Active areas of image sensors are determined by establishing a mergeline on a sensor map. Image data generated by active areas of image sensors are used to determine a seam or mergeline to create a panoramic image. The mergeline on a sensor map is implemented as an active image sensor area of addressable image sensor elements. An optimal mergeline is determined. Image sensor elements of the active sensor area of at least two image sensors are read and the read image data is stored on a memory preferably as contiguous data representing a panoramic image prior to demosaicing and displayed in real-time or close to real-time on a display. At least two image sensors in a multi-camera body are rotationally aligned with an alignment error that is smaller than 0.5 degrees.