The disclosed bar code reader has an imaging system that includes a light monitoring pixel array and a focusing lens that is fixed with respect to the pixel array for transmitting an image of the target object onto the pixel array. The bar code reader also includes an illumination system for illuminating the target having a light source for emitting a diverging light outwardly from a light source location and a lens for bending the light including a first surface facing the light source and a second surface facing the target for bending the light emitted by the light source to more uniformly illuminate a rectangular, generally planar region at the target within the barcode reader's field of view.