Having trouble with microscope

This is how I focused on slides....

First: Start off with the lowest magnification usually 4x, use the course adjustment knob to get get close and then use the fine adjustment knob to FOCUS the image!

Next: Go to higher magnification, without touching any of the knobs. once you switch to higher mag. you can use the FINE adjustment knob to focus the image. you dont have to move the knob too much as you have already focused it when you started out.

PS. usually on exams the microscope is already set on the target cells so all you have to do is peek or SLIGHTLY adjust the fine knob for your vision. Best of luck!

make sure your eye thingys are the best width apart. I feel like with this and what PP said, that's how I get my microscope to optimum....

Also, when you go to 4x to high magnification... make sure you find what you're looking for every time otherwise you might be there for awhile moving the slide around trying to find it!

Actually, I think she did say that she will have slides set up and we will go around to look at them. That makes me feel a bit better! Thanks for the tips!

Good day:

I had trouble until I made the time to go to our tutoring / learning center where they have a compound microscope and slides for which to practice... that kept me ok until Microbiology where now I'm learning to use an oil immersion lens.

Here's what I do to start:

1. Bring down the platform to the bottom to give you lots of room for placing the slide.

2. If your light source moves up and down, move it up towards the slide area. Start off with a lower light, and increase light as you go up in magnification.

3. Place your slide in the slide holding area making sure the label can be read; any label should be facing you.

4. Starting at the lowest objective (scanning lens), bring up the platform as far as it can go (towards the slide; on the scanning lens, you should still have plenty of room between the slide and the objective lens with the platform raised towards the top).

5. Until you get better at focusing, find the cover slip edge and use that as a means to get the scanning objective lens into focus. You may have to lower the platform a little; but once you get it close, you should just be using the fine tuning knob. Get used to which direction of turning does what... ie. turn towards you brings the objective lens closer to the slide; turn away from you, moves the objective lens away from the slide.

6. Once focused on the edge of the cover slip, take note of any coloration or tidbits about the slid that can give you an idea of general location of the material you will be looking at. This could be a smear, a discoloration, etc.

7. Using the slide left, right / toward you, away from you controls, adjust the slide position slowly towards the area found on 6.

8. Once you got it under the scanning lens, you can adjust to the other lenses (being careful with the high dry lens not to crash into the slide). When moving to another lens, you should just have to play (slowly) with the fine focus.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to using a microscope. You will get better the more you practice.

Thank you.

I really struggled for a long time too, then one day I just got it and couldn't figure out what all the fuss had been about. The tips other people mentioned should help but mostly just get in as much practice as you can and it will click.

I was like ShelbyaStar too! I just kept practicing and then one day I was the "expert" everyone asked for microscope help.

Don't be shy and just keep messing with the microscope and looking all around until you find something to focus on. Also, I wear glasses and did better when I took them off.

Thank you everyone. Pmabraham, thanks for the tip of focusing on the tip of the slide first. That's a great idea! I have class tonight and I'm anxious to try that. I think my problem may be moving too fast. I can do this! (I hope! lol)

It went so much better on Monday. I think my problem was getting the slide in the right position to begin with. It seems like the slide is up further than it should be whenever I get it right. So, now I just automatically put it a little further up then what looks right and I can zero in much faster. I feel so much better!

Good job, kenya1005

I was having the same problem. Start in scanning (4x). Using your rough adjustment knob, rotate the stage up until it stops. Focus using your fine adjustment know. Once your slide is in focus, rotate your objective lens once to the left (10x). Once again, use only your fine adjustment knob, and focus again. Once clear, rotate the objective lens again, once to the left (40x), and use your fine adjustment knob.

I was having a similar problem and what I learned was that I was going from scanning (4x), and then rotating twice to the left to (40x), and skipping (10x). Once I made the adjustment of stopping at each objective lens and focusing, the problem was solved.

You are lucky that you can read the slides. We are viewing epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues right now. Very cool.

This is how I focused on slides....

First: Start off with the lowest magnification usually 4x, use the course adjustment knob to get get close and then use the fine adjustment knob to FOCUS the image!

Next: Go to higher magnification, without touching any of the knobs. once you switch to higher mag. you can use the FINE adjustment knob to focus the image. you dont have to move the knob too much as you have already focused it when you started out.

PS. usually on exams the microscope is already set on the target cells so all you have to do is peek or SLIGHTLY adjust the fine knob for your vision. Best of luck!

Don't mean to bring up and old thread. I am having a lot of difficulty using a microscope and worried this will ruin chances of becoming a nurse. Because can't imagine what micro will be like without microscope experiences. I only think I used a scope 1 or 2 times 5 to 6 yrs ago for Intro to Bio.

I put my scope on mid power light. Then start at the lowest power and put my slide to the edge. If I can see the glass I move the slide over till I see what I am looking for.

Make adjustments then turn on the next adjustment. At this point can never get it to refocus. All I see is dots, hair, black spots, squiggly lines, and these clear dots.

I feel like I waste time in class. The instructor will have the scopes set for us for exam and just have to identify what we see on the scopes for the exam. So going to use google, the lab book, and school resources to help me identity what I see on the scope. Hopefully that'll help.