1. An inspection apparatus for optically examining bottles, comprising: an image recording device for producing an image with a plurality of horizontally juxtaposed image areas, at least two of the image areas being arranged laterally of the middle of the image; a mirror cabinet comprising a plurality of beam paths for viewing a bottle to be examined in perspective at an oblique angle upwards and for deflecting, in the direction of the image areas different circumferential side views of the bottle, each beam path having provided therein separate deflection mirrors whose respective elevation is defined with respect to a base plate and, two of the separate deflection mirrors for beam paths associated with the lateral image areas are tilted relative to a normal to the base plate in such a way that an image distortion caused by central projection will be compensated for in the lateral image areas.