An apparatus for optical inspection of objects transported in succession on a conveyor line, comprising: - an inspection station where at least one of the objects is oriented along a longitudinal axis and defines a resting surface and a lateral surface; - a lighting system positioned above the inspection station; - at least one camera directed towards the inspection station to capture an image of the lateral surface of the object to be inspected; - a converging lens, which is positioned to face the object to be inspected, the object being located in the inspection station, and is oriented in such a way as to make the collimated light rays converge on the object; wherein the apparatus comprises at least one camera on each of the two opposite sides of the conveyor line on which the objects are supported one by one as they reach the inspection station, characterized in that it comprises collimating means associated with the lighting system to direct a beam of collimated light rays longitudinally towards the object to be inspected located in the inspection station, wherein the collimating means are distinct from the illumination system and placed at a predetermined distance from the illumination system, and wherein the collimating means and the converging lens are aligned along the longitudinal axis, the object to be inspected being situated in the inspection station oriented along said longitudinal axis, wherein the lighting system is positioned above the collimating means,, and wherein the source of light rays has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the converging lens, so that the diameters are in a ratio of 1: 3 or lower. - an inspection station where at least one of the objects is oriented along a longitudinal axis and defines a resting surface and a lateral surface; - a lighting system positioned above the inspection station; - at least one camera directed towards the inspection station to capture an image of the lateral surface of the object to be inspected; - a converging lens, which is positioned to face the object to be inspected, the object being located in the inspection station, and is oriented in such a way as to make the collimated light rays converge on the object; wherein the apparatus comprises at least one camera on each of the two opposite sides of the conveyor line on which the objects are supported one by one as they reach the inspection station, characterized in that it comprises collimating means associated with the lighting system to direct a beam of collimated light rays longitudinally towards the object to be inspected located in the inspection station, wherein the collimating means are distinct from the illumination system and placed at a predetermined distance from the illumination system, and wherein the collimating means and the converging lens are aligned along the longitudinal axis, the object to be inspected being situated in the inspection station oriented along said longitudinal axis, wherein the lighting system is positioned above the collimating means,, and wherein the source of light rays has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the converging lens, so that the diameters are in a ratio of 1: 3 or lower. wherein the apparatus comprises at least one camera on each of the two opposite sides of the conveyor line on which the objects are supported one by one as they reach the inspection station, characterized in that it comprises collimating means associated with the lighting system to direct a beam of collimated light rays longitudinally towards the object to be inspected located in the inspection station, wherein the collimating means are distinct from the illumination system and placed at a predetermined distance from the illumination system, and wherein the collimating means and the converging lens are aligned along the longitudinal axis, the object to be inspected being situated in the inspection station oriented along said longitudinal axis, wherein the lighting system is positioned above the collimating means,, and wherein the source of light rays has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the converging lens, so that the diameters are in a ratio of 1: 3 or lower.