If you wish to know how a dual view microscope works, you’ll be pleased to know that it works just like any other microscope except this time, there’s another eyepiece or viewing equipment at work. But don’t worry, that will be covered here as well.

How to Use Viewing Equipment with a Dual View Microscope
A dual view microscope automatically comes with a second viewing eyepiece, usually at a vertical and slightly angle. This may be rotated up to 360 degrees. You can use this port to attach a microscope camera.

Step 1 Check for compatibility. Some cameras need a special mount to become properly attached and installed while others just need a USB port.

Step 2 Switch the camera on to see if you’ve attached it properly and it displays images correctly.

Step 3 Install the necessary software – this is usually provided with the camera purchase – for easy sending and editing of photos taken by the camera.

How a Dual View Microscope Works

Step 1 Never place a dual view microscope on any uneven and unstable surface. Microscopes must always be handled carefully. If they are jarred in any way, its parts might become unaligned, broken, or malfunction. Never set it on the edge either and especially if they are electrically powered. If a person accidentally trips on the wire, he could pull the microscope off the table and have it crash on the floor.

Step 2 Make sure you are plugging your microscope to the right outlet or correct voltage. Switch the microscope on only after you have it properly plugged and double check if the microscope is set at the lowest power.

Switch on your microscope’s light source next. Regardless of the type of light source used by your microscope, you must only switch it on after plugging the microscope in and with the microscope set at low power.

Step 3 Start adjusting the diaphragm. You’ll find this usually beneath the stage – unless it’s an inverted dual view microscope you’re working with – and resembling a rotating plate. The diaphragm is used to control the amount and intensity of light reaching the specimen. Always start with letting in the greatest amount of light possible then adjusting downwards. For iris diaphragms, you would need to push the lever all the way through.

The diaphragm is used as well to adjust a specimen’s transparency and the degree of contrast you wish to use for the specimen.

Step 4 It’s now time to adjust the objectives of your dual view microscope. Again, start with the lowest power. There are almost always three or four objectives simultaneously available for use and come at 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x. Your microscope would have to be pretty sophisticated when using higher magnifications. By multiplying the eyepiece and objective’s magnification, you’ll be able to obtain the total magnification used by your microscope on the sample.

Step 5 Assuming that you already know how to prepare samples and specimens for microscope viewing, the slide you’ve prepared may now be placed on the microscope stage. Use the stage clips to keep it in place but you can just as ignore them if they will only obstruct your view. Adjust the slide until it is positioned directly under your microscope’s objective lens.

Step 6 Use the coarse focus knob to bring your sample into focus. The coarse focus knob is the larger of the two knobs of your dual view microscope. Adjust the knob slowly until the image becomes sharp enough for comfortable viewing.

Once you’ve got just the right degree of sharpness for the specimen, adjust the fine focus knob next – this is the smaller knob and found usually under the coarse knob – to further improve clarity and sharpness.

You can also readjust the diaphragm to reduce or increase lighting. With the microscope set at low power, you’ll be able to enjoy the widest possible field of view with your sample. Adjust the objective if you’re ready to see more of your sample while repeating the same adjustment process from using the coarse knob to readjusting the diaphragm.

Step 7 Sometimes, you’ll choose to change the lenses of your microscope to view a different type of specimen. If you’re using oil-immersion lenses, for instance, you’ll need to place one to two drops of immersion oil on your slide’s coverslip first. For phase contrast microscopy, you’ll need to use a different set of objectives and condenser. But you need only learn this when necessary.

Now that you know how a dual view microscope works, you can finally instruct your partner on its proper usage and look forward to solving lab problems more quickly.