Table 1.

Summary of super-resolution imaging techniques to probe membrane organization below the diffraction limit.

	PALM/STORM	STED	SIM	NSOM
Lateral resolution	20–30 nm	60–100 nm	100–120 nm	20–30 nm
Image speed	Minutes	Seconds	Seconds	Seconds
Image and sample geometry	2D or 3D image of fluorophores close to coverslip	2D image at any focal plane	3D image over entire cell	Only surface proteins
Equipment complexity	Simple	Complex	Intermediate	Complex
Analysis complexity	Complex	Simple	Intermediate	Intermediate