An autoadjusting charged-particle probe-forming apparatus improving the resolution of probe-forming charged-particle optical systems by minimizing optical aberrations. The apparatus comprises a source of charged particles, a probe-forming system of charged-particle lenses, a plurality of detectors optionally comprising a two-dimensional image detector, power supplies, a computer and appropriate software. Images are recorded by the two-dimensional detector and analyzed to determine the aberration characteristics of the apparatus. Alternately, multiple scanned images are recorded by a scanned image detector and also analyzed to determine the aberration characteristics of the apparatus. The aberration characteristics are used to automatically adjust the apparatus for improved optical performance.