An imaging unit (110) that captures an image of the surgical site, and a holding unit (120) to which the imaging unit is connected and which is provided with a rotational axis that can be operated with at least six degrees of freedom. At least two axes are active axes (220, 230) whose drive is controlled based on the state of the rotation axis, and at least one axis is a passive axis that rotates according to a direct external operation with contact. Observation device.術部の画像を撮影する撮像部（１１０）と、前記撮像部が接続され、少なくとも６自由度で動作可能に回転軸が設けられる保持部（１２０）と、を備え、前記回転軸のうち、少なくとも２軸は当該回転軸の状態に基づいて駆動が制御される能動軸（２２０，２３０）であり、少なくとも１軸は接触を伴う外部からの直接的な操作に従って回転する受動軸である、医療用観察装置。
