A method for pre-setting, during programming of the optical imaging system to inspect objects, a combination of a zoom lens and an illumination source in optical imaging systems having a camera used to inspect objects at a plurality of zoom magnifications m to a near optimum setting, the optical imaging systems being machines of the same type using the same type of illumination source, comprising: on a first optical inspection system, (a) determining and storing a desired illumination level for a reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, (b) determining a desired illumination level for a first illumination light source at each of said plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (c) calculating and storing the ratio of the illumination light source intensity to the reference light source intensity at each of said plurality of magnifications m; and on a second optical inspection system: (d) determining desired illumination levels for the reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (e) for a desired zoom magnification, setting the intensity of the illumination light source being of the same type as said first illumination source to a value substantially equal to the product of the ratio determined in step (c) for that illumination source and magnification and the desired illumination level determined in step (d) for that magnification m. on a first optical inspection system, (a) determining and storing a desired illumination level for a reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, (b) determining a desired illumination level for a first illumination light source at each of said plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (c) calculating and storing the ratio of the illumination light source intensity to the reference light source intensity at each of said plurality of magnifications m; and (a) determining and storing a desired illumination level for a reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, (b) determining a desired illumination level for a first illumination light source at each of said plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (c) calculating and storing the ratio of the illumination light source intensity to the reference light source intensity at each of said plurality of magnifications m; and on a second optical inspection system: (d) determining desired illumination levels for the reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (e) for a desired zoom magnification, setting the intensity of the illumination light source being of the same type as said first illumination source to a value substantially equal to the product of the ratio determined in step (c) for that illumination source and magnification and the desired illumination level determined in step (d) for that magnification m. (d) determining desired illumination levels for the reference light source at a plurality of zoom magnifications m, and (e) for a desired zoom magnification, setting the intensity of the illumination light source being of the same type as said first illumination source to a value substantially equal to the product of the ratio determined in step (c) for that illumination source and magnification and the desired illumination level determined in step (d) for that magnification m.