An objective for endoscopes comprising a first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens components in which the first lens component is a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side, the second lens component is a positive meniscus lens having a concave surface on the object side, the third lens component is a positive lens, the fourth lens component is a cemented lens consisting of a positive lens element and a negative lens element cemented to said positive lens element, and the fifth lens component is a positive lens, the objective for endoscopes having a very wide angle of view and well corrected aberrations.