Exhibit 5.1

             [Letterhead of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP]

                                 August 1, 2003

Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
90 Coles Road
Blackwood, New Jersey 08012

                  RE:      Metrologic Instruments, Inc. -
                           Registration Statement on Form S-3
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as counsel to Metrologic Instruments, Inc., a
New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of
the Registration Statement filed today on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
of up to 2,325,875 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Common Stock"), to be sold by Company and the selling shareholders
identified in the Registration Statement.

                  We are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be
taken by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of
shares of Common Stock by the Company and the selling shareholders. In this
connection, we have examined and relied upon such corporate records and other
documents, instruments and certificates and have made such other investigations
as we deemed appropriate as the basis for the opinion set forth below. In our
examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us
as originals, the conformity to original documents of documents submitted to us
as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of such
original documents.

                  The opinion expressed below is based on the assumption that
the Registration Statement will become effective.

                  Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
2,325,875 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company and the selling
shareholders have been duly authorized by the Company and are legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1
of the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part thereof.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                   /s/ Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
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                                   Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP