A high-speed image recognition system operates in response to a binary digitized picture image signal. The system comprises a first memory for storing a bi-level reference image pattern therein, a selector coupled to the first memory for manually designating a plurality of selected points of the bi-level reference image pattern, a detector coupled to the selector for detecting signal levels at each of the points selected by the selector, a second memory coupled to the detector for storing therein detected signal levels obtained from the detector, and a comparator coupled to the second memory for comparing the detected signal levels at the selected points of the bi-level reference image pattern with signal levels at the same points of a candidate image pattern, whereby an object corresponding to the candidate image pattern is recognized.