efficient Imaging
Microscopes are becoming increasingly automated. However, sample placement, focus adjustment and identification of the relevant areas on the sample carrier still require manual steps. AI Sample Finder automates this sequence, eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments and reducing the time to image from minutes to just seconds.​
Learn more about AI Sample Finder

Apotome 3​ - Create brilliant optical sections of your fluorescent samples.

Optical Sectioning Using Structured Illumination​.

With structured illumination, removal of out-of-focus light becomes simple and efficient. ZEISS Apotome 3 calculates your optical section from a number of images acquired with different grid positions. Get high-contrast images, even from thicker specimens, while your system remains just as easy to operate as always.
Learn More About Apotome 3

Autoimmersion Module - Automated, hands-free water immersion for reliable data acquisition from start to finish.

Minimize Your Risk. Improve Your Efficiency.

Immersion media between the sample and the objective is required for high-resolution imaging. Manual addition of immersion media risks loss of data points or even microscope damage from user error; it is also tedious and inefficient. The Autoimmersion Module for ZEISS Axio Observer 7 widefield and confocal systems is your automated, easy-to-use solution for maintaining immersion media for water immersion objectives.
Learn more about the Autoimmersion Module

Accessories and Interfaces​

Your Axio Observer microscope can be tailored specifically to dedicated applications, keeping the flexibility to grow in the future when requirements change.

  • ZEISS Axiocam portfolio

    Select a microscope camera with the sensitivity, resolution, and imaging speed required for your applications. ZEISS Axiocam portfolio, to better support your most demanding applications.

    View Cameras
  • Incubation solutions

    Create the optimal environment for the most sensitive specimens. ZEISS incubation systems allow to combine different housings, incubators, and sample holders.

    View Incubation
  • Keep your samples in focus

    Definite Focus 3 compensates for focus drift. Even your most challenging multi-day, multi-position time-lapse experiments will yield sharp and high-contrast images.

    Inquire
  • Multicolor LED light source

    The fast LED illumination systems Viluma and Colibri are the perfect choice for your fluorescence imaging, reducing cross-stimulation while increasing contrast and SNR.

    Fast LED Illumination
  • White light LED light source

    Xylis LED light source allows you to get a high and reproducible light output without warm-up times over the entire life span.


    Light Sources
  • Advanced filter technology

    Virtual filters allow a wealth of excitation and emission combinations with high excitation intensity and extremely fast switching times for fluorescence imaging.

    Inquire
  • Simultaneous spectral imaging

    Use Duolink and ZEN imaging software to perform high-speed imaging with two spectrally separated channels simultaneously.

    Inquire
  • Autocorr objectives​

    Adjust the optics of the microscope to your sample, with a simple slider in ZEN imaging software. Expect crisp contrast even deep inside the specimen.

    Inquire
1 of 8

Typical Application - ZEISS Axio Observer at Work

Label-free live cell cultures

Typical Samples:

  • Evaluate and document cell culture status

Tasks:

  • ✓ PlasDIC contrast for high-resolution images through plastic vessels
  • ✓ Objective lenses with long working distance and correction rings to enhance contrast and resolution
  • ✓ Sample carriers and stages for large cell culture flasks
  • ✓ Large field of view imaging (field number: 23 mm)

Transfected live cell cultures

Typical Samples:

  • Evaluate and document transfection rate and transfection stability

Tasks:

  • ✓ Gentle fluorescence excitation by Viluma and Colibri

Label-free fixed and thin tissue slices or small organism

Typical Samples:

  • Document and evaluate cell and tissue morphology and growth state

Tasks:

  • ✓ Optimized DIC for low magnification, high numerical aperture multi-immersion lenses

Reproductive or adherent cells and cell cultures

Typical Samples:

  • Mechanical manipulation of cells (e.g. injection of germ cells), injection of dyes and other biologically active substances

Tasks:

  • ✓ Phase contrast, improved Hoffmann Modulation contrast (iHMC), DIC contrast
  • ✓ Support for micromanipulators from Narishige, Eppendorf and Luigs & Neumann
  • ✓ Heated microscope stages and mounting frames, heating inserts

