Appendix I: Microscope Settings; Illumination - Olympus SC30 User Manual

Appendix I:
Microscope settings
This illustration clarifies
the basic assembly of
the components of a
microscope in
transmitted-light mode.

Illumination

Lamp Selection The tungsten-halogen lamps and gas discharge lamps are the most commonly
Your digital camera can only achieve high image quality if the microscope has
been optimally set. A subsequent correction to the software can never correct
deficiencies in the image resulting from faulty settings made to the camera and
microscope.
The optical system "microscope" offers numerous setting possibilities. In order
to attain best acquisition results, the settings must be made precisely.
In spite of varying models and observation possibilities, the microscope's image
producing components are in accordance with each other.
A microscope basically consists of the optical components, objective and
eyepiece. An additionally important component is the illuminator.
Light is a decisive medium for creating images with a microscope. As a result,
the light, i.e. illumination, plays an important role in creating the image in the
microscope.
The goal of the illumination settings is the equal distribution of light on the sample
with parallel light rays falling on the object. The illumination must be bright
enough to make all of the image details visible; however over-illumination leads
to images being too bright and low-contrast. In addition, the color of the light has
a strong impact on the sample's color rendering.
used lamps in microscopy. The light creating processes of both lamp types are
fundamentally different.

Appendix I: Microscope settings

Camera
Eyepiece
Objective
Sample
Condenser
Illumination
Lamp