Choosing the Right Microscope: A Practical Buyer’s Guide

Selecting the right microscope requires careful evaluation of your imaging needs, available features, and budget. Whether you are conducting routine lab work or high-end research, understanding the key factors can help ensure you invest in a system that meets your requirements.

This resource provides comprehensive information to help evaluate the features of each Andor microscope. Learn where each system excels—from benchtop convenience to high-end, multi-laser flexibility—with application-first insight provided by Dr. Claudia Florindo.

What you’ll learn

• Imaging modalities explained: widefield, confocal, SRRF-Stream+ super-resolution, TIRF, and SMLM
• Laser and detector choices: 4-laser benchtop vs up to 10-laser high-end configurations; sCMOS and EMCCD options
• Real-world constraints: live vs fixed samples, >500 µm tissue/organoid handling, and fps considerations
• Budget drivers: how pinholes, dichroics, objectives, stages, and cameras impact your final quote

Who should read this

·       Core facility managers aligning capabilities with diverse user needs

·       PI/lab leads planning near-term experiments and multi-year investments

·       Imaging specialists benchmarking speed, sensitivity, and modality coverage

·       Procurement teams comparing configurations and price drivers with clarity

·       Anyone considering upgrading to new technology

By carefully matching your imaging requirements with instrument capabilities, you can confidently choose the right microscope for your application, ensuring high-quality results and efficiency in your research or diagnostic work.

Download the resource to learn more