Abstract: Direct illumination apparatus for microscopes for generating illumination of light fields, phase contrasts, interference contrast and dark fields. A deflecting mirror is located in the observation beam, which is partly specular at its center region and fully specular in an annular zone, and an annular condensor is associated with the illumination system. The apparatus is provided with an adjustable stop or diaphragm for the purpose of suppressing the light field beam and with optical components for illuminating an objective pupil for the light field and the annular condensor with collimated light for the dark field. An aperture stop is located in the path of the light field beam nearly or approximately limiting the illumination of the object field in the path of the dark field beam.