Microscopes with incident light

Top illumination

— the top light is a lighting system, the light from which is directed from top to bottom.

In conventional (not inverted) microscopes, such illumination is directed from the objective to the stage. It is intended mainly for viewing opaque objects. Also note that the top illumination is very popular in stereoscopic models — this is due to the design and application features.

As for inverted microscopes, in them the upper and lower illuminations are actually “swapped”. Accordingly, this function is intended for through illumination of preparations, through a hole in the stage.