An optical imaging connector connects an optical fiber to a lens located adjacent to an imaging target, such as the brain tissue of a laboratory animal. A fiber assembly of the connector includes a ferrule holding the fiber and a ferrule adapter with a radially-extending coupler. The fiber assembly is removably joined to a lens assembly that holds the lens adjacent to a receptacle in which the ferrule is inserted coaxial to the lens. The lens holder has a radially-extending coupler that engages the coupler of the ferrule adapter to hold the two assemblies together. A focus adjustment mechanism, such as a screw, is manually adjustable by a user to change the position of the second coupler relative to the lens holder, and thereby change the axial position of the ferrule in the ferrule receptacle. One or more magnets may be used to provide a mutual attraction between the couplers.