An imaging system is for recording images of a bearing raceway and includes a platform having a surface sized to receive the bearing ring and an optical imager having a lens. A positioner secures the optical imager or a reflector oriented to reflect light to the optical imager lens and locates the optical imager lens or the reflector axially between first and second axial ends of the raceway and facing generally toward the raceway. A motor rotates the platform or the positioner relative to the other one of the platform and the positioner. A processor operates the optical imager and the motor such that the optical imager takes a series of images about the entire perimeter of the bearing raceway. The processor also indexes each image to a separate one of a plurality of arcuate segments of the raceway and constructs a panoramic image of the raceway.