Microscope

Abstract

A microscope includes a condenser lens that is provided in an illumination light path and in which at least one optical device is insertable into and removable from an illumination light axis for switching an observation method. The microscope also includes a first polarizing plate that is provided in a same light axis as the optical device and is insertable into and removable from the illumination light axis integrally with the optical device, and a second polarizing plate that is provided in the illumination light axis independently from insertion and removal of the optical device into and from the illumination light axis.

1 . A microscope comprising:
 a condenser lens that is provided in an illumination light path and in which at least one optical device is insertable into and removable from an illumination light axis for switching an observation method; and   a polarizer which is provided in the illumination light axis independently from insertion and removal of the optical device into and from the illumination light axis, wherein the polarizer is operable as both of a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate, stores a position in a first vibration direction for the first polarizing plate and a position in a second vibration direction for the second polarizing plate, and can selectively reproduce and hold the stored positions in the first and second vibration directions.   
     
     
         2 . The microscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor from which a rotational angle can be detected for selectively reproducing and holding the stored positions in the first and second vibration directions of the first and second polarizing plates. 
     
     
         3 . The microscope according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the optical device is a slit for relief contrast with a third polarizing plate provided on a part thereof;   the first polarizing plate is a polarizing plate for relief contrast; and   the second polarizing plate is a polarizing plate for differential interference or a polarizing plate for polarization observation.   
     
     
         4 . The microscope according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth polarizing plate for differential interference or polarization observation fixedly provided in an observation light axis and having substantially a same vibration direction as a vibration direction of the first polarizing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The microscope according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth polarizing plate for differential interference or polarization observation fixedly provided in an observation light axis, wherein a vibration direction of the fourth polarizing plate makes substantially a crossed Nicol condition with the second vibration direction. 
     
     
         6 . The microscope according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth polarizing plate for differential interference or polarization observation and a prism for differential interference, wherein the fourth polarizing plate and the prism are fixedly provided in an observation light axis.