Apparatus for recording full-surface images of a cell culture plate with one or more wells, comprising - a holder for receiving the cell culture plate with wells, wherein the cell culture plate has a bottom side, a top side and a plurality of side faces, which extend between the bottom side and the top side, - a camera that serves to record images of the bottom side of the cell culture plate within a predefined depth of field, - an illumination device for illuminating the cell culture plate, wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources for producing light beams, said light sources being mounted on holders, wherein, in the use position of the cell culture plate, - the light of a first light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a first side face, - the light of a second light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a second side face, - the light of a third light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a third side face, and - the light of a fourth light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a fourth side face, wherein an intensity of the produced light beams, a vertical height of the light sources in relation to the cell culture plate, a horizontal distance of the light sources from the respective side face and an inclination angle of the light sources about their respective longitudinal axis for each light source are individually adjustable, and - one or more controllers for the camera and the illumination device, wherein each light source and each holder are connected to the one or more controllers and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to automatically carry out a method for adjusting the illumination device, within the scope of which the camera is used to create an image of a monochrome sheet that is located in a plane above the illuminated cell culture plate and an evaluation of the image is used to adjust the vertical height, the inclination angle, the horizontal distance and the luminous intensity for each light source such that a good illumination of the individual wells of the cell culture plate and a uniform illumination of the cell culture plate are obtained. - a holder for receiving the cell culture plate with wells, wherein the cell culture plate has a bottom side, a top side and a plurality of side faces, which extend between the bottom side and the top side, - a camera that serves to record images of the bottom side of the cell culture plate within a predefined depth of field, - an illumination device for illuminating the cell culture plate, wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources for producing light beams, said light sources being mounted on holders, wherein, in the use position of the cell culture plate, - the light of a first light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a first side face, - the light of a second light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a second side face, - the light of a third light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a third side face, and - the light of a fourth light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a fourth side face, - the light of a first light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a first side face, - the light of a second light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a second side face, - the light of a third light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a third side face, and - the light of a fourth light source enters the cell culture plate from the outside through the entire length of a fourth side face, wherein an intensity of the produced light beams, a vertical height of the light sources in relation to the cell culture plate, a horizontal distance of the light sources from the respective side face and an inclination angle of the light sources about their respective longitudinal axis for each light source are individually adjustable, and - one or more controllers for the camera and the illumination device, wherein each light source and each holder are connected to the one or more controllers and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to automatically carry out a method for adjusting the illumination device, within the scope of which the camera is used to create an image of a monochrome sheet that is located in a plane above the illuminated cell culture plate and an evaluation of the image is used to adjust the vertical height, the inclination angle, the horizontal distance and the luminous intensity for each light source such that a good illumination of the individual wells of the cell culture plate and a uniform illumination of the cell culture plate are obtained.