Fast and accurate
multicolor imaging

ZEISS Filters and Filter Wheels
Gain More Spectral Information
without Sacrificing Productivity

ZEISS Filters and Filter Wheels
Gain More Spectral Information without Sacrificing Productivity

Separation of fluorescent labels is critical for distinguishing different structures. Filters block
unwanted wavelengths of absorption and emission light, facilitating efficient separation of theoriginating fluorophores. ZEISS filters are optimized for high transmission and have sharp cut-off
wavelengths for high signal intensities and effective separation. When incorporated in fast filterwheels, they minimize switching times for faster imaging of more labels or samples.

Fluorescent molecules are the most prominent way to label

It’s crucial to avoid exciting multiple fluorophores andbiological samples. Typically, a fluorophore is specificallyto assign the detected signal to the correct label. ZEISS

attached to one region or component of a sample. However,filters are perfectly matched to ZEISS light sources to excite

most biological processes require an interplay of various

different fluorescent probes and collect emission light withproteins and structures. The structure and proximity ofhigh transmission. This enables efficient imaging of large

different organelles can influence protein pathways and cellulartissue areas stained with many fluorophores or acquiring

function. This complex machinery can only be observed if

multichannel time lapses with good temporal resolution in

every involved partner is labeled. This poses challenges as lightspatial omics, cancer research, cell biology and other fields offrom different fluorophores must be separated. To distinguish

application. ZEISS filters and filter wheels help you to reduce

excitation and emission light for the different labels, filters

dead times and improve productivity.

optimized for various fluorophores are used.

FFPE human tonsil section, stained with DAPI, CD8, PDL1, Ki67, CD68, CK,
CD20. Sample courtesy: D. Martin, Genmab, Plainsboro, USA.

2000 µm
HEK cells stained with DAPI, phalloidin-488, tubulinA568 and WGA-A633

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue stained with UltiMapper I/O PD-L1(maximum intensity projection after deconvolution).

kit. Nuclear counterstain (blue), CD8 (green), CD68 (orange), PD-L1 (red),panCytoKeratin (magenta).

2

Single or Multi-Bandpass Filters
How to Select the Optimal Filter Set for Your Microscope

Choosing the optimal set of filters for a particular dye combination can be a challenge.
A basic decision is whether to use single bandpass filters or multi-bandpass filters.

Single Bandpass Filters (SBF)

Multi-bandpass filters (MBF)

SBP filter sets offer a combination of excitation and emission

MBF filter sets can overcome this limitation. Their excitation

filters per dye. They minimize crosstalk most efficiently andand emission filters have multiple windows through which

achieve the best spectral separation. However, in multicolor

they allow light to pass. However, since the excitation

imaging, switching filters for each dye takes time, whichand emission spectrum of most dyes is relatively broad,reduces throughput and causes delays between channels.

crosstalk can occur due to unwanted co-excitation of other

100

10080

80

Transmission [%]Transmission [%]fluorophores and detection of their emission light.

6040402020040060450500

Excitation Filter

550

Wavelength [nm]Emission Filter

EGFP Excitation

600650700

EGFP Emission

0400450500

550600650700750800

850

Wavelength [nm]Multiband emission filter

Alexa 405

eGFP

Cy3.5

Cy5Cy7Single bandpass filter for the selective imaging of a single dye. Excitation andMulti bandpass filter for imaging multiple dyes with a single filter. Emission

emission spectra are shown to illustrate excitation and emission efficiency.

spectra and potential resulting crosstalk of three different dyes are shown.

ZEISS filter sets address these varying demands. Excitation

perfectly matched to the LED filter sets. Filter sets for whiteand emission filters as well as dichroic mirrors are optimized

light sources lack the term LED and automatically containfor ZEISS light sources and microscopes. They follow a clear

band pass (BP) excitation filters.

nomenclature that helps you select the optimal filter for yourapplication and microscope configuration. For a given dye

In the light source ensuring always having the optimal

combination, two important questions need to be answered:excitation filter used. When a white light source is used, the

1. What type of light source is used for excitation: a whitefilter set name lacks the term LED and automatically contains

light source or a light source with individual LEDs?

band pass (BP) excitation filters.

2. Are single bandpass filters required for optimal spectral
separation, or are multi-bandpass filters necessary to

For white and multicolor LED light sources, it must then be

minimize switching times between colors?

decided whether single-bandpass (SBP) or multi-bandpass(MBP) filters, also called poly-bandpass (PBP) filters, should be

For a light source with individual LEDs like ZEISS Colibri, aused to filter the emission light. SBP and MBP emission filters

filter set with the term LED in its name is best suited. Theseare available for the white light and LED versions of a filter set.

light sources already have excitation filters integrated that areFilter set

Item number

To be used withExcitation filters

Emission Filters

Filter Set 112 SBP

489112-9010-000

White light source

Single Band Pass Filters

Single Band Pass Filters

Filter Set 112 HE LED

489112-9110-000

LED light source with individual LEDs (e.g. Colibri)

Part of the light source

Multi Band Pass Filter

Filter Set 112 LED SBP

489112-9120-000

LED light source with individual LEDs (e.g. Colibri)

Part of the light source

Single Band Pass Filters

Filter Set 112 MBP

489112-9130-000

White light source

Single Band Pass Filters

Multi Band Pass Filter

3With conventional filters located in reflector cubes, changing filters to separate

Image more structures andfluorophores takes time. This results in lower throughput and slow frame rates forproteins without losing temporal

live imaging experiments. With filter wheels, switching can be sped up dramatically.

resolution.

