Retainer for sample carriers of different shapes and sizes

A microscope stage, comprising:

• a retainer, including:
• a retaining plane (110) configured to receive a sample carrier to be retained;
• at least three respectively movably mounted stop elements (120), each of the at least three stop elements (120) including at least one stop surface (121) configured to be adjusted, by movement of the stop element (120), against the sample carrier (P1-P4) to be retained;
• at least three securing elements (125), each of the at least three securing elements (125) being associated with a respective stop element of the at least three stop elements (120);
• wherein each of the at least three securing elements (125) are configured to immovably secure the associated stop element (120) on the retainer, such that each of the at least three securing elements (125) are conveyable into a first position in which the associated stop element (120) is movable, and such that each of the at least three securing elements (125) are conveyable into a second position in which the associated stop element is secured immovably on the retainer;
• wherein the microscope stage is displaceable in the X and Y direction in motorized fashion.