A digital imaging system for real-time searching for expressions that appear on a microform medium, the system comprising a computer including a processor, a display, a temporary memory, and a non-volatile memory, and a digital microform imaging apparatus including a controller and an area sensor generating a real-time digital microform image of the microform medium. The controller is in communication with the area sensor and receives the image. The controller is in communication with the processor and outputs the image to the processor that temporarily stores the image in the temporary memory. The processor uses the image output by the controller to drive the display with the image being generated by the area sensor in real-time. The processor searches the image used to drive the display for instances of a search expression, the processor visually distinguishing identified instances of the search expression on the display.