An endoscope operating method for an endoscope includes a step of applying light to an object through an endoscope tip of the endoscope. The object illuminated with the light is imaged through the endoscope tip. The object is magnified at a first magnification by optical zooming. The object is magnified at a second magnification by electronic zooming according to an image signal obtained by imaging the object. A value relationship between the first and second magnifications is changed according to an illumination type of the light. In case a total magnification for magnifying the object is equal to or less than an upper limit of the first magnification, the object is magnified by the optical zooming. In case the total magnification is more than the upper limit, the object is magnified by the optical zooming and the electronic zooming.
