Exhibit 5.1

                [Letterhead of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth]



                              September 28, 2000


Newport Corporation
1791 Deere Avenue
Irvine, California 92606

     Re:  Newport Corporation
          Registration Statement on Form S-3 / 165,000 Shares of Common Stock
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At your request, we have examined the form of Registration Statement on
Form S-3, to be filed by Newport Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration
Statement") covering an aggregate of 165,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, $0.1167 stated value, (the "Common Stock"), to be offered from time to
time by certain stockholders of the Company.

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
Registration Statement and related Prospectus included therein, the Company's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended to date, and the originals or
copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates,
memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate
to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

     Based on the foregoing, and subject to compliance with applicable state
securities laws, it is our opinion that the 165,000 shares of Common Stock have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the
Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ STRADLING YOCCA CARLSON & RAUTH