the only drawing shows a microscope 1 , which is designed as a confocal scanning microscope . the microscope 1 is equipped with a microscope stand 3 , a scanner 5 , a light source 7 and six control elements 61 to 71 , such as a revolver 35 , a monitor 11 , a panelbox 57 , a keyboard 59 , a set knob 55 and a back lighted lcd display 59 . the functions of the control elements 61 to 71 and their embodiments are described as follows : computer 9 controls the microscope . computer 9 is connected to the monitor 11 , which serves on one hand to depict the image 13 of the sample 15 and on the other hand to display the microscope parameters . the light for sample illumination emanating from the light source 7 , which is designed as a laser 17 here , shows a wavelength of about 800 nm and is focused on an illumination pinhole 21 via optics that are not illustrated here . the light is then reflected by a beam splitter 23 to a beam deflection device 25 , which comprises a cardanic mounted mirror 27 . the light for sample illumination 19 shaped as a beam is transmitted via a scanning optic and a eyepiece optic , which are both not illustrated , and via the objective 29 to the sample 15 . the objective 29 is nested in the revolver 35 together with additional objectives 31 , 33 . the revolver 35 has a phosphorizing cover , which makes the revolver visible in the dark and makes the change of objectives possible . in addition the objective revolver 35 shows phosphorizing marks that are both visible in the dark and clarify which objective is currently placed in the beam path . the detection light 37 emanating from the sample passes through the objective 29 and through the beam deflection device 25 back to the beam splitter 23 . the light passes the beam splitter 23 and the detection pinhole 38 and hits the prisma 39 of the multi - band detector 40 . the prisma 39 spatially splits the light for the multi - band detector 40 which comprises the two detectors 41 and 43 . the detectors 41 , 43 are designed as photomultipliers . the system parameter , like the amplifier voltage of the detectors 41 , 43 , the maximum reflection angles of the beam deflection device 25 and the focussing of the detection bands of multi - band detectors 39 are arranged with the help of a panel box 45 and a keyboard 49 . the panel box 45 has six illuminated control knobs 47 , which can be individually switched on . the keyboard 49 has back lighted keys 51 . the control knobs 47 are equipped with a light emitting diode ( not illustrated here ), the light of which shines through the half - transparent plastic material of the control knobs 47 . the keyboard 49 is equipped with many light bulbs that serve as a back light illumination . the keys 51 are equipped in such a way that the light , which is shining through , makes it possible to recognize the functions of the keys . the material of the keys is therefore of a different thickness showing different characteristics regarding colour and transparency . with the help of a set knob 55 it is possible to move the stage 53 on which the sample is positioned 15 in a vertical direction for focussing purposes . the set knob 55 has a phosphorizing ring 57 , which makes it possible to see the position of the set knob 55 in the dark . the back lighted lcd display is meant to show the current position of the focus . the invention was described with respect to a specific embodiment . it is obvious that changes and alterations can be made without leaving the scope of protection of the claims below .