Patent ID: 8300308

Claim:
An inverted microscope that can perform phase contrast observation, comprising: an objective lens; an eyepiece tube; a main unit that includes a portion of an observation optical system between the objective lens and the eyepiece tube; and; a first eyepiece base unit that houses a phase plate for phase contrast observation and that can be removably attached to the main unit so as to be replaceable with a second eyepiece base unit housing another optical device for performing observation other than phase contrast observation, the first eyepiece base unit in a state of being attached to the main unit being configured to be able to install at a position conjugate with a pupil of the objective lens, wherein the eyepiece tube can be removably attached to the first eyepiece base unit and the second eyepiece base unit; the first eyepiece base unit further comprises an eyepiece base unit body; the phase plate is housed in the eyepiece base unit body; and a side port cylinder for installing a camera for imaging the observation sample is attached to the eyepiece base unit body.