Microscope and microscope control method

A method of controlling a microscope which includes:

• a light source which is able to be directly controlled between an ON state in which coherent light is emitted and an OFF state in which the light is not emitted;
• an illumination optical system which radiates the light to form an illumination region on a sample;
• an optical path change member which changes an optical path of the light;
• and
• a control unit which controls the light source and the optical path change member, the method of controlling the microscope comprising:
• controlling the optical path change member, and performing a control to
• be able to switch between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the light forms the illumination region on the sample when the light source is in the ON state, and does not form the illumination region when the light source is in the OFF state, and the second state being a state in which the light does not form the illumination region on the sample when the light source is either in the ON state or in the OFF state, and
• set the light source to be in the ON state in the second state, before the light forms the illumination region on the sample to start acquiring an image with the light source being in the ON state, in the first state.