An imaging system for adaptively generating panoramic images and methods for manufacturing and using same are provided. The system includes an imaging device configured to capture digital images at a plurality of image capture positions. The system further includes a processor configured to identify an overlapping portion of first and second images captured at respective first and second image capture positions, determine a stitching position quality measure for a plurality of stitching positions in the overlapping portion of the first and second images, and select a stitching position based on the determined stitching position quality measures of the plurality of stitching positions of the first and second images. The processor is also configured to stitch the first and second images together at the selected stitching position to generate a panoramic image and determine a third image capture position based on the stitching position quality measure.