Exhibit 5.1







                                October 30, 2001




Visionics Corporation
5600 Rowland Road
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343-4315

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") filed by Visionics Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Rules"), we have been requested by the Company to
render this opinion as to the legality of (1) the 1,801,800 shares (the
"Shares") of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company and (2) the 61,036 shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares") which
are issuable upon exercise of certain outstanding warrants (the "Warrants"), all
of which are being registered under the Registration Statement.





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                  In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (1) the
Registration Statement, (2) the Warrants, (3) the Certificate of Incorporation
and the By-laws of the Company, each as amended to date, and (4) all such
corporate records of the Company and all such other documents as we have
considered necessary in order to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter
expressed.

                  In our examination of documents, we have assumed, without
independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity
of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original
documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, reproduced
or conformed copies of valid existing agreements or other documents, the
authenticity of all such latter documents and the legal capacity of all
individuals who have executed any of the aforesaid documents. As to certain
matters of fact, we have relied on representations, statements or certificates
of officers of the Company and of public authorities.

                  Based on the foregoing, and subject to the stated assumptions,
exceptions and qualifications, we are of the opinion that:

                  1. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and that
such Shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.





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                  2. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and reserved
for issuance and when issued and delivered by the Company upon the exercise of
the Warrants and the payment of the exercise price in accordance with the terms
of the Warrants, such Warrant Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

                  Our opinion expressed above is limited to the federal laws of
the United States, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the
judicial decisions interpreting these laws. Our opinion is also rendered only
with respect to the laws and the rules, regulations and orders thereunder, which
are currently in effect. Please be advised that no member of this firm is
admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. We hereby consent to the filing
of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of
our name under the heading "Legal Matters" contained in the prospectus included
in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby agree
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Act
or the Rules.


                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
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                                    PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON