A transmitted-light microscope for imaging well-shaped, liquid-containing sample vessels, wherein the transmitted-light microscope has an illumination beam path for illuminating the sample vessel with an illumination beam bundle, from above, along an optical axis, wherein the illumination beam path has an illuminating element aligned to the optical axis, which element irradiates the illumination beam bundle onto the sample vessel, an imaging beam path for imaging the sample vessel from below along the optical axis and a pipette access channel for introducing a reagent into the sample vessel, wherein the illuminating element is annular and has an opening on the optical axis through which opening runs the pipette access channel.