Method of controlling imaging of a sample by a microscope and corresponding microscope

A method of controlling imaging of a sample imaged by a microscope, wherein the microscope comprises an illumination system for illuminating the sample and an imaging system for delivering microscopic images of the sample, the method comprising:

• detecting, by a control system, an image affecting change in microscope settings and/or in a location of the sample, the image affecting change resulting in an alteration of the sample image;
• delivering, by the imaging system and in a first imaging mode, a live image stream of live images of the sample, or delivering, in a second imaging mode, a still image stream of one or more still images of the sample, and, when no image affecting change is detected, the first imaging mode is switched to the second imaging mode using one of the last live images of the first imaging mode for at least a part of the still image stream in the second imaging mode;
• reducing, during the second imaging mode, an illumination intensity of the illumination system:
• and
• performing, during the second imaging mode, a predefined background operation that requires an image affecting change in the microscope settings and/or in the location of the sample, wherein the second imaging mode is not switched into the first imaging mode while the background operation is being performed.

A microscope comprising:

• a control system configured to control imaging of a sample imaged by the microscope;
• an illumination system configured to illuminate the sample;
• and
• an imaging system configured to deliver microscopic images of the sample,
• wherein the control system is connected to the illumination system and to the imaging system and is configured to:
• detect an image affecting change in microscope settings and/or in a location of the sample, the image affecting change resulting in an alteration of the sample image,
• cause the imaging system to either deliver a live image stream of live images of the sample in a first imaging mode, or to deliver a still image stream of one or more still images of the sample in a second imaging mode, and to switch from the first imaging mode into the second imaging mode when no image affecting change is detected, using one of the last live images of the first imaging mode for at least a part of the still image stream in the second imaging mode, and
• reduce an illumination intensity of the illumination system during the second imaging mode,
• wherein, during the second imaging mode, the control system is configured to perform a predefined background operation that requires an image affecting change in the microscope settings and/or in the location of the sample, and the control system is configured not to switch into the first imaging mode while the background operation is being performed.