A device for capturing images is provided in which an image-capturing device (14) and an illumination device (13) are arranged on the same side of a sample plane (11). The image-capturing device (13) has illumination portions which can be controlled independently of each other, for example individual light sources, in order to make it possible for the sample (12) in the sample plane (11) to be illuminated at different angles and/or from different directions. In this way, a plurality of images can be captured with different illumination situations which can be combined into a resulting image having improved properties.