A scanning microscope. An objective lens receives light emitted from a sample in object space and propagates it to image space thereof. A collection lens receives light from the objective lens and propagates it to a focal point in image space of the collection lens. A motor has an axis of rotation that is offset from and extends in substantially the same direction as the optical axis. The motor rotates the objective lens about the axis of rotation to scan across a sample in object space of said objective lens. The sample is mounted on a stage. After each rotation of the objective lens, the stage is advanced in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation so that each subsequent scan covers a new part of the sample. For fluorescence microscopy, a laser light source is provided. A wavelength-selective beamsplitter directs the laser light toward the objective lens, while allowing fluorescence or reflected light emitted from the sample to pass through to the collection lens. A photo detector is placed at the image space focal point of the collection lens so as to convert the intensity of the light emitted from the sample at the focal point of the objective lens in object space to an electrical signal. To achieve high resolution, a light-path-altering optical element is inserted between the light source and the objective lens so as to translate the light centered on the axis of rotation to light centered on the optical axis of the objective lens, thereby filling the entrance pupil of the objective lens.