An efficient multicamera imaging-based bar code reader for imaging a target bar code on a target object. An imaging system has a plurality of camera assemblies coupled to an image processing system. Each camera assembly includes a sensor array and an imaging lens assembly for focusing a field of view of the camera assembly onto a sensor array as well as including one or more light emitting diodes for illuminating a field of view of that camera assembly. One camera is activated or energized to detect an object and then all cameras are activated for generating images suitable to decode a bar code on the detected object.