Endoscope image recording system for compressing and recording endoscope image data

An endoscope image compressing apparatus for receiving an endoscope image, compressing the endoscope image and outputting the compressed image, comprising:

• means for receiving the endoscope image while separating the endoscope image into three primary colors;
• and
• at least three compression means for compressing image signals associated with said three primary colors, wherein the compression means includes at least two compression means for compressing the image signals associated with two of said three primary colors, respectively, and long wavelength compression means for compressing the image signal associated with the remaining color of the longest wavelength at a compression ratio higher than compression ratios of said two compression means,
• wherein said long wavelength compression means, which includes smoothing means, sets a smoothing factor of said smoothing means at a maximum for an image signal corresponding to a longest wavelength.

An endoscope image recording system, comprising:

• an endoscope having an observing optical system at the distal end of an insert section;
• image sensing means for converting an image from said observing optical system of said endoscope to an electric signal;
• compression means for receiving an image information signal from said image sensing means and for compressing said image information signal;
• digital recording means for recording said image information signal compressed by said compression means;
• and
• release operation means for generating a trigger signal to produce a still picture, said release operation means is operatively connected to said compression means, wherein said compression means compresses the image from said image sensing means in response to said trigger signal and outputs the compressed image to said digital recording means.