Method and device for providing an overview image in light field microscopy

A method, comprising:

• providing an overview image of an object to be imaged in light field microscopy, in which
• image data of at least one image of a region of the object are acquired by a detection optical unit and a detector;
• and
• on the basis of the image data, computationally reconstructing a number of z planes (Zn) of the region under investigation,
• wherein
• a proportion of the image data acquired is used for the reconstruction;
• and/or
• the number of z planes (Zn) to be reconstructed is reduced;
• z sections (uhF, F, ohF) which lie around a focal plane (F) and above and below the focal plane (F) are defined in a z direction, which runs in a direction of an optical axis of the detection optical unit;
• a channel is assigned to each of the z sections (Zn) and image data of structures of the object detected in respective z sections (Zn) are stored assigned to a respective channel;
• and
• by a controller, control commands by which an output device is activated are generated, the structures being output according to the respectively assigned channels with different, but channel-specific graphical characteristics.