An objective lens is the lens in a microscope, telescope, camera or other optical instrument, that receives the first light rays from the object being observed. The objective lens is also called the object lens, object glass and objective glass. A lens is: a part of the eye an optical device that may be used in a camera or in a telescope; see lens (optics). ... 1852 microscope Compound microscope made by John Cuff in 1750 A microscope (Greek: micron = small and scopos = aim) is an instrument for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked or unaided eye. ... 50 cm refracting telescope at Nice Observatory. ... Photographic lens The zoom lens of the Canon Elph A photographic lens (or more correctly, objective) is an optical lens used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically. ... See also list of optical topics. ... Prism splitting light Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light) or, in a technical or scientific setting, electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. ...
Objectives are designed to image specimens either with air or a medium of higher refractive index between the front lens and the specimen.
The magnification of an infinity-corrected objective is calculated by dividing the reference focal length by the focal length of the objectivelens.
Objectives of lower magnification often have a rear focal plane that is exterior to the barrel, located in the thread area or within the microscope nosepiece.