The same issue of Methods that Bob mentioned will contain an article titled: "Assessing confocal microscopy systems for purchase"  by Peter Steyger.  I found it to be a useful, practical and even humorous account of the author's experience in the field.  No information on the exact publishing date yet, but I would be surprised if Peter ([log in to unmask]) would not want to share information prior to that.

As for my own experience, I found the 568nm Kr laser sadly unreliable, we had to change it twice in the past year.  With that exception and a few software glitches, I found the Leica NT and more recently SP truly superb in image quality and ease of use.


Anda Cornea, Ph.D.
Oregon Regional Primate Research Center
505 NW 185th Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97006
ph: (503) 690-5293
fax:(503) 690-5384


>>> ROBERT ZUCKER <[log in to unmask]> 02/25 6:50 AM >>>
Laser power throughput is very important for confocal microscopy
performance. We are publishing an article entitled  "Practical Confocal
Microscopy and the Evaluation of System Performance" in Methods A
Companion to Methods in Enzymology --Anda cornea editor. spring 99
A 30 minute lecture will be delivered at the microscopy society meetings
in the confocal section #15 (Aug 1-5 1999 Portland Oregon) on the topic.


Bob Zucker



Robert M Zucker. PhD
United States Environmental Protection Agency
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Reproductive Toxicology Division  MD-72
Research Triangle Park North Carolina 27711
tel-- 919-541-1585   fax--919-541-4017