PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION INC
S-3, 1998-10-29
ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS
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<PAGE>   1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 1998
                                                       Registration No. 33-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           ---------------------------

                                   FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ---------------------------

                       PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                MASSACHUSETTS                                04-2795294
        (State or other jurisdiction                     (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation or organization)                 Identification No.)

                           ---------------------------

                                22 East Broadway
                          Gardner, Massachusetts 01440
                                 (978) 630-1800

   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                    REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

        JACK P. DREIMILLER                      COPY TO:
        SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE          EDWARD A. BENJAMIN, ESQUIRE
        AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER             ROPES & GRAY
        PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION            One International Place
        22 East Broadway                        Boston, MA 02110-2624
        Gardner, Massachusetts 01440            (617) 951-7434
        (978) 630-1800

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                           ---------------------------

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to
time after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ] ________

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ] _____________

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of Shares                 Amount to be          Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum      Amount of
to be Registered                Registered            Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering    Registration Fee
                                                      Share (1)              Price (1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                       <C>                   <C>                    <C>
Common Stock - $.01 Par Value    1,086,900                 $1.375                $1,494,488             $416
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)      Estimated, pursuant to Rule 457(c), solely for purposes of calculating
         the registration fee based on the average of the high and low sales
         prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on October 27, 1998 as reported
         on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, which date is within five business days
         of the date of this Registration Statement.

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2



Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

PROSPECTUS                                                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                                                                OCTOBER 29, 1998

                       PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.

                        1,086,900 Shares of Common Stock

                                -----------------

         All of the shares of Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), offered hereby (the "Shares") are being sold by the
holders of the Common Stock named herein under "Selling Stockholders" (the
"Selling Stockholders"). The Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ SmallCap
Market under the symbol "POCI." On October 27, 1998, the last reported sale
price of the Common Stock was $1.25 per share.

         THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK
FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3.

         The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the
Common Stock. Any or all of such Common Stock covered by this Prospectus may be
sold, from time to time, by means of ordinary brokerage transactions or
otherwise. See "Plan of Distribution."

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
          PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
              REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                           ---------------------------

         The Selling Stockholders named herein have not advised the Company of
any specific plans for the distribution of the Shares covered by this
Prospectus. It is anticipated, however, that the Selling Stockholders, or any
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, directly, through
agents to be designated from time to time or through dealers or underwriters
also to be designated, may sell the Common Stock from time to time in one or
more transactions on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or otherwise, at prices and at
terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price, or
in negotiated transactions. To the extent required, the specific Common Stock to
be sold, the names of the Selling Stockholders, the respective purchase prices
and public offering prices, the names of any such agent, dealer or underwriter
and any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer
will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
is a part. See "Plan of Distribution." By agreement, the Company will pay all
the expenses of the registration of the Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders
other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any.

         The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers, agents or underwriters
that participate with the Selling Stockholders in the distribution of the Common
Stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any commissions received by
them and any profit on the resale of the Common Stock purchased by them may be
deemed underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

                           ---------------------------

                 The date of this Prospectus is __________, 1998




<PAGE>   3



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in
accordance therewith, files periodic reports, proxy materials and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024,
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at its
regional offices located at Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, and copies of such material can be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. The public may obtain information on the operation
of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. In
addition, the Commission maintains a web site (at http://www.sec.gov) that
contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding registrants, including the Company, that file electronically with the
Commission.

         The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement (the
"Registration Statement", which term shall include all amendments, exhibits and
schedules thereto) on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the
securities offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all information set
forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission, and to which
reference is hereby made. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the contents
of any document referred to herein are not necessarily complete. With respect to
each such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference
is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved,
and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such
reference. The Registration Statement may be inspected at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at its regional offices located at
Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661,
and at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such
material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The public
may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling
the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Registration Statement was filed
electronically with the Commission and is available on the Commission's web site
(at http://www.sec.gov).

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part hereof:

                  (i)      Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
                           ended June 30, 1998, including portions of the
                           Company's Proxy Statement dated October 14, 1998,
                           relating to the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of
                           Stockholders, incorporated therein.

