A method is useful for generating an overview image using a high-aperture objective. An optical detection beam path with the objective is provided. The path is transferred into a second operating state via a first depth of field increased to a second depth of field. Detection radiation is captured in the second operating state. Detection radiation coming from the sample space is collected by the objective, guided along the path, and captured by a detector sensitive to detection radiation as an image with a lateral image field, which is the same in the first and second operating states.