Microscope objectives
An introduction to 'infinity' corrected microscope objectives.
ContentsField of view
The field of view (\(FOV\)) of an objective is rarely specified, perhaps because the definition is not standardised. For example, one could say that the \(FOV\) is the range over which the image is diffraction limited at the maximum \(NA\) (a stringent definition giving the smallest fields, but arguably the most correct choice). Alternatively one could accept the field over which stigmatic imaging is maintained for some fraction of the maximum \(NA\) (for example 80%). In reality, without full design information for the objective and tube lens, we simply don't know the field of view. It is common to estimate the \(FOV\) using the tube lens field number \(FN\) and objective magnification \(M_T\): \[ FOV \sim \frac{FN}{M_T} \tag{1}\]
