Choosing Objective Lenses for Image Resolution and Practical Applications

Before the late 1800s, microscope resolution was limited by the refractive effects of air between traditional lenses and specimens, blurring images. The invention of oil immersion lenses was pivotal, allowing a substantial increase in resolution by eliminating the air gap between the objective and the sample. Light passing through the oil matched the glass's refractive index, minimizing diffraction and spherical aberration. Oil immersion lenses took optical microscopy to sub-micron resolutions, first revealing bacteria, cell structures, and more. From microbiology to pathology, hematology, and biochemistry, oil immersion lenses opened our eyes to an entire invisible universe once hidden from view. This transformative technology remains a staple in labs worldwide for examining the smallest of biological samples. With numerical apertures up to 1.6, they allow resolutions down to around 200 nanometers when combined with specialized fluorescence, phase contrast, or dark field imaging techniques. However, while incredibly powerful, oil immersion lenses have limited practical use cases, particularly for automated high-throughput imaging. Their requirement to have oil between the objective and sample makes them impractical for automated microwell plate imaging. Water immersion objectives with high numerical apertures are better suited for imaging multi-well plates, reducing spherical aberration, while enabling high-throughput imaging assays. For more insights into mastering your imaging assays, check out our detailed white paper here https://www.scintillantbioscience.com/_files/ugd/733917_cdfd61c566a44d82b6b12f85082e57d3.pdf For more insights into mastering your imaging assays, check out our detailed white paper here https://www.scintillantbioscience.com/_files/ugd/733917_cdfd61c566a44d82b6b12f85082e57d3.pdfIf you're interested in discussing a project involving cell-based imaging assays, Book a free discovery call with this link. https://calendly.com/russ-scintillantbio A Discovery Call is a perfect way for us to connect and have a great conversation to see which of our services are a good fit for you. Check out our website to explore the services we offer https://www.scintillantbioscience.com/ Or contact [email protected]