The article presents some examples of a digital camera application in acquisition and analysis of images obtained with light microscopy. The latest digital cameras for research microscopes employ an innovative shifting CCD system together with fast hardware processing to give high resolution of images and high speed imaging for easier focusing. An integration into the appropriate software makes possibilities for image acquisition, archiving and analysis. The new research microscopes are fully automated and motorized. All functions can be controlled using a PC (e.g. functions connected with focusing or stage positioning).
An unconventional technique used to create perfectly focused images presented in the article is an extended focus imaging. This is a module of microscope software which enables to acquire images of limitless depth of focus. Possession of a microscope equipped with a motorized stage is indispensable to this technique. Zinc layers on the cast iron, thermal barrier coatings on heat-resisting alloys and carbides in matrix of cobalt-base superalloy are the examples of using the extended focus imaging.
In this work using of automated stage management is also shown. It enables to create an overview image by combining single images of high resolution. It is important because the resolution of the overview image can be adjusted and new positions required for further analysis can be easily defined. This is particularly important in quantitative materialography because this technique enables significant decrease of edge effect. The results of using the stage management are presented for the following cases: duplex steel, elements made by nickel-base superalloy, weldings and during revealing macro grain in cobalt-base superalloy.
For these reasons the digital microscope with the automation assures a high performance and diversified program of examinations.

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