An observation device, in particular an endoscopic observation system, comprising: - an instrument (12, 212) comprising a shaft (14, 214) having a proximal end (18, 218) and a distal end (20, 220), - objective optics disposed at the shaft (14, 214) and having a field of view, - an imaging sensor arranged to capture image data, the imaging sensor forming a sensor array composed of evenly distributed sensitive elements, and - an image processing unit, wherein the objective optics is arranged to project a scene in the field of view to the imaging sensor, wherein the objective optics defines at least a central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) and a peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192) within the field of view, wherein the objective optics has different focal lengths in the central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) and the peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192), wherein in the central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) a first optical imaging resolution and in the peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192) a second optical imaging resolution is provided, the first imaging resolution being larger than the second imaging resolution, wherein images captured by the imaging sensor have, within one captured image, at least one wide field peripheral image portion (96, 128) and at least one increased resolution central image portion (94, 126), and wherein the image processing unit is arranged to apply digital zooming to the central image portion (94, 126), while preferably maintaining a magnification of the at least one wide field peripheral image portion (96, 128). - an instrument (12, 212) comprising a shaft (14, 214) having a proximal end (18, 218) and a distal end (20, 220), - objective optics disposed at the shaft (14, 214) and having a field of view, - an imaging sensor arranged to capture image data, the imaging sensor forming a sensor array composed of evenly distributed sensitive elements, and - an image processing unit, wherein the objective optics is arranged to project a scene in the field of view to the imaging sensor, wherein the objective optics defines at least a central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) and a peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192) within the field of view, wherein the objective optics has different focal lengths in the central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) and the peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192), wherein in the central imaging region (74, 118, 142, 162, 190) a first optical imaging resolution and in the peripheral imaging region (76, 120, 144, 146, 148, 150, 164, 192) a second optical imaging resolution is provided, the first imaging resolution being larger than the second imaging resolution, wherein images captured by the imaging sensor have, within one captured image, at least one wide field peripheral image portion (96, 128) and at least one increased resolution central image portion (94, 126), and wherein the image processing unit is arranged to apply digital zooming to the central image portion (94, 126), while preferably maintaining a magnification of the at least one wide field peripheral image portion (96, 128).