An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of constantly grasping the direction in which the distal end portion of the endoscope is directed even when a bending operation is carried out. In the endoscope of the present invention, A first imaging optical system 21b provided in the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion section and disposed in the bending section 7 which is bent by an operation on the proximal side so that the distal end of the insertion section is included within the viewing angle And a second imaging optical system 22b configured as described above.湾曲操作を行った際にも内視鏡先端部の向いている方向を常に把握することができる内視鏡を提供することを目的とし、本発明の内視鏡は、挿入部2の先端に設けられた第1の撮像光学系21bと、挿入部の先端部近傍に設けられ手元側の操作によって湾曲操作される湾曲部7に配置され、視野角内に挿入部の先端が含まれるように構成された第2の撮像光学系22bとを具備する。