Add fast excitation switching to your white light source by adding an excitation filter

With ZEISS filters, you get optimizedwheel. Alternatively, use light sources with single LEDs such as ZEISS Colibri to excite

components for accurate separation ofdifferent fluorophores quickly and efficiently. Emission filters can be switched withindifferent fluorophores. Improve yourmilliseconds using the dual filter wheel. Combine it either with your white light or

imaging speed for a given number ofmulti-LED light source for fastest channel switching. The ability to create user-defined

fluorophores with the fast excitation

virtual filter sets combining dual filter wheel and light source also greatly increases

and emission filter wheel. This allows

spectral flexibility for efficient detection of various dye combinations.

you to observe dynamic processes withmore fluorophores than before.

Benefit from attractive pricing for filter and filter wheel combinations.
Since your experiments may change over time, ZEISS offers full flexibility.
Choose from a wide range of filters and combine them according to your needs.
Filter wheels and filters are compatible with various ZEISS microscopes.
Filter wheel type

Used with

452358-9000-000

Filter wheel excitation 8-pos. mot.
for filters d = 25 mm; CANWhite light source

452358-9011-000

Dual filter wheel mot. for beam splitting
and emission; CANWhite light or multi-LED light source

Single Band Pass Filter
489056-9010-000
489090-9010-000
489091-9010-000
489092-9010-000
489110-9010-000
489112-9010-000
489114-9140-000
489117-9140-000

For white light source
Used in:
Filter Set 56 SBP GFP+DsRedExcitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 90 SBP DAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5
Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 91 SBP CFP+YFP+AF594
Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 92 SBP DAPI+GFP+AF594
Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 110 SBP DAPI+GFP+AF594+Cy7
Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 112 SBP DAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5+Cy7 Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 114 FRET CFP/YFP for filter wheels
Excitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
Filter Set 117 FRET GFP/mCherry for filterExcitation- and Dual Filter Wheel
wheelsMulti Band Pass Filter
489056-9130-000
489090-9130-000
489091-9130-000
489092-9130-000
489110-9130-000
489112-9130-000

For white light source
Used in:
Filter Set 56 MBP GFP+DsRed
Excitation Wheel and Reflector Turret
Filter Set 90 MBP DAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5
Excitation Wheel and Reflector Turret
Filter Set 91 MBP CFP+YFP+AF594
Excitation Wheel and Reflector Turret
Filter Set 92 MBP DAPI+GFP+AF594
Excitation Wheel and Reflector Turret
Filter Set 110 MBP DAPI+GFP+AF594+Cy7
Excitation Wheel and Reflector Turret
Filter Set 112 MBP DAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5+Cy7 Excitation Wheel and Reflector TurretSingle Band Pass Filter
489056-9120-000
489090-9120-000
489091-9120-000
489092-9120-000
489110-9120-000
489112-9120-000

For Colibri
Filter Set 56 LED SBP GFP+DsRed
Filter Set 90 LED SBP DAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5
Filter Set 91 LED SBP CFP+YFP+AF594
Filter Set 92 LED SBP DAPI+GFP+AF594
Filter Set 110 LED SBP DAPI+GFP+AF594+Cy7
Filter Set 112 LED SBPDAPI+GFP+DsRed+Cy5+Cy7

Used in:
Colibri and Dual Filter WheelColibri and Dual Filter Wheel
Colibri and Dual Filter Wheel
Colibri and Dual Filter Wheel
Colibri and Dual Filter Wheel
Colibri and Dual Filter Wheel

For Colibri or White light source
Filter Set 118 YFPFilter Set 121 mCherry
Filter Set 115 Cy7Used in:
Reflector Turret
Reflector Turret
Reflector Turret

Conventional
Filter Sets
489118-9100-000
489121-9100-000
489115-9100-000

Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH07745 Jena, Germany
microscopy@zeiss.com
www.zeiss.com/microscopy

ZEISS excitation filter wheel

Dual filter wheel for ZEISS Axio Observer

Title image: Mouse spleen showing germinal
center reactions that lead to production of highly
specific antibodies. A cocktail of 6 fluorochromelabelled antibodies targeted towards different
immune markers and vessels are added. Sample
courtesy: L. Szeponik, Gothenburg University,Gothenburg, Sweden.

C e r ti f i e d
Q u a l i t y S y s te mISO 13485

Not for therapeutic use, treatment or medical diagnostic evidence. Not all products are available in every country. Contact your local ZEISS representative for more information.
EN_41_012_304 | CZ 05-2023 | Design, scope of delivery, and technical progress subject to change without notice. | © Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbHZEISS Filter Wheels
Improving Spectral Flexibility and Throughput