Living neuronal or muscular cell culture or tissue slices

Typical Samples:

  • Observation of fast densitometric, ratiometric and electrical signals

Tasks:

  • ✓ Water- and silicon oil immersion lenses
  • ✓ Apochromatic and UV-enhanced reflected-light illuminator
  • ✓ Double camera adapter Duolink
  • ✓ Highspeed filter wheels and shutters
  • ✓ Fast multicolor LED illumination with Viluma and Colibri
  • ✓ High efficiency filter sets
  • ✓ Z-Piezo (500 µm) with large travel range

Fixed immunfluorescence labelled tissue or cell culture samples

Typical Samples:

  • Identification, quantification and qualification of cell types, cell-, tissue and protein markers in 2D and 3D samples

Tasks:

  • ✓ Definite Focus 3
  • ✓ Dual filter wheel
  • ✓ Apotome 3
  • ✓ Piezo stage for high speed, high precision XY positioning
  • ✓ Various mounting frames for different sample carriers

Multi-labelled living tissue section, organs, organotypic-, spheriod or cell culture preparations

Typical Samples:

  • Long-term observation of physiological and morphological parameters in 2D / 3D

Tasks:

  • ✓ Autocorr objective lenses
  • ✓ Definite Focus 3
  • ✓ Special objectives for incubation
  • ✓ Life cell imaging objectives
  • ✓ Long distance objectives
  • ✓ Water and silicone oil immersion objectives
  • ✓ Aqua Stop II
  • ✓ Incubation, CO2and O2control
  • ✓ Camera adapter for large field of view imaging (field number: 23 mm)
  • ✓ Viluma and Colibri

Microbiomes, bacteria and yeast cultures

Typical Samples:

  • Identification and characterization of cell wall, cell cycle and host-parasite interaction

Tasks:

  • ✓ C-Apochromat 100 × / 1.25 W Corr Plan
  • ✓ APOCHROMAT 150 × / 1.35 Glyc Corr DIC
Application
HEK 293 Cells​

Long-term time lapse recording of 3 × 3 tiles with 240 s interval.

Acquired with Axiocam 506 mono, stabilized by Definite Focus 3 at 10 s interval.

HeLa Cell Culture

HeLa cell culture with cytosolic eGFP. Proliferation imaged over 16 hours.

LLC PK1 Cells

Time lapse recording of undisturbed cell division.

Application

SK8 K18 Mouse Cells

Vimentin stained with Alexa 488 (green), nuclei stained with DAPI (blue).

Application

Cortical Neurons

Cortical neurons stained for DNA, microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins. Courtesy: Leibniz-Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI), Germany.

Downloads

Product Info | White Papers | Manuals

  • Product Info

    ZEISS Axio Observer

    Your open and flexible inverted microscope platform with AI assisted experiment startup

    Download
  • Product Info

    Autoimmersion Module for ZEISS Axio Observer 7

    Reliable Data Acquisition from Start to Finish.

    Download
  • Product Info

    ZEISS Axio Observer Bundle for Live Cell Imaging

    Matching the environmental conditions of life.

    Download
  • Product Info

    ZEISS Filters and Filter Wheels

    Gain More Spectral Information without Sacrificing Productivity

    Download
  • Product Info

    ZEISS Microscope Bundle for Optical Sectioning

    Creating crisp sections of thick samples with ease.

    Download
  • Product Info

    ZEISS Microscope Bundle for Screening Applications

    Fast acquisition and evaluation of large areas.

    Download
  • Product Info

    ZEISS Microscope Objectives

    Superior Optical Performance for Unsurpassed Microscopy and Imaging.

    Download
  • White Papers

    Plastic Labware for Optimal Results in Modern Life Science Microscopy

    Using ZEISS Axio Observer and ZEISS Celldiscoverer 7.

    Download
  • White Papers

    Understanding the diversity of pollen morphology and detecting of responsible genomic signatures in Eternal Rye
    Download
  • Manuals

    ZEISS Autoimmersion Module

    Instruction Manual (English) Rev. 1

    Download
  • Manuals

    ZEISS Axio Observer 3/5/7

    Installation Requirements (English)

    Download
1 of 11