Note that SAPO and XAPO are Evident's original names that indicate the grade of chromatic aberration. Detailed definitions of ACH, FL, and APO are described in ISO, so please refer to ISO19012-2.

For life science, we’ll use the objective lens called UPLXAPO100XOPH as an example. You can understand the optical performance from the objective lens name by dividing the name into six parts, 1 through 6. Below is an overview, and we’ll explain each part in the following six sections.

We hope this list of microscope objective specifications was helpful! Be sure to bookmark it for easy reference when selecting an objective lens. If you are unsure about choosing an objective lens or have any questions, feel free to contact us. We can help you select the best objective based on factors such as sample type, imaging technique, numerical aperture, and desired magnification.

Our website provides a wide range of technical content and product information about our microscope objective lenses. For more details, simply refer to the following links:

In this post, we’ll share how to read the optical performance from the name of a microscope objective so that you can easily find the correct objective lens for your application. As our objective lenses for life science and industrial applications have different naming rules, we’ll discuss how to read the specifications for each field.

With the Resolution Target you can determine the best actual usable resolution of your scanner right away. Therefore, you can consult the Quick Manual please.

Objective lens microscopefunction

Like the life science objectives, industrial objectives marked PL or Plan are corrected for field curvature at the periphery of the field of view. This objective type is particularly suitable for imaging because it can focus not only on the center of the field of view but also on the periphery. This enables you to obtain a flat image from the center to the edge.

Learn more about our IT8 Calibration. Our high-quality Targets are available at an affordable price independent from our SilverFast scanning software. You can order the IT8 targets through our Online Store.

In addition to the name of the objective lens, information on the numerical aperture (NA), magnification, cover glass thickness, immersion liquid, and objective field number (OFN) is provided on the exterior of the objective lens. Below is an example of the UPLXAPO100XO objective that explains how to read these specifications.

Microscopeparts

As a second important application, the target helps you find the optimum sharpness settings for a chosen resolution. You can also find the best compromise for your scanner between high resolution and sharpness and determine which parts of your flatbed scanner are scanned particularly sharply or blurry. The SilverFast Resolution Target is equally well suited for flatbed or film scanners.

This is where microscope objective specifications come in. These specifications tell you the optical performance, such as magnification, aberration correction, and other parameters. You don’t have to look far to find them—in fact, our specifications are listed as a code within the objective lens name! This makes it easy to distinguish between objective types at a glance.

Objective lensfunction

Makoto Kuwano has been in charge of microscope product development for 12 years at Evident. He currently works in the Optical Development Division, where he is involved in optical design of objective lenses, development of component products, and development of measurement techniques for product performance. He holds a Master of Science degree from Tohoku University in Japan.

ACH = achromat. Excellent correction of chromatic aberration in two colors (blue and red). FL = semi-apochromat. Excellent correction of chromatic aberration in three colors (blue, green, and red).  APO = apochromat. Corrects the chromatic aberration of three colors (blue, green, and red) better than FL. SAPO = super apochromat. Good correction of chromatic aberration in the visible to infrared range (435 to 1000 nm). XAPO = extended apochromat. Good correction of chromatic aberration in the visible to infrared range (400–1000 nm).

L = long working distance objective lens. This is an objective lens with a long working distance (the distance from the tip of the objective lens to the specimen surface when focused). In general, there is a trade-off between resolution and working distance. If you want space between the objective lens and the sample, or if you want to observe deep parts, give priority to working distance over resolution.

Types ofobjectivelenses

It can be stated that the targets from LaserSoft Imaging have excellent quality. They are perfectly suited for scanner calibration and fulfill highest quality requirements.

Objectives with PL or Plan are corrected for field curvature at the periphery of the field. This objective type is particularly suitable for imaging because it can focus not only on the center of the field of view but also on the periphery. This enables you to obtain a flat image from the center to the edge.

Based on the USAF-1951 standard, LaserSoft Imaging developed the SilverFast Resolution Target to make the actually usable resolution of a scanner measurable. This is a transparent scan original, which is suitable for either flatbed or film scanners.

We will use the MPLFLN100XBD objective lens as an example in the industrial field. Note that some of the specifications are the same as those of objective lenses for life science. For industrial objectives, you can understand the objective lens name at a glance by dividing it into five parts, 1 through 5.

