Olympus LUCPLANFL N 20x RC2 Relief Contrast Objective

The Olympus LUCPLANFL N 20× RC2 Relief Contrast Objective is an advanced semi-apochromat lens engineered for high-resolution relief contrast observation of living cells in plastic culture vessels. This premium objective provides exceptional contrast for unstained specimens with superior optical performance, making it ideal for detailed observation of oocytes, embryos, and other living cells in IVF applications, cell culture, and developmental biology research.

Relief contrast RC2 represents an advanced optical design that provides superior visualization of unstained living cells without requiring phase contrast accessories. The RC2 configuration creates enhanced three-dimensional relief effects with improved contrast and resolution compared to standard relief contrast objectives. This advanced technique enables detailed observation of cellular structures, membranes, organelles, and fine morphological features in transparent specimens, which is essential for critical IVF and cell biology applications.

At 20× magnification with a numerical aperture of 0.45, this objective provides high resolution for detailed observation of cellular structures and subcellular features. This magnification is ideal for detailed examination of oocyte quality, embryo development, cellular morphology, and micromanipulation procedures where you need to see fine details clearly. The higher numerical aperture compared to 10× objectives provides improved resolution for critical observations.

The long working distance of 6.6-7.8mm is specifically designed to accommodate plastic culture vessels commonly used in cell culture and IVF applications. This extended working distance ensures that you can focus through the thick plastic bottoms of culture dishes and flasks to observe cells growing on the vessel bottom. The generous clearance eliminates the need to transfer cells to glass slides, reducing handling stress, contamination risk, and maintaining optimal culture conditions.

Semi-apochromat correction provides superior color correction and high transmission across an extended spectral range, from the visible region through the near-infrared. This exceptional optical performance ensures accurate color rendition, minimal chromatic aberration, and enables multi-wavelength imaging applications. The high transmission is particularly valuable for fluorescence microscopy, low-light imaging, and advanced imaging techniques with living cells.

Plan fluorite optical design provides high image flatness with minimal curvature of field, maintaining sharp focus from the center to the edge of the field of view. This flat-field performance is essential for photomicrography, image analysis, and documentation where uniform image quality across the entire field is required. The plan correction ensures that the entire field of view is usable for observation, imaging, and quantitative analysis.

Designed for use with Olympus CKX and IX series inverted microscopes, this objective is optimized for cell culture and live-cell imaging applications. The inverted configuration allows observation from below, which is ideal for cells growing on the bottom of culture vessels. The robust construction and precision Japanese manufacturing ensure reliable performance in demanding IVF clinics, cell culture facilities, and research environments where optical excellence is essential.