Enhanced shutter control for image insertion in a stereo microscope

This invention claims priority to German Priority Application 101 08 988.0, filed Feb. 23, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This invention claims priority to German Priority Application 101 08 989.9, filed Feb. 23, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This invention claims priority to German Priority Application 101 18 702.5, filed Apr. 12, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This invention claims priority to German Priority Application 101 18 703.3, filed Apr. 12, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This invention claims priority to German Priority Application 101 57 613.7, filed Nov. 26, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A stereo microscope comprises: a main objective; a main observation output configured so that a left-hand beam path and a right-hand beam path are formed between the main objective and the main observation output; at least one input reflection beam splitter in each of the left-hand and right-hand beam paths configured to reflect additional information into its corresponding beam path; at least one output reflection beam splitter in at least one of the left-hand and right-hand beam paths; at least one first switchable shutter associated with at least one of the left-hand and right-hand beam paths, located in front of a corresponding input reflection beam splitter; and at least one second switchable shutter associated with at least one of the left-hand and right-hand beam paths, located between the main observation output and a corresponding output reflection beam splitter.