Inverted phase contrast microscopes
Phase contrast is the technique most laboratories reach for when they need to see the internal detail of living, unstained cells, since staining or fixing a culture to add contrast would kill it and end the observation. On an inverted microscope, phase contrast lets researchers watch cell shape, division, and movement in real time, directly in the flask or dish the cells are growing in. Every Optika inverted model pairs phase contrast with brightfield on the same condenser and light path, so a quick brightfield overview and detailed phase contrast inspection are both available without switching instruments.
- Type: Inverted brightfield/phase contrast
- Magnification: Up to 400x
- Optics: IOS LWD W-PLAN PH
- Illumination: X-LED8
- Head: Trinocular, 45 degree inclined
€2.754,00 excl. VAT
- Type: Inverted brightfield/phase contrast, digital
- Magnification: Up to 400x
- Optics: IOS LWD W-PLAN PH
- Illumination: X-LED8
- Head: Trinocular with 6.3 MP camera
€5.086,00 excl. VAT
- Type: Inverted brightfield/phase contrast, trinocular
- Magnification: Up to 600x
- Optics: IOS LWD, configurable objective platform
- Illumination: X-LED8 transmitted
- Head: Trinocular, 45 degree inclined
€4.218,00 excl. VAT
- Type: Inverted research, trinocular
- Magnification: Up to 600x
- Optics: IOS U-PLAN F Semi-Apo, configurable
- Illumination: X-LED10, HBO fluorescence optional
- Head: Trinocular, 45 degree inclined
€16.411,00 excl. VAT
Comparing Optika Inverted Phase Contrast Models
| Model | Phase contrast objectives | Setup | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| IM-300 | 3 IOS LWD W-PLAN PH included (10x, 20x, 40x) | Pre-centered slider, no manual alignment | Accessible, ready-to-use routine setup |
| IM-300D | Same as IM-300 | Pre-centered slider, no manual alignment | Built-in PC, 15.6 inch 4K touchscreen, 6 MP camera |
| IM-5 | IOS LWD W-PLAN PH or U-PLAN F PH, freely configurable | Choose your own objective combination | 24 mm field number, condenser extends for tall vessels |
| IM-7 | 10x, 20x, 40x phase rings built into condenser | 6-position Kohler condenser | Flagship, expandable to DIC, fluorescence, polarized light |
Why Phase Contrast Matters for Live Cell Work
Living cells are almost transparent and barely absorb light, so they show little to no contrast under plain brightfield illumination. Phase contrast solves this without staining, by converting the phase shifts light undergoes passing through the cell into visible differences in brightness, revealing the nucleus, cytoplasm, and other internal features clearly, while the cells remain alive and undisturbed in their culture vessel. This makes it the default choice for cell biology, IVF and embryology labs, and any workflow built around continuous observation of the same living culture.
Choosing the Right Model
The IM-300 comes with a set of 3 IOS LWD W-PLAN PH objectives (10x, 20x, 40x) included as standard, with a pre-centered phase contrast slider that sets up quickly without manual alignment, and the high-efficiency X-LED8 illumination keeping phase contrast images bright even though this technique is naturally more light-demanding than brightfield. It suits laboratories that want dependable, ready-to-use phase contrast without configuring the setup themselves.
The IM-300D adds the same phase contrast capability with a built-in Intel micro PC, a 15.6 inch 4K touchscreen, a 6 MP high-sensitivity color camera, and Optika ProView software, letting you monitor and document phase contrast images on one screen.
The IM-5 gives freely configurable phase contrast objectives (IOS LWD W-PLAN PH or IOS LWD U-PLAN F PH) alongside brightfield and darkfield, so you choose the magnification and optical correction that fits your application rather than a fixed set. Its 24 mm field number and Abbe condenser that rotates out of the optical path suit laboratories working with tall culture vessels that need extended working distance for phase contrast observation.
The IM-7 builds phase contrast directly into its 6-position Kohler condenser, with 10x, 20x, and 40x phase contrast rings included, and is designed as an expandable research platform that can add DIC, fluorescence, and polarized light over time, for research programs that expect their phase contrast needs to grow alongside other techniques.
Related Microscope Categories
If your sample needs more than phase contrast and brightfield, see inverted fluorescence microscopes for immunofluorescence and live cell fluorescence imaging, or inverted metallurgical microscopes for opaque samples viewed from below.
If your sample is already mounted on a standard glass slide, see our phase contrast microscopes. For the full inverted range overview, see inverted microscopes.