1. A method for using an imaging system that comprises an imaging device including an array of pixels, and a first optical configuration including at least one-lens, the method comprising: determining a set of distortion parameters that accurately characterize a distortion in the field of view of an imaging system, comprising the steps of: providing an element including a pattern of features to be imaged in each of a plurality of respective images; acquiring the plurality of respective images wherein the pattern of features is presented in a plurality of respective relationships relative to the field of view in the plurality of respective images, and the pattern is nominally located in a plane that is fixed relative to the imaging system in each of the plurality of images; determining the as-imaged positions of the features of the pattern, relative to the field of view, in the plurality of images; and determining the set of distortion parameters based on: the as-imaged positions of the features of the pattern in the plurality of images; and at least one mathematical relationship that is consistent with at least one member of the group of facts consisting of a) the fact that in the absence of the distortion in the field of view the pattern of features in each of the plurality of images would be congruent, and b) the fact that an accurate set of distortion parameters can be identified by recognizing that when they are applied to distortion-correct the positions of the same features in each of the plurality of images, an intra-pattern relationship between those distortion-corrected features will nominally be the same for each of the plurality of images.