Patent ID: 7283299

Claim:
A magnifying observation apparatus comprising: a photographing section for photographing an observation image from an observation subject; an illuminating section for illuminating the observation subject; an illuminating direction switching section for switching the illumination direction of said illuminating section; a first observation condition setting section for setting a plurality of first observation conditions, each of the plurality of first observation conditions including a distinct pre-selected illuminating direction with respect to the observation subject; a first observation image display section for displaying a plurality of first observation images of the observation subject photographed with said photographing section, each of the plurality of first observation images being acquired per a different one of the plurality of first observation conditions including a respective distinct illumination direction set with said first observation condition setting section, simultaneously on the same display screen of said display section; a selection section for selecting one desired first observation image from among the plurality of first observation images displayed on said first observation image display section; a second observation condition setting enabling to set further observation conditions based on the first observation condition set to the first observation image selected with said selection section; and a second observation image display section for displaying a second observation image acquired based on the observation condition set with said second observation condition setting section.