An optical scanning apparatus and method for scanning a surface of an object is provided. The scanner has an image sensor having a sensor plane and an image data output. An optics system defines an optical path having an axis and a first end whereat a scan object surface is locatable for scanning and a second end at the sensing plane. Preferably, the optics system includes a lens subsystem and a movable mirror for adjusting the length of the optical path. A linear actuator is coupled to the mirror such that movement of the mirror adjusts the focus of an optical image on the image sensor. A linear actuator is also operatively coupled to the image sensor to control the orientation of the plane of the image sensor relative to the optical path axis. When a scan object surface is located at the first end of the optical path at an orientation skewed from a plane orthogonal with the optical path axis at the first path end, the linear actuator orients the sensor plane to a corresponding skewed orientation relative to a plane orthogonal with the optical path axis at the second path end.