FLUORESCENT MICROSCOPY SYSTEM

A fluorescent microscopy system (810) is provided, comprising: a microscope element (820) having a field of view; a fluorescent excitation apparatus (812) comprising a light source (814) to output a light, and an optical system (818) configured to convert the light into an excitation beam for exciting a specimen in the sample plane, the excitation beam having a distribution of light flux suitable for simultaneously lighting substantially all of the field of view of the microscope element (820); a detector (840) configured to detect an imaging light from a specimen; the microscope element (820) comprising an objective lens (830) adjustably positioned to receive imaging light from the specimen and to focus the imaging light along a path to the detector (840); a mirror (824) positioned to direct the excitation beam along an excitation beam path substantially in parallel with the path for the imaging light to the detector (840); and an objective bypass (900) disposed in the excitation beam path (906) to receive the excitation beam, to focus excitation beam, and to direct the excitation beam to focus on a sample plane of the specimen.