An imaging system for detecting a defect on a workpiece surface includes one or more independent imaging modules 102 and a control system including one or more processors having computer-readable instructions for receiving and processing digital image data captured by the one or more imaging modules to provide a combined image of a portion of the surface. The independent imaging modules each include a lighting unit (110, Fig.1) having an adjustable support frame (112, Fig. 1) carrying a plurality of light sources 114 and an imaging unit (115, Fig. 1) including one or more imagers 116 carried by the support frame. Another aspect provides a method for detecting a defect on a workpiece surface. It comprises scanning a portion of the surface, obtaining a plurality of images of the portion and combining these to provide a fused image, and comparing the fused image to a reference image of the portion. The imaging unit may include a pair of imagers disposed on the adjustable support frame to capture one or more imag