U = universal objective lens. This objective lens achieves a high level of basic performance in terms of both differential interference performance and fluorescence performance capable of U excitation. It can be used for brightfield observation and fluorescence observation by blue/green (B/G) excitation, as well as for differential interference contrast (DIC) observation and fluorescence observation by U excitation.

*The objective may work with other observation methods not expressed in the code, including brightfield (reflected), brightfield (transmitted), darkfield (reflected), darkfield (transmitted), DIC (reflected), DIC (transmitted), phase contrast, relief contrast, polarization, fluorescence (B/G excitation), UV fluorescence (at 365 nm), multiphoton, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF), and infrared (IR). Please refer to our website for the full objective specifications.

The SilverFast Resolution Target in combination with SilverFast software is a simple way to determine just what the maximum resolution of your particular scanner is! Obtain scans with the best possible crispness and sharpness.

M = metal (no cover) LM = long working distance for metal SLM = Super long working distance for metal MX = high NA and long working distance for metal

Objective lensmagnification

The Resolution Target can also be used to make statements about the sharpness at different resolutions, in order to find the optimum resolution for scanning and to differentiate the sharpness at different points in the scanned area of a flatbed scanner.

Objective lenses are crucial to a microscope’s performance as they affect the quality of the formed image. Evident offers more than 200 types of objective lenses to suit a wide range of imaging requirements in life science and industry. With so many options available, you might be wondering which objective is best for your work.

An optical (also called physical) resolution has always been a requirement in high-end scanning for best quality. Unfortunately today with low priced desktop scanners the term “resolution” has become unclear.

Compoundobjective lens microscope definition

ACH = achromat. Excellent correction of chromatic aberration in two colors (blue and red). FL = semi-apochromat. Excellent correction of chromatic aberration in three colors (blue, green, and red). APO = apochromat. Corrects the chromatic aberration of three colors (blue, green, and red) better than FL.

The correction range for chromatic aberration in objectives differs for each code. The level of chromatic aberration improves in the order of ACH, FL, APO, SAPO, and XAPO. If chromatic aberration is well corrected, sharp fluorescence images with no out-of-focus areas can be obtained for each color even in multicolor observation using fluorescent reagents covering a wide band.

More information about the Resolution Target, in-depth instructions as well as additional application and background data can be found in the Detailed Documentation.

The correction range for chromatic aberration differs for each code. There are three types, ACH, FL, and APO, and the chromatic aberration performance is defined in the same way as the objective lenses for life science.

Objective lens microscope definitionand function

The number before the X represents the magnification of the objective when combined with a tube lens from Evident with a focal length of 180 mm. Evident offers objectives with magnifications ranging from 1.25–150X.

DIC observation* is possible due to features such as the pupil position that matches the microscope system from Evident. In addition, it has good transmittance at 365 nm (the U excitation wavelength) and has low autofluorescence, enabling fluorescence observation by U excitation.

Stagemicroscopefunction

With the Resolution Target you can determine the best actual usable resolution of your scanner right away. Therefore, you can consult the Quick Manual please.

More information about the Resolution Target, in-depth instructions as well as additional application and background data can be found in the Detailed Documentation.

Just like the life science objectives, the number before the X in industrial objectives represents the magnification of the objective when combined with a tube lens from Evident with a focal length of 180 mm. Evident offers objectives with magnifications ranging from 1.25–150X.

This code indicates whether it is a dry objective lens used for observation without immersion liquid or an immersion objective lens for observation using immersion liquid. In the case of immersion objectives, the liquid used is represented by the symbol O for oil or W for water.

The code M stands for metal, and it is an objective lens for observation without a cover glass. In addition, the following codes are used according to the length of the working distance and optical performance.

*The objective may work with other observation methods not expressed in the code, including brightfield (reflected), brightfield (transmitted), darkfield (reflected), darkfield (transmitted), DIC (reflected), DIC (transmitted), phase contrast, relief contrast, polarization, fluorescence (B/G excitation), UV fluorescence (at 365 nm), multiphoton, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF), and infrared (IR). Please refer to our website for the full objective specifications.

The structure and elements of the Resolution Target are defined to an American military standard. On the target there are smaller and smaller elements, each consisting of black bars of precisely defined width and spacing. These individual elements are numbered and organized into groups on the Resolution Target. The smallest of these elements for which the scanner can just differentiate between two bars, for which the intervening space is thus barely still detectable, can be indicative of the usable resolution of the scanner.