                  (ii)     The Description of the Company's Common Stock
                           contained in its registration statement on Form S-1,
                           File No. 33-43929, including any amendment or report
                           filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of filing of
the Registration Statement and prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and (ii) after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the



                                        2


<PAGE>   4



termination of the offering shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference
from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein,
or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated by
reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

         The Company will provide, upon written or oral request, without charge,
to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this
Prospectus has been delivered, a copy of any or all of the documents which have
been or may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than certain
exhibits to such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to: Jack
P. Dreimiller, Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., 22 East Broadway, Gardner,
Massachusetts 01440, (978) 630-1800.

                                  RISK FACTORS

         IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE FOLLOWING
RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN EVALUATING THE COMPANY AND ITS
BUSINESS. THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS
AND UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM
THE RESULTS DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND
IN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE COMPANY ON THE BASIS
OF MANAGEMENT'S THEN-CURRENT EXPECTATIONS. FACTORS THAT MIGHT CAUSE SUCH A
DIFFERENCE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED OR REFERRED TO
BELOW.

         Prospective purchasers of the Shares offered hereby should consider
carefully the risks associated with investing in the Shares, including the
principal risk factors set forth below:

MARKET VOLATILITY

         The Common Stock of the Company has had a public market since November
1990. The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations, particularly in the high technology and medical products
sectors, which may be unrelated to particular companies' operating performance.
Factors such as the Company's or its competitors' product failures or
announcements of technological innovations or new products may have a
significant impact on the market price of the Company's Common Stock. In
addition, to date, the Company's Common Stock has had limited float and trading
activity.

WDM AND OTHER NEW PRODUCTS

         The Company plans to devote the majority of its research and
development resources to the development and marketing of new products,
particularly in the area of Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM) optical thin
films. The Company is in the process of developing WDM thin film prototypes
capable of reliably meeting a strict set of operating specifications supplied to
the Company by potential customers. No assurance can be given that these efforts
will be successful or that the Company will succeed in developing and marketing
WDM thin films or other new products. Moreover, certain domestic and foreign
companies have commenced marketing products embodying alternative WDM
technologies which will compete with the Company's WDM products. There can be no
assurance that the Company's WDM products, if and when successfully developed,
will be perceived in the marketplace as more cost-effective, efficient and
reliable than these alternative



                                        3


<PAGE>   5



products. Based upon the Company's expectations as to market acceptance of its
WDM products, the Company expects to continue to increase its research and
development expenditures as the Company continues its product development and
marketing efforts and expands its operations in the WDM area. Future operating
results may be materially adversely affected if development efforts with respect
to its new products are unsuccessful or if sales of these products are below
expectations.

RELIANCE UPON KEY PERSONNEL AND SCIENTIFIC TALENT

         The Company depends to large extent on a small number of key
scientific, technical, managerial, and marketing personnel, loss of any of whose
services could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. The
Company's business depends to a large extent on the Company's ability to employ
persons with a high degree of scientific and technical talent. Competition for
the services of such persons is intense and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to attract or to retain individuals possessing the
qualifications the Company requires. The Company believes its success is highly
dependent upon the services and reputation of both its Chief Executive Officer,
Mr. Richard E. Forkey and its Vice President, Operations, Mr. Kumar M.
Khajurivala. Loss of either Mr. Forkey's or Mr. Khajurivala's services and
scientific contributions would materially adversely affect the company's
business.

RECENT HISTORY OF LOSSES

         The Company has incurred net operating losses in each of the last six
quarterly periods ending June 30, 1998. These net operating losses totaled
approximately $2,725,000 during this eighteen-month period, and the Company has
an accumulated deficit of approximately $2,132,000 at June 30, 1998. The Company
attributes these losses largely to its transition away from night vision
products and services sold primarily under contracts or subcontracts with the
United States Government, and its concentration of research and product
development resources on new products, principally in the area of optical thin
films technology for the telecommunications and semi conductor industries. New
products embodying this technology are still in development and have not yet
generated appreciable revenues for the Company. There can be no assurance that
development of such products will be successfully completed and, if so, that
significant revenues will result from the Company's initiatives in the optical
thin films area. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the Company will
achieve profitability as a result of such initiatives.

