Microscope stage with pivotable objective holder

A microscope stage (14), comprising:

• a platform (16);
• a holder (42) adapted for holding an objective (38), the holder (42) being pivotally mounted to the platform (16) about a bearing axis (46) that is substantially parallel to an optical axis, the holder (42) being mounted movably along the bearing axis (46);
• an operating element (50) coupled to the holder (42), the operating element (50) being pivotable about the bearing axis (46) and movable along the bearing axis (46) with the holder (42) for positioning in an operating position;
• a locking mechanism (60) actuatable by the operating element (50) for fixing the holder (42) in a fixed position relative to the platform (16) when the operating element (50) is in the operating position;
• and
• a pressure spring (100) having a spring force, the pressure spring (100) arranged substantially parallel to the first plane, and having a first end mounted rotatably to the holder (42) and a second end mounted rotatably to a stationary part of the microscope stage (14);
• wherein the operating element is a lever (50) which is pivotable in a first plane within a first pivoting range for pivoting the holder (42) about the bearing axis (46) and which is pivotable in a second plane within a second pivoting range for moving the holder (42) along the bearing axis (46), wherein the second plane is perpendicular to the first plane;
• and
• wherein the pressure spring (100) biases the lever (50) away from a mid-position of the first pivoting range, toward lever end positions, the lever end positions corresponding to a first lever end position at a first end of the first pivoting range and a second lever end position at a second end of the first pivoting range, the mid-position of the first pivoting range being approximately between the lever end positions.