Patent ID: 7309311

Claim:
An endoscopic observation apparatus comprising: an endoscopic observation unit comprising an endoscope which has an insertion part and an observation axis extending in an insertion direction of the insertion part, the insertion part having a distal end, a base end and an insertion axis, and insertable into a body cavity; an adapter which is fit removably to the base end of the endoscope; an image pickup camera which is fixed to the endoscope through the adapter, and picks up an image obtained by the endoscope through the adapter, the camera having an image pickup optical axis, wherein the endoscope, adapter and image pickup camera are combined; a plurality of fixed parts which are arranged substantially axially symmetrical on both sides of the endoscopic observation unit, the fixed parts arranged at least in one of the endoscope and adapter; a holder which has a fixing unit to fix removably the fixed parts, and a support unit to support the endoscopic observation unit movably; and a grip which is provided in the fixing unit and grips the fixed parts releasably, the grip extended to both sides of the endoscopic observation unit, wherein the adapter has an optical characteristic adjusting means which adjusts optical characteristics, and the optical characteristic adjusting means having a first control unit which is rotated around the insertion axis of the endoscope, and a second control unit which is rotated around the axis in the direction different from the insertion axis.