FLUCTUATION IN QUARTERLY RESULTS

         The Company's quarterly operating results may vary significantly
depending upon factors such as the timing of the completion of significant
orders, the timing of research and development expenditures and costs of initial
product production in connection with new products, the timing of new product
introductions by the Company and its competitors and market acceptance of new
products or enhanced versions of the Company's existing products. In addition,
the Company's operating results may fluctuate as a result of increased
competition or delays in the introduction or acceptance of new products in the
market. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to grow or
sustain revenues or achieve or maintain profitability on a quarterly or annual
basis or that levels of revenue and/or profitability may not vary over any such
period.

COMPETITION

         The industries in which the Company competes are highly competitive.
Many of the Company's existing competitors, as well as a number of potential
competitors, are larger and have significantly greater financial resources and
manufacturing capabilities, more established and larger marketing and sales
organizations and larger technical staffs than the Company. Other companies,



                                        4


<PAGE>   6



some with greater experience in the telecommunications, optics, semiconductor or
medical products industries and greater financial resources than the Company,
are seeking to produce products and services that compete with those of the
Company. To the extent that other domestic or foreign companies offer more
sophisticated, cost-effective, efficient or reliable products and services than
the Company, the Company's business could be materially adversely affected.

SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

         Revenues from the Company's three largest customers were approximately
22%, 14% and 10%, respectively, of total revenues for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1998, and revenues from the Company's two largest customers were
approximately 38% and 23%, respectively, of total revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1997. No other customers accounted for more than 10% of the
Company's revenues during those periods.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS

         The United States Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") has
determined that the Company may market its currently existing medical products
that are currently being sold in the United States. Prior FDA approval may be
required before the Company can market additional medical products that the
Company may develop. The Company may also seek to sell some of its current or
future medical products in a manner that requires the Company to obtain FDA
permission to market such products, as well as the regulatory approval or
license of other federal, state, or local agencies or analogous agencies in
other countries. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
maintain the FDA's permission to market its current products or obtain the
necessary regulatory permission, approvals or licenses for the marketing of any
of its other products. Furthermore, potential adverse FDA regulation affecting
the Company which might arise from future legislation or administrative action
cannot be predicted. In addition, FDA regulations may be established that could
prevent or delay regulatory clearances or approval of the Company's products.
The inability of the Company to secure any necessary licenses or regulatory
approvals or permission from the FDA could have a material adverse effect on its
business.

RISKS INHERENT IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION UNDER FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS

         A significant portion of the Company's business has been and may
continue to be devoted to research, development and production of optical
systems for customers under fixed price contracts. The expenses incurred in
meeting the Company's obligations under such contracts cannot be predicted with
certainty, and there can be no assurance that such contracts will be profitable
to the Company.

PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY AND OTHER INFORMATION

         The Company holds rights to patents on certain products and technology.
There can be no assurance that the Company will obtain additional patents with
respect to current or future applications of its technology. The extent of
patent protection provided by patents obtained by the Company cannot be
predicted. There can be no assurance that the claims set forth in these patents
will not be challenged. Patents may not afford the Company protection from
competitors' independent duplication. Accordingly, prospective investors should
not rely upon any patent to afford the Company any significant competitive
advantage in marketing its products. The Company presently knows of no
infringements of its patents. Although the Company plans to protect any patent
it may have from infringement and to obtain patents whenever possible, it may
not be able to assert any infringement claims or obtain additional patents
because seeking such protection and obtaining such patents is both time
consuming and expensive. Furthermore, although the Company has obtained
confidentiality agreements from its employees and seeks such agreements from
consultants and others who have access



                                        5


<PAGE>   7



to the design of its products and proprietary information, no assurance can be
given that the Company will be successful in protecting its proprietary rights
with respect to such products and information.

