The INFORMER

Place your microscope on a secure table, free from vibration, to begin. Try to have the microscope at least one foot away from any edge to avoid an accidental fall. Turn on your illumination, if so equipped, or, if mirror equipped, turn the microscope toward the best available light source and tilt the mirror, as you look through the eyepiece, until the brightest possible light shows through.

Select the proper objective for the magnification you desire by rotating the turret or nosepiece such that the objective is in alignment with the eyepiece. Place your slide on the stage and secure it with the stage clips, or with a mechanical stage, if so equipped. Try to align the specimen as near to the center of where the objective will come down. This will make it easier to locate when viewing through the eyepiece. Before looking through the eyepiece, turn the coarse focus knob, which will lower the objective, until the objective is almost in contact with the slide. The purpose for this is simple. As you turn the coarse focus knob, your specimen will come into focus.

Most microscopes are equipped with a diaphragm of some sort. This is located directly below the stage, but above the light source. Usually diaphragms are of two types: a disc diaphragm (a disc pre-drilled with holes, from smaller to larger, that you dial in the appropriate light) or a better choice, the iris diaphragm (which, like a camera lens, offer unlimited adjustment). Depending upon your specimen, more light or less light may be required for the best viewing. In conjunction with the diaphragm is the Abbe condenser that further focuses the light through another lens before it reaches the objective. An additional option is the adjustable Abbe condenser, which allows movement of the condenser below the stage of about one half inch. Again, it depends on your specimen as to how much or how little light is required.

Once you have focused with a particular magnification, you will want to view the specimen under different magnifications. Simply rotate the nosepiece until the objective you require is in line with the eyepiece.