An endoscope (110, 220) having proximal and distal end portions (126, 128; 230, 232; 320, 322) for viewing inside a cavity of a body, said endoscope comprising: one or more solid state emitters having an electrical input and an optical output, said one or more solid state emitters disposed at said distal end portion of said endoscope, said one or more solid state emitters radiating light when activated so as to illuminate at least a portion of said cavity in said body; a front lens disposed at the distal end, said front lens configured to collect light reflected off an object within the body cavity or said portion of the body cavity; an optical path (324; 410; 508) extending from said distal end portion to said proximal end portion for propagating light from said distal end portion to said proximal end portion of said endoscope such that an image of said object at said distal end portion can be formed at said proximal end portion, said optical path comprising a plurality of lens elements in at least a portion of said optical path, the plurality of lens elements configured to relay an image of the object within the body cavity or said portion of the body cavity; a first specularly reflective metalized surface (420; 514) disposed along said optical path at said distal end portion of the endoscope, said first specularly reflective metalized surface angled such that light can be collected at said distal end portion from an oblique direction with respect to the optical path; a second specularly reflective metalized surface (422; 516) disposed along said optical path at said distal end portion of said endoscope, said second metalized surface oriented to receive light from said first specularly reflective metalized surface and reflect said light to the proximal portion of said endoscope; a front lens holder (328; 400; 600) for holding the front lens, said front lens holder having a hollow region through which said optical path passes; and an electrically conducting path from said proximal end portion to said distal end portion of said endoscope, said electrically conducting path electrically connected to said electrical input of said one or more solid state emitters for providing electrical power to said one or more solid state emitters, wherein the endoscope comprises a disposable single use endoscope. one or more solid state emitters having an electrical input and an optical output, said one or more solid state emitters disposed at said distal end portion of said endoscope, said one or more solid state emitters radiating light when activated so as to illuminate at least a portion of said cavity in said body; a front lens disposed at the distal end, said front lens configured to collect light reflected off an object within the body cavity or said portion of the body cavity; an optical path (324; 410; 508) extending from said distal end portion to said proximal end portion for propagating light from said distal end portion to said proximal end portion of said endoscope such that an image of said object at said distal end portion can be formed at said proximal end portion, said optical path comprising a plurality of lens elements in at least a portion of said optical path, the plurality of lens elements configured to relay an image of the object within the body cavity or said portion of the body cavity; a first specularly reflective metalized surface (420; 514) disposed along said optical path at said distal end portion of the endoscope, said first specularly reflective metalized surface angled such that light can be collected at said distal end portion from an oblique direction with respect to the optical path; a second specularly reflective metalized surface (422; 516) disposed along said optical path at said distal end portion of said endoscope, said second metalized surface oriented to receive light from said first specularly reflective metalized surface and reflect said light to the proximal portion of said endoscope; a front lens holder (328; 400; 600) for holding the front lens, said front lens holder having a hollow region through which said optical path passes; and an electrically conducting path from said proximal end portion to said distal end portion of said endoscope, said electrically conducting path electrically connected to said electrical input of said one or more solid state emitters for providing electrical power to said one or more solid state emitters, wherein the endoscope comprises a disposable single use endoscope.