Types of Microscopes

• Common microscope types include the compound microscope and the stereo microscope (which is also known as a dissecting microscope). The compound microscope uses an objective lens to enlarge the image of the specimen; its eyepiece then magnifies that enlarged image, creating a multiplicatively magnified image. A dissecting microscope uses two lens arrays to create a stereoscopic, or three-dimensional, image.
  
  

Stage Clips and Slide Holders

• All microscopes have a stage that positions slides for focusing under the lenses. Most microscope stages have clips or slide holders on either side to keep slides in place and control specimen positioning. Once the slide is secure, you can usually move the whole stage left, right, up or down, using knobs placed on the side of the microscope. Some dissecting microscopes have stages that are fixed in place under the lens.
  
  

Other Parts

• Other important parts of a microscope include the base, the nosepiece, the focus knobs and the light source. The base stabilizes the entire microscope. The nosepiece on a compound microscope allows users to rotate lenses to increase or decrease magnification. Focus knobs sharpen the microscope's image, depending on the desired focal point. Finally, a microscope may have a built-in light source or an external one.