A confocal microscopy instrument comprising: an objective that includes a back plate having an aperture; and a light-scanning system, wherein the light-scanning system is arranged to scan an excitation beam through a pivot point located at or near the aperture, said light scanning system comprising: a flat scanning mirror rotatable back and forth over a range of angles; and a first stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror, a light source for emitting an excitation beam, and a second stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror and the first stationary mirror, the instrument being characterized in that the scanning and stationary mirrors (304, 306, 308) are positioned such that when the excitation beam strikes the scanning mirror, the beam undergoes at least six reflections, said six reflections including a first reflection off of the scanning mirror, a second reflection off the first stationary mirror, a third reflection off the second stationary mirror, a fourth reflection off the scanning mirror, a fifth reflection off the first stationary mirror, and a sixth reflection off the scanning mirror that places the beam on a path through the pivot point. an objective that includes a back plate having an aperture; and a light-scanning system, wherein the light-scanning system is arranged to scan an excitation beam through a pivot point located at or near the aperture, said light scanning system comprising: a flat scanning mirror rotatable back and forth over a range of angles; and a first stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror, a light source for emitting an excitation beam, and a second stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror and the first stationary mirror, the instrument being characterized in that the scanning and stationary mirrors (304, 306, 308) are positioned such that when the excitation beam strikes the scanning mirror, the beam undergoes at least six reflections, said six reflections including a first reflection off of the scanning mirror, a second reflection off the first stationary mirror, a third reflection off the second stationary mirror, a fourth reflection off the scanning mirror, a fifth reflection off the first stationary mirror, and a sixth reflection off the scanning mirror that places the beam on a path through the pivot point. a flat scanning mirror rotatable back and forth over a range of angles; and a first stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror, a light source for emitting an excitation beam, and a second stationary mirror with a reflective surface angled toward the scanning mirror and the first stationary mirror, the instrument being characterized in that the scanning and stationary mirrors (304, 306, 308) are positioned such that when the excitation beam strikes the scanning mirror, the beam undergoes at least six reflections, said six reflections including a first reflection off of the scanning mirror, a second reflection off the first stationary mirror, a third reflection off the second stationary mirror, a fourth reflection off the scanning mirror, a fifth reflection off the first stationary mirror, and a sixth reflection off the scanning mirror that places the beam on a path through the pivot point.