There are a few different types of light microscopes. The one most commonly used in classrooms is the bright field LM. There are also dark field LMs, phase contrast LMs, Hoffman modulation contrast LMs, Nomarski differential interference contrast LMs, fluorescence LMs, stereo LMs and confocal LMs. The different variations of light microscopes allow for various viewing experiences. Some produce a three dimensional effect and/or have a high resolution.
Light microscopes have a number of parts. The stage "holds the slide containing the specimen to be viewed," according to the Clinton Community College. LMs also have a light source, such as a light bulb, a diaphragm to adjust the light, and one or two condensers to concentrate the light. Lastly, the body tube of the LM houses an eyepiece, or ocular lens, a nosepiece, and objective lenses.
Generally speaking, a light microscope works by passing light through the condenser to illuminate a slide on the microscope's stage. The objective lens is what provides the actual magnification of the slide. You place your eye over the ocular lens to view the magnified image of the slide. To enhance the view you're given of a specimen, certain parts of the light microscope, such as the stage, objective lens and condenser, are adjustable.
Light microscopes are not always the ideal microscope to use, but there are many times when they are the perfect tool. If you wish to view slides prepared with bacteria, tissues, condensed chromosomes, protists or metazoans, light microscopes are a great way to do so, according to Rice University. Light microscopes are also great for viewing smears like stained blood and negative stained bacteria as well as unstained, living, wet mounts like pond water and algae.