Exhibit 5.1


                           HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                               101 FEDERAL STREET
                                BOSTON, MA 02110

                                      July 28, 2000


Bruker Daltonics Inc.
15 Fortune Drive
Billerica, MA  01821

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Bruker Daltonics Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with proceedings being taken to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, up to 8,625,000 shares of
the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock")
pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-34820) (the
"Registration Statement"), which includes 1,125,000 shares which may be sold
upon exercise of the underwriters' overallotment option described in the
Registration Statement.

         As such counsel, we have examined (i) certain corporate records of the
Company, including its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, its
Amended and Restated Bylaws, stock records and Minutes of Meetings of its Board
of Directors; (ii) a Certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware as to the legal existence of the Company; and (iii) such other
documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter
expressed.

         Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Company is a validly existing corporation under the laws of the
            State of Delaware.

         2. The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of Common
            Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred
            Stock, par value $.01 per share.

         3. When issued and sold under the circumstances contemplated in the
            Registration Statement, the shares of Common Stock offered by the
            Company will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
            nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the references to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement.

                                Very truly yours,


                                HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                                A Professional Corporation