The document discusses different types of microscopy used to view specimens at higher magnifications than possible with the naked eye. It describes light microscopes like the compound light microscope which uses lenses to magnify specimens up to 2000x. Brightfield microscopy uses visible light to view stained specimens on a bright background. Darkfield microscopy uses specialized illumination to view unstained specimens with high contrast on a dark background. Phase contrast microscopy converts phase shifts in light waves to brightness contrasts, allowing viewing of live unstained cells. Electron microscopes like scanning electron microscopes use electron beams rather than light for very high magnification views of surfaces, while transmission electron microscopes pass electrons through thin specimens for views of internal structures.