Metallurgical Microscopes

Unlike biological compound microscopes which illuminate from beneath the specimen (transmitted light), these compound microscopes feature the ability to illuminate from the top down through the objective lens onto the surface of the specimen (incident or reflected light). This is necessary if the item being observed is not transparent/translucent, such as metal, ceramics, integrated circuits, etc., or any application that requires high magnification of opaque substances.

'Inverted' metallurgical microscopes place the optics below the stage to allow the operator greater freedom of movement, so the viewed surface of the specimen must be facing downward.