For excellent imaging with a differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope, all elements in the optical pathway need to be DIC-compatible. They must exhibit a low birefringence, meaning that there is only low interference with the polarized light. Just one single incompatible element in the beam path of the transmitted light would destroy the orientation of the polarized light, leading to disturbance of the DIC imaging effect. When using the ibidi µ-Dishes combined with the special DIC Lids for µ-Dishes , excellent DIC images can be generated.