Abstract: The system has one or more vision units each of which has a head with a primary prism, a primary objective lens, and zoom optics including a plurality of lenses which form an optical path through which the image of an object may pass onto an area array sensor. Also provided is a reseau plate having a plurality of reseaus formed in a given pattern and a light source for projecting the image of the reseaus through the optical path onto the sensor for use for correcting in real time, optical distortion of the image of the object passing through the optical path including the lenses of the zoom optics. The unit is capable of movement about two perpendicular axis. Servo control devices operated by a computer are employed for automatically adjusting the focus, aperture, magnification, axial position of the reseau plate in consonance with the focus adjustment, and movement of the head about its two axes. The system also contains a central control processing head and a manual controller for the vision units.