This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II The Microscope And Optical Apparatus The primary essentials in photo-micrography are a microscope and a camera, or their equivalents. These may be combined in one instrument, as was actually done in a commercial way by the Atwood Camera-Microscope a number of years ago, but long since discarded "for good and sufficient reasons." There must be a lens to magnify the object and project its enlarged image--either direct or through an eye-piece--upon the sensitized plate, which in turn must be held in position to receive it by a camera or some contrivance answering the same purpose. Of these, the microscope is the more important, since with no camera, however complete in design and workmanship, can one make even a passable photo-micrograph, if the optical portions of his apparatus, --the lenses or objectives, --are not properly corrected for the work. Almost every one may, at a pinch, construct something that will answer for a camera, but very few of us can make a microscope; hence this indispensable must be purchased, and should be selected with the greatest care. Its first cost may be whatever sum one chooses to invest in it: after that, with proper care, its cost for maintenance is nothing. The camera, on the other hand, must be continually supplied with food in the shape of sensitive plates. Between the two, however, the earnest and diligent worker will receive the reward of his labors in the shape of more or less perfect negatives, as his skill or lack of it can produce. Microscopes specially designed for photomicrography, of superb workmanship and combining every improvement and device calculated to fit them for the highest grade of work, may be had--for a price. But it is not with these we have to deal in this little book....