A method of optically analyzing objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group in which images representative of the objects are produced in different imaging wavelength ranges and are processed for automatic sorting of the objects, wherein: - a plurality of light sources formed by light-emitting diodes (LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5) are arranged to be able each to apply light radiation to at least one external surface portion of at least one object, called illuminated object, the different light sources being adapted to be able to apply light radiation in different illumination wavelength ranges selectively to each illuminated object, - the light radiation from at least one light source is applied to the whole of a visible face of the external surface of each object illuminated by this light source, - the light sources are controlled according to a predetermined illumination sequence for each illuminated object in succession according to said different illumination wavelength ranges, each illuminated object being rotated around itself and moved by a conveyor during said illumination sequence, - images are produced by at least one color camera (4, 4a, 4b) sensitive to light radiation in the visible range and with a wavelength of between 380 nm and 700 nm and to light radiation in the infrared range and with a wavelength of between 700 nm and 1000 nm, called multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b), having groups of photosensitive elements each able to detect one of the primary colors, being orientated toward an external surface portion of at least one illuminated object corresponding to the whole visible face of the external surface of the object on the optical axis of the multispectral camera, and the exposure of which is controlled in synchronism with said illumination sequence so as to produce, with this same multispectral camera, a plurality of images in different imaging wavelength ranges of said external surface portion of at least one illuminated object, including at least one image in a visible range and at least one image in an infrared range, - each multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) is chosen from the group of cameras comprising a CMOS sensor with a matrix of color filters without an infrared cut-off filter; and cameras comprising three CMOS sensors, one CMOS sensor for each primary color, without an infrared cut-off filter, and - each image in an infrared range is produced with an adjustment of the white balance according to the sensitivity for each color of each group of photosensitive elements of the multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) in said infrared range, - each multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) being provided with a buffer memory for storing images, said plurality of images of said external surface portion is produced by the same multispectral camera at the maximum image acquisition speed by said multispectral camera, and is stored in the buffer memory (42a, 42b) of said multispectral camera. - a plurality of light sources formed by light-emitting diodes (LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5) are arranged to be able each to apply light radiation to at least one external surface portion of at least one object, called illuminated object, the different light sources being adapted to be able to apply light radiation in different illumination wavelength ranges selectively to each illuminated object, - the light radiation from at least one light source is applied to the whole of a visible face of the external surface of each object illuminated by this light source, - the light sources are controlled according to a predetermined illumination sequence for each illuminated object in succession according to said different illumination wavelength ranges, each illuminated object being rotated around itself and moved by a conveyor during said illumination sequence, - images are produced by at least one color camera (4, 4a, 4b) sensitive to light radiation in the visible range and with a wavelength of between 380 nm and 700 nm and to light radiation in the infrared range and with a wavelength of between 700 nm and 1000 nm, called multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b), having groups of photosensitive elements each able to detect one of the primary colors, being orientated toward an external surface portion of at least one illuminated object corresponding to the whole visible face of the external surface of the object on the optical axis of the multispectral camera, and the exposure of which is controlled in synchronism with said illumination sequence so as to produce, with this same multispectral camera, a plurality of images in different imaging wavelength ranges of said external surface portion of at least one illuminated object, including at least one image in a visible range and at least one image in an infrared range, - each multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) is chosen from the group of cameras comprising a CMOS sensor with a matrix of color filters without an infrared cut-off filter; and cameras comprising three CMOS sensors, one CMOS sensor for each primary color, without an infrared cut-off filter, and - each image in an infrared range is produced with an adjustment of the white balance according to the sensitivity for each color of each group of photosensitive elements of the multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) in said infrared range, - each multispectral camera (4, 4a, 4b) being provided with a buffer memory for storing images, said plurality of images of said external surface portion is produced by the same multispectral camera at the maximum image acquisition speed by said multispectral camera, and is stored in the buffer memory (42a, 42b) of said multispectral camera.