Olympus XLUMPLANFL N 20X Water Immersion (Dipping) Microscope Objective (NA 1.00, Infinity)

The Olympus XLUMPLFLN 20XW Water Immersion Objective (N2699600) is a premium biological objective designed for high-resolution imaging of living cells and tissues in aqueous environments. This objective is distinguished by its exceptional 1.00 numerical aperture at 20× magnification—significantly higher than standard 20× objectives—providing outstanding resolution and light-gathering capability typically associated with higher magnification objectives.

The 20× magnification combined with 1.00 NA represents an optimal configuration for many biological imaging applications. This combination provides a wide field of view for observing multiple cells or tissue regions while delivering resolution approaching that of 40× objectives. The high NA ensures exceptional light collection efficiency—critical for fluorescence microscopy where photon budget directly impacts image quality and the ability to detect weak fluorescent signals.

The 2.0mm working distance provides sufficient clearance for imaging into thick tissue specimens, accommodating coverslips, and enabling experimental manipulations such as electrode placement for electrophysiology. While shorter than lower-NA 20× objectives, this working distance represents an excellent compromise between numerical aperture and working clearance.

The Plan Fluor (XLUMPLFLN) optical design incorporates fluorite glass elements that provide excellent chromatic aberration correction across the visible spectrum. The "XL" designation indicates extended performance compared to standard UMPLFLN objectives. The flat-field (Plan) correction ensures sharp focus across the entire field of view, essential for accurate imaging and measurement.

Water immersion objectives offer significant advantages over oil immersion for live-cell imaging and long-term time-lapse experiments. Water is non-toxic to cells, evaporates cleanly without residue, and maintains physiological conditions. The refractive index of water (n=1.33) closely matches that of aqueous biological specimens, minimizing spherical aberration when imaging deep into tissue.

The infinity-corrected optical design is compatible with Olympus BX (upright), CX (compact), and IX (inverted) series microscopes, enabling integration with fluorescence filter cubes, DIC optics, and camera systems for advanced imaging workflows.

The M25 thread mount ensures compatibility with Olympus biological microscope nosepieces.