Abstract: An attachment system for attaching a camera to a microscope has a mounting structure for securing a camera above the eyepiece of the optical tube of the microscope, and an adaptor for providing a light shield extends between the lens opening of the camera and the optical tube. A downstream end of the adaptor closely surrounds the outer periphery of the optical tube to prevent the undesired ingress of ambient light into the adaptor, while permitting relative movement between the adaptor and the optical tube. An illuminating system for a microscope employs a curved, transparent, light transmissive rod having a light-receiving end surface, a light-receiving peripheral side surface and a light emitting end surface. The rod is mounted with its light emitting end surface aligned with a passage extending through the stage of the microscope upon which a specimen to be viewed and/or to be photographed is retained.