Using a light microscope
When using a light microscope it鈥檚 important to start with the low power objective lens In a compound microscope, the lens closest to the specimen has a very short focal length and produces a greatly magnified image of the specimen. as the field of viewThe area seen when looking through a microscope. will be wider, increasing the number of cells you are able to see.
This makes it easier to find what you鈥檙e looking for.
Then, ensuring the cells are in the middle of the field of view, rotate a higher powered lens into place and begin to focus to view the cells in more detail.
Extra care is needed here because the high-powered lens can become damaged as it鈥檚 very close to the slide.
\(\text{Total magnification} = {\text{eyepiece magnification}}{\text{ x objective lens magnification}}\)