What kind of lens is primarily used in a microscope to form the initial image?

In a microscope, the objective lens is the key component responsible for forming the initial image of the specimen being examined. This lens is placed closest to the sample and has a short focal length, which allows it to produce a magnified image of the specimen due to its ability to converge light. The objective lens gathers light from the object and focuses it, creating a real image that is then further magnified by the eyepiece lens.

While a converging lens and a convex lens are types of lenses that can focus light, the specific context of the question emphasizes the role of the objective lens in microscopy. The eyepiece lens, while also critical for magnification, primarily serves to enlarge the image produced by the objective lens rather than creating the initial image itself.