Even 150 years after the start of its industrial production, the microscope remains an indispensable tool in medicine, biology, and materials science. This book first explains the key aspects of the operation and structure of the various types of light microscopes. It outlines the functions of the different controls and how they affect the resulting images. In the subsequent chapters, descriptions of the most important contrast techniques and the latest high-resolution methods are provided, marking the beginning of a new era in optical microscopy. The text is written in an easily understandable manner, with practical application examples and numerous microscopic images.