Ralf: We have a 40X water immersion lens for our Zeiss CLSM and we have used it extensively. It is very nice for examination of live cultures in petri dishes. We like it so much that we have placed an order for a 63X water immersion. However, one VERY IMPORTANT note: our system is based on an upright microscope. I cannot see how a water immersion lens can even be used for an inverted microscope. These lenses are specifically designed for the upright microscopes to compensate for the small working distance when one examines specimen in deep dishes, e.g. petri. Besides the oil immersion oils are always preferable if they can be used. In addition, it seems to me that you already have one of Zeiss's best lenses, the 63X/1.4. The currently available water immersion 63X cannot match your 63X oil immersion in performance. So, in my humble oppinion the large sum of money for a water immersion lens can be spent better on another enhancement to your system which is based on an inverted microscope. >Hello all, > >a few day ago I was told it would be an improvement to use an water immersion >objective on our Zeiss CLSM based on an inverted microscope. >At the moment we are using (mainly) a 40x/1.3 and a 63x/1.4 (both oil immer- >sion) objective. > >Has anyone experiences with water immersion objectives? Does it make sense >to use them with an inverted microscope or only with upright ones? > >Thank you for help >Ralf >-- >Ralf Steinmeyer ([log in to unmask]) >UNI Hannover Herrenhaeuser Str. 2 >Inst. f. Biophysik 30419 Hannover Sincerely, Kamiar Moin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pharmacology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI 48201 Tel: (313)577-0514 (313)577-1112 FAX: (313)577-6739 E-mail: [log in to unmask]