Microscope basics.
This chapter provides information on how microscopes work and discusses some of the microscope issues to be considered in using a video camera on the microscope. There are two types of microscopes in use today for research in cell biology-the older finite tube-length (typically 160mm mechanical tube length) microscopes and the infinity optics microscopes that are now produced. The objective lens forms a magnified, real image of the specimen at a specific distance from the objective known as the intermediate image plane. All objectives are designed to be used with the specimen at a defined distance from the front lens element of the objective (the working distance) so that the image formed is located at a specific location in the microscope. Infinity optics microscopes differ from the finite tube-length microscopes in that the objectives are designed to project the image of the specimen to infinity and do not, on their own, form a real image of the specimen. Three types of objectives are in common use today-plan achromats, plan apochromats, and plan fluorite lenses. The concept of mounting video cameras on the microscope is also presented in the chapter.
Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Greenfield
G
Sluder
Joshua J
JJ
Nordberg
D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*
Charge-coupled device; Finite tube-length microscope; Intermediate image plane; Intermediate images; Trinocular head