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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Mar 19.
Published in final edited form as: Methods Cell Biol. 2011;105:437–459. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-381320-6.00019-9

Table III.

Comparing laser scanning confocal, spinning disc confocal, and two-photon microscopy

Laser scanning confocal
microscopy (LSCM)		 Spinning disc confocal
microscopy		 Two-photon microscopy
Light source Visible/UV lasers 365–647 nm range Visible/UV lasers 365–647 nm range – laser excitation not required Infrared 700–1000 nm range
Deep tissue imaging 100–250 µM Similar to confocal laser scanning microscope As deep as 1 mm
Tissue damage/bleaching /auto-fluorescence High Low Lowest
Time lapse imaging Not recommended Medium Best
Fluorophores visible Most common fluorophores Most common fluorophores Far red fluorescent proteins can be difficult to image
Imaging rates Relatively slow Fast Fast
Image resolution High quality Not as good as LSCM Similar to LSCM
Cost High Moderate Considerably higher
Comments Better at imaging ultrathin sections but imaging times are usually higher Lower resolution but can image specimens at much higher speeds. Best for time lapse imaging over longer times (hours)