Achromatic Objective: Achromatic objectives are the most common type of objective lenses. They are designed to correct for chromatic aberration, which is the inability of a lens to focus different colors of light at the same point. Achromatic objectives provide good image quality and are suitable for general microscopy applications.
Plan Achromatic Objective: Plan achromatic objectives are an advanced version of achromatic objectives. They are designed to provide a flat field of view, ensuring that the entire image is in focus and sharp across the entire visual field.
Apochromatic Objective: Apochromatic objectives are high-performance lenses that correct for both chromatic aberration and spherical aberration. They provide excellent image quality and color fidelity, making them ideal for demanding applications such as fluorescence microscopy and high-resolution imaging.
Long-Working Distance Objective: Long-working distance objectives have a greater distance between the front lens element and the specimen. This allows for easier manipulation of the sample, especially when using tools or performing intricate procedures. They are commonly used in applications such as microsurgery or in vivo imaging.
Oil-Immersion Objective: Oil-immersion objectives require the use of a special immersion oil between the objective lens and the specimen. This oil has a refractive index similar to glass, which improves the resolution and numerical aperture of the lens. Oil-immersion objectives are commonly used in high-resolution microscopy techniques such as confocal microscopy.
Dry Objective: Dry objectives are designed to be used without any immersion medium. They are suitable for observations of dry and transparent specimens, such as mounted slides or samples with coverslips.
Phase Contrast Objective: Phase contrast objectives are specifically designed for phase contrast microscopy, a technique used to visualize transparent or unstained specimens. These objectives enhance the contrast of the phase differences in the sample, making it easier to observe cellular structures and details.
Darkfield Objective: Darkfield objectives are used in darkfield microscopy, a technique where the specimen is illuminated with oblique light. This creates a bright image of the specimen against a dark background, enhancing the visibility of fine details and structures.