The present invention relates, among other things, to imaging units for surgical instruments, especially for endoscopes. The imaging unit (20) includes an optical element (38), particularly a lens, the optical element (38) is housed in an objective side tube (28), and a) the optical element (38) is an objective side tube (28). Tightened tightly within, or b) the optical element (38) is housed in the mount (36) and the mount (36) of the optical element (38) is tightened tightly within the objective tube (28). And / or the optical element (38) is housed in a central mount (36).本発明は、とりわけ、手術器具用、特に、内視鏡用の撮像ユニットに関する。撮像ユニット(20)は、光学素子(38)、特にレンズ、を備え、光学素子(38)は対物側チューブ(28)内に収容され、a)光学素子(38)が対物側チューブ(28)内で間隙なく締め付けられる、又は、b)光学素子(38)がマウント(36)内に収容され、光学素子(38)のマウント(36)が対物側チューブ(28)内で間隙なく締め付けられる、及び/又は、光学素子(38)が中央マウント(36)内に収容される。