A method and apparatus for accessing image pixel data in a plurality of parallel random access memories (RAMs) includes providing the RAMs so that they are arranged in pairs that each include an even RAM and an odd RAM. Each of the pairs includes an identical copy of the image pixel data stored at identical addresses in each of the RAMs relative to each other. An image processor receives image pixel data from the RAMs over multi-bit data lines. and addresses rows and columns of the pairs so that alternating columns of image pixel data corresponding to alternating pixel columns in an acquired image are stored in an alternating manner in each of an even RAM and an odd RAM. In other words, pixel data of alternating odd pixel columns are stored in succeeding columns in the odd RAM and pixel data of all even pixel columns are stored in succeeding columns in the even RAM.