Confocal microscopes work to block out of focus light by utilising the pinhole and therefore generate clearer images than those from a widefield system. Confocals are either laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) configurations utilising a detector and point scanning system, or spinning disk microscope which uses a array of pinholes configured on a disk which spins.

This confocal is also capable of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy and Fluorescence Cross Correlation Spectroscopy.

The Leica SP5 is a fast broadband confocal, capable of a full range of scan speeds at the highest resolution. The high-efficiency SP detection system (five channels simultaneously) and the fast AOBS (Acousto Optical Beam Splitter, instead of dichroic mirrors)