INFRINGEMENTS ON OTHERS' PATENTS

         A significant portion of the company's business is devoted to the
development, manufacture, and sale of advanced optical systems. The technologies
used or to be used in these systems may infringe upon patents or proprietary
technology held or owned by other persons. Should others claim a proprietary
right to all or part of any technology used by the Company, such a claim,
regardless of its merit, could involve the Company in costly litigation which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. Moreover, such
a claim could result in the Company's inability to use or sell such technology,
which inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

         Certain key supplies, including precision grade optical glass, are
available from only a few sources, each of which is outside the United States.
Furthermore, outside vendors grind and polish certain of the Company's lenses
and other optical components, such as prisms and windows. Based upon its
ordering experience to date, the Company believes the materials and services
required for the production of its products are currently available in
sufficient quantities. The Company's requirements are small relative to the
total supply, and the Company is not encountering problems with availability.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will continue to have
timely access to adequate supplies of these materials and services in the
future, that supplies of these materials and services will be available on
satisfactory terms when the need arises or that key supplies will be available
for new products the Company may develop. The inability to procure such
materials and services in adequate quantities would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business. From time to time, certain of the Company's
products may be produced for the Company by subcontractors. The failure of such
subcontractors to make timely delivery could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business. Furthermore, in the event that manufacturers that
integrate the Company's products or services into their own products or services
are unable to acquire supplies and services from third parties in a timely
fashion, the Company's business could be materially adversely affected.

ADEQUACY OF CURRENT FACILITIES

         The Company believes its current facilities are adequate for its
current operations. The Company's operations may require additional space,
however, in the event of a significant increase in production or the acquisition
of substantial new equipment or if the Company itself begins to produce
materials or supplies its presently purchases from others or otherwise expands
its manufacturing capabilities. Such expansion could require significant
expenditures by the Company.

PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS AND UNINSURED RISKS

         To the extent that the Company has been and will be successful in
developing, marketing, and selling new products, it is and will be exposed to
liability resulting form such products' use. Although the Company has obtained
product liability insurance against such claims, and no such claims have been
asserted or threatened to date, there can be no assurance that the Company's
insurance will be sufficient to cover all possible future liabilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

         The Company's operations are subject to a variety of federal, state and
local laws and regulations relating to the discharge of materials into the
environment or otherwise relating to the



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<PAGE>   8



protection of the environment. From time to time the Company uses a small amount
of hazardous materials in its operations. Although the Company believes that it
is in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, any failure
to comply with such laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on
its operations.

                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company was organized and commenced operations as a Massachusetts
corporation in 1982. The Company completed a private placement of 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock in August 1990, an initial public offering of 1,200,000
shares of Common Stock in November 1990, and a public offering of 1,176,250
shares of Common Stock in February 1992. In conjunction with these offerings,
the Company issued warrants for a total of 320,000 shares of Common Stock to the
selling agent and underwriters for the offerings. Before these offerings, the
Company was privately held. The Company completed a private placement of 500,000
shares of Common Stock in June 1998. In conjunction with the June 1998 offering,
the purchasers in such offering were issued warrants for an additional 500,000
shares of Common Stock.

         The Company designs, develops, manufacturers and sells specialized
optical systems and components and optical thin film coatings. The Company's
products and services include medical products for use by hospitals and
physicians, advanced optical products and thin films and advanced optical system
design and development services.

         The Company's principal executive offices are located at 22 East
Broadway, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 and its telephone number is (978)
630-1800.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Company will not receive any of the proceeds of the Common Stock
offered hereby by the Selling Stockholders.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership
of the Company's Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders as of September 30,
1998, including the number of Shares offered hereby. The Shares are being
registered to permit public secondary trading of the Shares, and the Selling
Stockholders may offer all or a portion of the Shares for resale from time to
time. See "Plan of Distribution."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               Shares of Common    
                                               Number of Shares                               Stock Beneficially  
                                                of Common Stock      Number of Shares        Owned After Offering
                                              Beneficially Owned      of Common Stock       ----------------------
     Selling Stockholder                     Prior to Offering(1)     Offered Hereby        Number         Percent
     -------------------                     --------------------    ----------------       ------         -------

<S>                                                <C>                    <C>                <C>             <C>
Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P.       750,000(2)             750,000            -0-             **
c/o Special Situations Fund III, L.P.
153 East  53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
</TABLE>




