Disclosed is an improved lens system for low light applications. This improved low light lens system is designed for any suitable low light application, such as the above described biological imaging application. In one embodiment, a finite conjugate lens system is disclosed. The lens system includes, in order from a camera side to an object side, a first lens group and a second lens group. The first and second lens groups are adapted so that when light is passed from the object side to the image side, a substantially sized region of collimated light is formed between the first and second lens group. Preferably, the first and second lens groups are adapted to demagnify an object at the object side.