A tandem scanning confocal epi-illumination microscope comprising a light source, which may be a laser, for supplying a light beam to a light condenser, which may be a lens. The condenser focuses the light onto the object to be examined so as to illuminate a point observational field on or within the object. Reflected, fluorescent or scattered light from the illuminated point field is collected by the condenser and transmitted to a returning light receiver, which may be in the form of a camera carrying photographic film.
