Patent ID: 8764635

Claim:
An endoscope apparatus adapted to be inserted into an inside of a subject and observe the inside of the subject, the apparatus comprising: an observation optical system which has a first optical path and a second optical path with parallax; an imaging portion on which a light passing through the first optical path and a light passing through the second optical path are formed; a diaphragm portion which selectively blocks out one of the first optical path and the second optical path; a distance measurement portion which measures a distance to the subject based on parallax between a first image formed on the imaging portion via the first optical path and a second image formed on the imaging portion via the second optical path; a displacement amount detection portion which detects a displacement amount between the first image and a third image, also formed on the imaging portion via the first optical path, acquired with a time interval therebetween; and a measurement environment determination portion which determines, based on the displacement amount, whether or not the first image and the second image are suitable for obtaining a measurement by the distance measurement portion, wherein the imaging portion acquires the first image and the third image in a state where the second optical path is blocked out by the diaphragm portion and acquires the second image in a state where the first optical path is blocked out by the diaphragm portion.