                                        7


<PAGE>   9



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               Shares of Common    
                                               Number of Shares                               Stock Beneficially  
                                                of Common Stock      Number of Shares        Owned After Offering
                                              Beneficially Owned      of Common Stock       ----------------------
     Selling Stockholder                     Prior to Offering(1)     Offered Hereby        Number         Percent
     -------------------                     --------------------    ----------------       ------         -------

<S>                                                <C>                  <C>                <C>              <C>
Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P.           250,000(3)           250,000                -0-            **
c/o Special Situations of Fund III, L.P.
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022

Nathan Newman                                       69,095               28,500(4)          40,595            **
c/o Equity Securities Investments, Inc.
5353 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 600
St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Peter L. Hauser                                    198,000               14,000(4)         184,000          2.76%
c/o Equity Securities Investments, Inc.
5353 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 600
St. Loius Park, MN 55416

Ralph Murphy                                        25,400                5,000(4)          20,400            **
278 Dakota Street
Prescott, WI 54021

Leighton C. Natt                                    16,100                4,500(4)          11,600            **
3 Point Road
Bayport, MN 55003

Holderness Leasing, Inc.                           135,650               34,900(4)         100,750          1.50%
c/o Helmar Nielson
1530 Queens Boulevard, #301
Charlotte, NC 28207
</TABLE>

- ------------------------------


**       The number of shares indicated does not exceed one percent of the
         number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.

(1)      Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
         Commission. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a
         person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common
         Stock subject to warrants held by that person that are currently
         exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this
         Prospectus are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed
         outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of
         each other person. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table
         and pursuant to applicable community property laws, each Selling
         Stockholder named in the table above has sole voting and investment
         power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such Selling
         Stockholders' name. Percentage beneficial ownership is based on
         6,677,595 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 1998.

(2)      Includes 375,000 shares which may be acquired within 60 days of the
         date of this Prospectus upon the exercise of outstanding warrants owned
         by Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P. ("SSPEF"). All Shares
         owned by SSPEF were issued, or are issuable upon the exercise of



                                        8


<PAGE>   10



         warrants issued, to SSPEF in a private placement on June 30, 1998. The
         Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part was filed
         pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 30, 1998
         among the Company, SSPEF and Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P.
         ("SSTF") (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

(3)      Includes 125,000 shares which may be acquired within 60 days of the
         date of this Prospectus upon the exercise of outstanding warrants owned
         by SSTF. All Shares owned by SSTF were issued, or are issuable upon the
         exercise of warrants issued, to SSTF in a private placement on June 30,
         1998. The Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part was
         filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

(4)      Represents Shares issued, or issuable upon, exercise of the Company's 
         Initial Public Offering Selling Agent Warrants issued on or about July
         8, 1992, as amended on December 30, 1994 (the "IPO Warrants") and the
         Company's Private Placement Selling Agent Warrants issued on or about
         July 8, 1992, as amended on December 30, 1994 (the "Private Placement
         Warrants"). Both the IPO Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants
         entitle the holders thereof to certain "piggyback" registration rights.
         The Shares indicated are being included in this Registration Statement
         at the election of the Selling Stockholder pursuant to the exercise of
         such rights.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Selling Stockholders named herein have not advised the Company of
any specific plans for the distribution of the Shares covered by this
Prospectus. The Shares offered by the Selling Stockholders may be sold from time
to time by the Selling Stockholders, or by pledgees, donees, transferees or
other successors in interest of the Selling Stockholders. Such sales may be made
in one or more transactions on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or otherwise, at
prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current
market price, or in negotiated transactions. The Shares may be sold by one or
more of the following: (a) a "block" trade in which the broker or dealer so
engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a
portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases
by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its
account pursuant to this Prospectus; and (c) ordinary brokerage transactions and
transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers. In effecting sales,
brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers or dealers to participate. Brokers or dealers will receive commissions
or discounts from Selling Stockholders (and, if they act as agent for the
purchaser, from such purchaser), which commissions may, in certain situations,
be negotiated and in excess of customary compensation in amounts to be
negotiated immediately prior to the sale. Such brokers or dealers, and any other
participating brokers or dealers, and certain of the Selling Stockholders may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in
connection with such sales. In addition, any Shares covered by this Prospectus
which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather
than pursuant to this Prospectus.

