Device for the generation of a differential interference contrast image of an object in an imaging plane, comprising (a) a radiation source; (b) a Köhler illuminating optical assembly for illuminating the object with light from the radiation source; (c) an objective for imaging the object plane in an imaging plane, wherein the objective is provided with an exit pupil and an entrance pupil, and wherein the entrance pupil of the objective is positioned in the illuminating pupil of the Köhler illuminating optical assembly; and (d) a component for the generation of an interference characterized in that (e) the component for the generation of an interference is positioned in the exit pupil of the objective, and (f) the component for the generation of an interference is formed by an amplitude filter with an amplitude transmission factor F DIC (x,y), which comlies with the equation: 2 ⋅ F DIC x y = F + x y ⋅ e + i P 0 + F − x y = 2 ⋅ T 0 ⋅ cos P max − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 2 ⋅ e + i P 0 2 wherein x,y: coordinates in the exit pupil plane F DIC (x,y): functional expression for describing the amplitude filter transmission and the phase of the amplitude filter as a function of x and y t(x,y): variable, real portion of the amplitude transmission factor of the amplitude filter with t x y = T 0 ⋅ cos P max − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 2 T(x,y): Transmission degree of the amplitude filter. If F* DIC (x,y) designates the conjugate-complex of F DIC (x,y), then T x y = F DIC x y ⋅ F DIC * x y = t 2 x y F+(x,y): "positive" portion of F DIC, with F+ ( x,y)= T 0 · e + iP max ·(- x ·sin φ + y· cos φ) φ: azimuth direction angle of the effect of the DIC in the exit pupil plane P(x,y): phase distribution of the amplitude filter with P x y = arg F DIC = { P 0 2 − π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ π P 0 2 + π π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ 3 π F-(x,y): "negative" portion of F DIC, with F + x y ⋅ F − x y = T 0 ⋅ e + i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ ⋅ T 0 ⋅ e − i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ = T 0 2 Po: constant, real phase offset of the amplitude filter F DIC (x,y) To: constant, real amplitude transmission factor of F DIC, or F+ and F-, resp. with To unequal to 0 P max: constant, real maximum phase of F+ or F-, resp (a) a radiation source; (b) a Köhler illuminating optical assembly for illuminating the object with light from the radiation source; (c) an objective for imaging the object plane in an imaging plane, wherein the objective is provided with an exit pupil and an entrance pupil, and wherein the entrance pupil of the objective is positioned in the illuminating pupil of the Köhler illuminating optical assembly; and (d) a component for the generation of an interference (e) the component for the generation of an interference is positioned in the exit pupil of the objective, and (f) the component for the generation of an interference is formed by an amplitude filter with an amplitude transmission factor F DIC (x,y), which comlies with the equation: 2 ⋅ F DIC x y = F + x y ⋅ e + i P 0 + F − x y = 2 ⋅ T 0 ⋅ cos P max − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 2 ⋅ e + i P 0 2 wherein x,y: coordinates in the exit pupil plane F DIC (x,y): functional expression for describing the amplitude filter transmission and the phase of the amplitude filter as a function of x and y t(x,y): variable, real portion of the amplitude transmission factor of the amplitude filter with t x y = T 0 ⋅ cos P max − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 2 T(x,y): Transmission degree of the amplitude filter. If F* DIC (x,y) designates the conjugate-complex of F DIC (x,y), then T x y = F DIC x y ⋅ F DIC * x y = t 2 x y F+(x,y): "positive" portion of F DIC, with F+ ( x,y)= T 0 · e + iP max ·(- x ·sin φ + y· cos φ) φ: azimuth direction angle of the effect of the DIC in the exit pupil plane P(x,y): phase distribution of the amplitude filter with P x y = arg F DIC = { P 0 2 − π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ π P 0 2 + π π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ 3 π F-(x,y): "negative" portion of F DIC, with F + x y ⋅ F − x y = T 0 ⋅ e + i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ ⋅ T 0 ⋅ e − i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ = T 0 2 Po: constant, real phase offset of the amplitude filter F DIC (x,y) To: constant, real amplitude transmission factor of F DIC, or F+ and F-, resp. with To unequal to 0 P max: constant, real maximum phase of F+ or F-, resp x,y: coordinates in the exit pupil plane F DIC (x,y): functional expression for describing the amplitude filter transmission and the phase of the amplitude filter as a function of x and y t(x,y): variable, real portion of the amplitude transmission factor of the amplitude filter with t x y = T 0 ⋅ cos P max − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 2 T(x,y): Transmission degree of the amplitude filter. If F* DIC (x,y) designates the conjugate-complex of F DIC (x,y), then T x y = F DIC x y ⋅ F DIC * x y = t 2 x y F+(x,y): "positive" portion of F DIC, with F+ ( x,y)= T 0 · e + iP max ·(- x ·sin φ + y· cos φ) φ: azimuth direction angle of the effect of the DIC in the exit pupil plane P(x,y): phase distribution of the amplitude filter with P x y = arg F DIC = { P 0 2 − π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ π P 0 2 + π π ≤ 2 P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ + P 0 ≤ 3 π F-(x,y): "negative" portion of F DIC, with F + x y ⋅ F − x y = T 0 ⋅ e + i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ ⋅ T 0 ⋅ e − i P max ⋅ − x ⋅ sin φ + y ⋅ cos φ = T 0 2 Po: constant, real phase offset of the amplitude filter F DIC (x,y) To: constant, real amplitude transmission factor of F DIC, or F+ and F-, resp. with To unequal to 0 P max: constant, real maximum phase of F+ or F-, resp