1. An imager comprising: first, second and third video image sensors, each video image sensor comprising an array of photo-elements, the photo-elements being arranged in rows and columns to define vertical and horizontal pixel resolutions for each said array; a lens for focusing a portion of light from an object in a viewing plane onto each said array, each said array forming an image corresponding to a portion of said object; said video image sensors all being arranged with respect to said lens such that said rows are aligned along vertical axis of said viewing plane and said columns are aligned along a horizontal axis of said viewing plane; wherein the first, second and third video image sensors are each configured such that their vertical scan directions correspond to a horizontal axis of the viewing plane; and said video image sensors forming a collective optical image of said object having a horizontal pixel resolution representative of a combination of individual vertical pixel resolutions of said video image sensors.