Objective Lenses are the primary optical lenses on a microscope. They range from 4x-100x and typically, include, three, four or five on lens on most microscopes. Objectives can be forward or rear-facing.

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Condenser is used to collect and focus the light from the illuminator on to the specimen. It is located under the stage often in conjunction with an iris diaphragm.

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Use the ground glass, rather than the split-image. Out of focus is on the left, in focus is on the right. Once infinity focus is set, you can reassemble the lens. Obviously, do not rotate the lens within its mount or the front cell until it's reassembled. You should make a final check after reassembly.

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Stage is where the specimen to be viewed is placed. A mechanical stage is used when working at higher magnifications where delicate movements of the specimen slide are required.

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A high power or compound microscope achieves higher levels of magnification than a stereo or low power microscope. It is used to view smaller specimens such as cell structures which cannot be seen at lower levels of magnification. Essentially, a compound microscope consists of structural and optical components. However, within these two basic systems, there are some essential components that every microscopist should know and understand. These key microscope parts are illustrated and explained below.

Eyepiece Tube holds the eyepieces in place above the objective lens. Binocular microscope heads typically incorporate a diopter adjustment ring that allows for the possible inconsistencies of our eyesight in one or both eyes. The monocular (single eye usage) microscope does not need a diopter. Binocular microscopes also swivel (Interpupillary Adjustment) to allow for different distances between the eyes of different individuals.

Final note: This works best when you have a bright light source. I almost always do this during the day with the back of the target camera facing an open window.

Collimating your lens is one of the simpler things you can do. That means, ensuring the lens is dead-on at infinity. Here's what you'll need:

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Eyepiece or Ocular is what you look through at the top of the microscope. Typically, standard eyepieces have a magnifying power of 10x. Optional eyepieces of varying powers are available, typically from 5x-30x.

Nosepiece houses the objectives. The objectives are exposed and are mounted on a rotating turret so that different objectives can be conveniently selected. Standard objectives include 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x although different power objectives are available.

Coarse and Fine Focus knobs are used to focus the microscope. Increasingly, they are coaxial knobs - that is to say they are built on the same axis with the fine focus knob on the outside. Coaxial focus knobs are more convenient since the viewer does not have to grope for a different knob.

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Stage Clips are used when there is no mechanical stage. The viewer is required to move the slide manually to view different sections of the specimen.

This is where the waist-level finder comes in handy, because you can peer into the finder while manipulating the lens on the target camera. This finder also has a pop-up magnifying glass, which is a big help when doing this.Use the ground glass, rather than the split-image. Out of focus is on the left, in focus is on the right. Once infinity focus is set, you can reassemble the lens. Obviously, do not rotate the lens within its mount or the front cell until it's reassembled. You should make a final check after reassembly.

With tape, it's so thin that you can make your mark on the back side. With the thicker plastic, the marks I've made are on the "emulsion" side.

Iris Diaphragm controls the amount of light reaching the specimen. It is located above the condenser and below the stage. Most high quality microscopes include an Abbe condenser with an iris diaphragm. Combined, they control both the focus and quantity of light applied to the specimen.

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Illuminator is the light source for a microscope, typically located in the base of the microscope. Most light microscopes use low voltage, halogen bulbs with continuous variable lighting control located within the base.