         Upon the Company being notified by a Selling Stockholder that any
material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of
Shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or
secondary distribution, or a purchase by a broker-dealer as principal, a
supplemental Prospectus will be filed, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, setting forth (i) the name of each Selling Stockholder and of
the participating broker-dealers(s), (ii) the number of Shares involved, (iii)
the price at which such Shares were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts
or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, and (v) other
facts material to the transaction.



                                        9


<PAGE>   11



         The Company has agreed to pay the cost of the registration of the
Shares and the preparation of this Prospectus and the Registration Statement
under which it is filed. The expenses so payable by the Company are estimated to
be approximately $22,531.

         The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify each
other against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the
Securities Act.

         The Company has agreed in the Registration Rights Agreement to use its
best efforts to keep the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part continuously effective until the earlier of (i) two years from the date on
which warrants now held by SSPEF and SSTF have been exercised in full or (ii)
such time as all of the Shares now held by SSPEF and SSTF have been sold.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The validity of the shares of Common Stock being offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts.

                                     EXPERTS

         The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1998 have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent auditors, as stated
in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.

               [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]



                                       10


<PAGE>   12



================================================================================

         NO DEALER, SALES PERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING
OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY, THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS SET FORTH UNDER "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS"
OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION. THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS AT ANY TIME DOES NOT IMPLY THAT
INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.

                                  ------------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----

Available Information .................................................     2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference .......................     2
Risk Factors ..........................................................     3
The Company ...........................................................     7
Use of Proceeds .......................................................     7
Selling Stockholders ..................................................     7
Plan of Distribution ..................................................     9
Legal Matters .........................................................    10
Experts ...............................................................    10


================================================================================


================================================================================

                        1,086,900 Shares of Common Stock

                       PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.









                               _____________, 1998









================================================================================
<PAGE>   13



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.          OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

         The following is an itemization of the expenses incurred or expected to
be incurred by the Company in connection with the offering described in this
Registration Statement. No portion of such expenses are expected to be borne by
Selling Stockholders. (Items marked with an asterisk (*) represent estimated
expenses):

         Registration Fee..........................................   $   416
         Printing Cost*............................................   $ 1,115
         Legal Fees*...............................................   $18,000
         Accounting Fees*..........................................   $ 2,000
         Miscellaneous*............................................   $ 1,000

              TOTAL*...............................................   $22,531
                                                                      =======
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

         The Company is organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Business Corporation Law provides that
indemnification of directors, officers, employees and other agents of a
corporation, and persons who serve at its request as directors, officers,
employees or other agents of another organization, or who serve at its request
in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan, may be provided by
the corporation to whatever extent specified in or authorized by its articles of
organization, a by-law adopted by the stockholders or a vote adopted by the
holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote on the election of
directors, except that no indemnification may be provided for any person with
respect to any matter as to which the person shall have been adjudicated in any
proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his
action was in the best interest of the corporation. Under Massachusetts law, a
corporation can purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person against
liability incurred as a director, officer, employee, agent or person serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or other agent
of another organization or with respect to any employee benefit plan, in his
capacity as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to itself
indemnify him against such liability.

         The Company's articles of organization provide that its directors shall
not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that exculpation from
liabilities is not permitted under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law as
in effect at the time such liability is determined. The by-laws of the Company
provide generally that the Company shall, to the extent legally permissible,
indemnify its directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses
incurred by them in connection with the defense or disposition of any action,
suit or other proceeding in which he may be involved, or by which he may be
threatened, by reason of his being or having been a director or officer, except
with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated in any
proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his
action was in the best interest of the Company. In addition, the Company holds a
directors and officers liability policy.



