A centrifuge (10), comprising a rotor (12), a drive shaft (14), on which the rotor (12) is supported, a motor (18), which drives the rotor (12) via the drive shaft (14), a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36), each of which comprises a spring axis (36a), which supporting unit supports a rotational unit (19), which comprises the motor (18) together with the drive shaft (14) and the rotor (12), a sensor unit (82, 84) for sensing the rotational speed, a distance sensor (80) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), which rotational unit rotates about an axis of rotation (14a), an acceleration sensor (88) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), and a control and evaluation unit (90), which evaluates the data of the sensors (80, 82, 88), wherein the distance sensor (80) senses distance changes in an operative axis (36b). The invention is characterized in that the operative axis (36b) is oriented in relation to the axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that an angle between the operative axis (36b) and the axis of rotation (14a) of less than 90° including 0° results, at least in a projection onto a plane parallel to the operative axis (36b) and through the axis of rotation (14a).