Endoscope apparatus capable of being switched to a mode in which a curvature operating lever is returned and to a mode in which the curvature operating lever is not returned

An endoscope apparatus comprising:

• an endoscope provided with an elongate insertable section insertable into a body cavity and having a curvable curvature section, an objective optical system provided at a distal end of said insertable section and forming an optical image, and illuminating light emitting means emitting illuminating light from a distal end of said insertable section;
• a curving switch performing operation for indicating curving amount of said curvature section;
• driving force generating means for generating a driving force for curving said curvature section in response to the operation of said curving switch;
• driving force transmitting means, inserted into said insertable section, for transmitting said driving force to said curvature section;
• a change-over switch switching between at least a first mode and a second mode at an indicating position of said curving switch;
• and
• control means for controlling said driving force generating means in accordance with operation of said change-over switch so as to switch between said first mode for controlling a curving angle in a decreasing direction without maintaining a curving state of said curvature section at the time of cancelling said operation of said curving switch and said second mode for maintaining said curving state of said curvature section.