The scanning lens of a compound microscope is used whenever a new slide is viewed or when the view of the specimen in the field of a higher power lens is lost. Think of it as the "neutral" position for the lens array. The scanning lens has the greatest working distance of the lens group on the microscope and is far enough away from the slide to avoid crunching the slide (and possibly damaging the lens) when attempting to focus. Many microscopes are parfocal, meaning that once you have a focused view of the specimen with the scan lens the image will be in, or very near in, focus when you swivel to a higher power lens. Very important! If you can't find a good view at higher power, or you "lose" the specimen after trying to focus with the fine focus knob only, go back to the scanner lens. Never use the coarse focus with anything but the scanner lens in position. Not doing this is probably the number one reason slides get crunched. And everyone will know because it usually makes an unmistakable sound that reverberates all over the lab.
scanning electron microscope
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be ideal to observe the pores of human skin. A compound light microscope will suffice to view the sex of a fruit fly. A compound light microscope can also be used to observe the spores of a fern.
The objective lens with the lowest magnification, usually 4x. Be sure to clean all the lens with lens paper before putting the microscope away.
microscope
A compound microscope has two lenses: the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. The objective lens is used to gather light from the specimen and create a magnified image, which is further magnified by the eyepiece lens for viewing.
You should start with the lowest magnification lens, typically the scanning lens (4x or 5x), to locate and center the specimen on the slide. This allows you to get a general overview of the slide before increasing the magnification with higher-power objectives.
The lens that you should use to first look at a slide on a microscope is a low power lens then move on to a higher power for more clarity.
Scanning objective
scanning electron microscope
When using a microscope, you should start with the lowest power objective lens, typically the scanning lens (4x or 10x). This allows for a wider field of view and makes it easier to locate the specimen on the slide. Once the specimen is centered and in focus at the low power, you can then switch to higher power lenses for more detailed observation. Always remember to use fine focus with higher magnifications to avoid damaging the slide or the lens.
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be ideal to observe the pores of human skin. A compound light microscope will suffice to view the sex of a fruit fly. A compound light microscope can also be used to observe the spores of a fern.
No, it is not recommended to store the microscope with the oil immersion lens in position. It can lead to the oil drying out and potentially damaging the lens or affecting the quality of future observations. It is best to clean the lens and remove excess oil after use before storing the microscope.
Storing a microscope with the low power objective lens in place helps protect the lens and prevents accidental damage or contamination during storage. The low power lens is less delicate compared to other high-power lenses, making it a safer option for storage to ensure the microscope remains in good condition for future use.
Microscope lenses should be cleaned with lens paper before each use. This maximizes the clarity.
Touching the lens of the microscope with your fingers can leave oil smudges that can affect the quality of the images by distorting or blurring them. These smudges can be difficult to clean off and may require special cleaning solutions. It is best to handle the microscope by its frame or use lens paper to clean the lens.
The first step to clean a microscope lens is to take some lens cleaning paper that you can find in specialty shops or distributors of laboratory equipment. Alternatively, use certified cotton. Never touch the microscope lens with your fingertips since fingerprints can affect the microscope's visibility.
I'd start with a microfiber cloth. If you must use a cleaning compound I would use lens cleaner. If the lens is large enough and you will have to do this regularly you might consider a thing called a lens-pen.