At Munday Scientific and Microscope Marketplace, we’re always looking for accessories that make microscopes faster, cleaner, and more versatile for real laboratory workflows. One objective that often surprises users with how useful it is across multiple applications is the Olympus LUCPlanFL N 20X objective.
Whether you're working on an Olympus BX series compound microscope or an inverted microscope used for cell culture, this objective is a powerful and practical option.
Below we’ll explain why this lens has become a favorite among researchers, pathologists, and lab technicians.
🎥 Video Overview of the LUCPlanFL N 20X
In this video, Chad Potts of Munday Scientific and Microscope Marketplace walks through why the LUCPlanFL 20X is such a practical objective for everyday microscopy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xl8XRwYnqo
A Perfect 20X Objective for Oil Users on Olympus BX Microscopes
Many labs frequently switch between 10X, 20X, 40X, and 100X oil objectives. One of the most frustrating issues occurs when the 20X objective accidentally drags through immersion oil left behind from the 100X lens.
When this happens, it can contaminate the 20X lens, smear oil across the slide, degrade image quality, and require time-consuming cleaning.
This is where the LUCPlanFL N 20X really shines.
Long Working Distance = No Oil Contamination
The long working distance design keeps the objective safely away from residual oil on the slide.
Instead of dragging the lens through oil, the objective stays high enough above the sample to avoid contamination entirely.
This makes it ideal for labs that frequently switch magnifications, use oil immersion regularly, or need to move quickly between slides.
In busy pathology or teaching environments, this can dramatically speed up workflow.
High Numerical Aperture for Excellent Image Quality
Another standout feature of this objective is the numerical aperture of 0.45.
That’s significantly higher than many standard long-working-distance objectives.
What this means for you:
• Brighter images
• Better contrast
• Higher resolution
• Sharper detail at 20X
Combined with Olympus’ Plan Fluorite optics, the LUCPlanFL N provides a flat field and excellent color correction, making it ideal for professional imaging and routine observation.
Built-In Cover Glass Correction Collar
One of the most unique aspects of this objective is the correction collar.
This allows the objective to compensate for variations in glass thickness, which becomes extremely important in certain applications.
On a Compound Microscope
When used on an Olympus BX compound microscope, simply set the collar to 0.17 mm, the standard cover glass thickness.
At this setting, the objective delivers exceptionally crisp imaging with minimal aberration.
On an Inverted Microscope
The correction collar becomes even more useful when the objective is mounted on an inverted microscope.
When viewing samples in Petri dishes, culture dishes, multi-well plates, or chamber slides, the plastic or glass bottom thickness can vary.
Using the correction collar allows you to dial in the exact optical correction, restoring sharpness and contrast that would otherwise be lost.
This makes the objective extremely versatile for cell culture labs and IVF applications.
One Objective, Two Applications
Because of its optical design and correction collar, the LUCPlanFL N 20X can function beautifully on both microscope types.
Compound Microscopes (Olympus BX Series)
Ideal for pathology, histology, veterinary diagnostics, and teaching labs.
Benefits include long working distance to prevent oil fouling, a high NA of 0.45 for excellent resolution, and superb imaging at the standard 0.17 cover glass setting.
Inverted Microscopes
Perfect for cell culture observation, IVF labs, tissue culture work, and live cell imaging.
Benefits include an adjustable correction collar for dish thickness, excellent contrast and clarity through plastic culture vessels, and high NA for detailed cell observation.
Why Labs Love This Objective
Many labs eventually discover that this lens becomes one of the most frequently used objectives on the microscope.
Users appreciate faster workflow, less cleaning from oil contamination, excellent optical performance, and versatility between microscope platforms.
It’s one of those components that quietly improves your daily microscope experience.
View the Objective
If you're interested in adding this versatile objective to your microscope setup, you can find it here:
Final Thoughts
The Olympus LUCPlanFL N 20X objective is one of those rare optics that solves real-world problems while still delivering outstanding image quality.
Between the long working distance, high numerical aperture, and adjustable correction collar, it’s an incredibly practical choice for labs using Olympus BX compound microscopes or inverted systems.
If you’re looking for a cleaner workflow, better imaging, and a more versatile 20X objective, this lens is absolutely worth considering.