1. In a machine vision apparatus of the type having match scoring means, responsive to a plurality of pairs of applied image signals, for generating a plurality of score signals as a selected function of said plurality of pairs of applied image signals, the improvement for estimating a location of a template in a candidate image, comprising: segment peak finding means, coupled to said match-scoring means, for applying thereto said plurality of pairs of image signals along a "segment," each such pair including a signal representative of said template and a signal representative of a respective successive portion of said candidate image along a first axis, said segment peak finding means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the score signals generated by said match-scoring means in connection with application of the plurality of pairs of image signals comprising said segment, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as a segment peak, a store of best-fit geometric surface characteristics, hill climbing means, coupled to said segment peak finding means, and to said store of geometric surface characteristics, for invoking said segment peak finding means, only if said best-fit geometric surface characteristics satisfy a predetermined condition, to determine the segment peaks of a plurality of segments, each such segment including image signals from different respective portions of said candidate image along a second axis, said hill climbing means including means for determining a peak value, and location thereof, of the segment peaks associated with said plurality of segments, such peak value and location thereof being referred to as an image peak, and means for estimating a location of said template in said candidate image as a function of a location of said image peak.