A camera-based tunnel-type package identification system comprising at least first and second camera units, a package dimension subsystem, and a data communications network installed about a conveyor belt structure. Each camera unit is mounted about the conveyor belt structure, and has a linear imaging subsystem with a field of view (FOV) having automatic zoom and focus imaging optics, and a camera control computer for controlling the operation of the imaging subsystem. During system operation, package dimension data from transported packages is transmitted over the data communications network to the first and second camera units. Each camera control computer converts received package dimension data to its local coordinate reference system, and generates camera control signals which drive the automatic zoom and focus imaging optics of its associated camera units to enable the capture and processing of linear images of the transported package.