The rotating lower polarizing filter for this microscope serves as the analyzer.

Plane polarized light is obtained when the polarizer OR the analyzer is in place. When both filters are in place, the analyzer may be rotated to positions ranging from plane polarized light (vibrational direction of the filters is parallel) to crossed polars (no light, the vibrational direction of the filters are perpendicular). Note that the sample is placed between the polarizing filters. The importance of this will become evident in the section on advanced observation techniques.