A correcting portion of an endoscope subjects a reference image to a
magnification correction process so that the distance between a first
mark and a second mark within the reference image is substantially equal
to the distance between a first mark and a second mark within a
comparative image. Next, the corrected reference image is subjected to a
rotation correction process so that the orientation of the second mark
with respect to the first mark within the reference image is
substantially equal to the orientation of the second mark with respect to
the first mark image within the comparison image. Further, the corrected
reference image is subjected to a brightness distribution correction
process so that the brightness distribution thereof becomes equal to that
of the comparison image. The display state of the reference image and
comparison image are made substantially equal, comparative diagnosis is
facilitated, and diagnostic efficiency is improved.