The purpose of the present invention is to provide a phase contrast microscope and imaging method which accurately ascertain the shape of a meniscus of a liquid contained inside a container and which remove, with a high degree of precision, the effects of illumination light refraction caused by the meniscus. The surface of a liquid inside a culture container is irradiated with illumination light for liquid surface measurement, and the transmitted light that passes through the liquid inside the culture container is detected by an imaging unit. In addition, the relative positional relationship between the focal plane of an image-forming optical system and the culture container is changed to acquire a transmitted light detection signal for each focal plane position, and the liquid surface shape of the liquid is estimated on the basis of the transmitted light detection signal for each focal plane position. Adjustment information for adjusting the optical properties of an adjustment optical system, which adjusts l
