Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of pattern recognition and of providing pattern recognition data, which possesses the advantages of optical power spectral analysis and digital image processing. An optical read-only memory means such as a photographic transparency is sampled at a plurality of sampling locations with a beam of coherent light. After passage through the transparency, the beam is directed either to a first channel including a transform lens and a wedge-ring detector or to a second channel including an imaging lens and a photodetector array. The improved pattern recognition data is the spatial frequency data provided by the wedge-ring detector and the spatial intensity data provided by the array detector. Hierarchal pattern recognition decisions are made using the two types of data during processing operations to provide improved pattern recognition results.