A miniature microscope system suitable for use in in-vivo examination, photography, and video recordings of tissues, said system comprising: an SSID having at least one imaging array disposed on a distal end thereof; a catheter having a distal end upon which the SSID is disposed; a GRIN lens having a distal end and proximal end; a cylindrical member that defines the perimeter of a first optical element and a second optical element, wherein said optical elements (20,30) comprise either a fluid or air; the first optical element having a distal end, upon which the GRIN lens is disposed, and a proximal end, which is disposed on the distal end of the SSID, and a first adjustable longitudinal length defined by the distance between the distal end and the proximal end of the first optical element; the second optical element having a distal end and a proximal end, which is disposed on the distal end of the GRIN lens, and a second adjustable longitudinal length defined by the distance between the distal end and the proximal end of the second optical element; a first track member configured to adjust the first longitudinal length by moving the SSID relative to the GRIN lens; a second track member configured to adjust the second longitudinal length by moving the distal end of the second optical element relative to the GRIN lens; and wherein the ratio of the longitudinal length of the first optical element to the longitudinal length of the second optical element is maintained such that when viewing the tissue at a predetermined wavelength of light, the tissue is magnified at a predetermined level of magnification and the focal plane of the magnified tissue is aligned at the proximal end of the first optical element. an SSID having at least one imaging array disposed on a distal end thereof; a catheter having a distal end upon which the SSID is disposed; a GRIN lens having a distal end and proximal end; a cylindrical member that defines the perimeter of a first optical element and a second optical element, wherein said optical elements (20,30) comprise either a fluid or air; the first optical element having a distal end, upon which the GRIN lens is disposed, and a proximal end, which is disposed on the distal end of the SSID, and a first adjustable longitudinal length defined by the distance between the distal end and the proximal end of the first optical element; the second optical element having a distal end and a proximal end, which is disposed on the distal end of the GRIN lens, and a second adjustable longitudinal length defined by the distance between the distal end and the proximal end of the second optical element; a first track member configured to adjust the first longitudinal length by moving the SSID relative to the GRIN lens; a second track member configured to adjust the second longitudinal length by moving the distal end of the second optical element relative to the GRIN lens; and wherein the ratio of the longitudinal length of the first optical element to the longitudinal length of the second optical element is maintained such that when viewing the tissue at a predetermined wavelength of light, the tissue is magnified at a predetermined level of magnification and the focal plane of the magnified tissue is aligned at the proximal end of the first optical element.