                                      II-1


<PAGE>   14



ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

         The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit
  No.                                 Title
- -------                               -----

  2.1         Stock Subscription Agreement dated as of June 30, 1998 by and
              among the Company, Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P.
              and Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (1)

  4.1         Articles of Organization of the Company (2)

  4.2         By-laws of the Company (3)

  4.3         Specimen Common Stock Certificate (2)

  4.4         Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 30, 1998 by and
              among the Company, Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P.
              and Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (1)

  4.5         Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated June 30, 1998 issued to
              Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P. (1)

  4.6         Common Stock Purchase Warrant dated June 30, 1998 issued to
              Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (2)

  4.7         Sample Initial Public Offering Selling Agent Warrant dated
              December 30, 1994

  4.8         Sample Private Placement Selling Agent Warrant dated December 30,
              1994

  5.1         Opinion of Ropes & Gray

  23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

  23.2        Consent of Ropes & Gray (included in the opinion filed as 
              Exhibit 5.1)

  24.1        Power of Attorney (to be included as part of signature page filed
              herewith)

  27.1        Financial Data Schedule

              (1)     Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's 1998
                      Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.

              (2)     Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's
                      Registration Statement on Form S-18 (No. 33-36710-B).

              (3)     Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's 1991
                      Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.






                                      II-2


<PAGE>   15



ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)  The Company hereby undertakes:

         (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;

                  (i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of 
         the Securities Act;

                  (ii) to reflect in the Prospectus included within this
         Registration Statement any facts or events arising after the effective
         date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective
         amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
         fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration
         Statement;

                  (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
         plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
         Statement or any material change to such information in this
         Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof;

         (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering; and

         (4) that, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit
or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]



                                      II-3


<PAGE>   16



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the Town of Gardner, Massachusetts, on the 23rd day of
October, 1998.

                                          PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.




                                          By: /s/ Richard E. Forkey
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Richard E. Forkey
                                              Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                              and President


                        POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of Precision Optics
Corporation, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Richard E. Forkey and
Jack P. Dreimiller and each of them singly, as true and lawful attorneys, with
full power to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the
capacities indicated below, all additional amendments to this registration
statement, and generally to do all things in our names and on our behalf in such
capacities to enable Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and all applicable
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                       Capacity                        Date
- ---------                       --------                        ----

/s/ Richard E. Forkey           Chairman of the                 October 23, 1998
- ------------------------        Board of Directors,          
Richard E. Forkey               Chief Executive Officer                  
                                and President                            
                                (principal executive officer)            

/s/ Jack P. Dreimiller          Senior Vice President,          October 23, 1998
- ------------------------        Finance, Chief Financial    
Jack P. Dreimiller              Officer and Clerk (principal            
                                financial and accounting                
                                officer)                                

/s/ Edward A. Benjamin          Director                        October 23, 1998
- ------------------------
Edward A. Benjamin




<PAGE>   17


/s/ H. Angus Macleod            Director                        October 23, 1998
- ------------------------
H. Angus Macleod

/s/ Austin W. Marxe             Director                        October 23, 1998
- ------------------------
Austin W. Marxe

/s/ Joel R. Pitlor              Director                        October 23, 1998
- ------------------------
Joel R. Pitlor

/s/ Robert R. Shannon           Director                        October 23, 1998
- ------------------------
Robert R. Shannon

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.7


                       PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.

                      INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING SELLING AGENT

                      COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT NO. __

         Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the
"Company"), hereby agrees that, for value received, __________ , or his or her
assigns, is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the
Company at any time or from time to time after February 21, 1992, and before
5:00 p.m., Boston, Massachusetts time, on October 23, 1998, ____ shares of $.01
par value Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock"), at a price per share
of $1.375.

         1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT. The purchase rights exercised by this Warrant
shall be exercised by the holder surrendering this Warrant to the Company at its
principal office, accompanied by payment, in cash or by certified or official
bank check payable to the order of the Company, of the purchase price payable in
respect of the Common Stock being purchased, along with the exercise form
attached hereto duly executed by such holder. If less than all of the Common
Stock is purchased, the Company will, upon such exercise, execute and deliver to
the holder hereof a new Warrant (dated the date thereof) evidencing the number
of shares of the Common Stock not so purchased. As soon as practicable after the
exercise of this Warrant and payment of the purchase price, the Company will
cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the holder hereof, or as such
holder may direct, a certificate or certificates representing the shares
purchased. The Company may require that such certificate or certificates contain
on the face thereof legends substantially as follows:

                  The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
         restricted pursuant to the terms of a Common Stock Purchase Warrant
         dated August 21, 1990 issued by Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a
         copy of which is available for inspection at the offices of Precision
         Optics Corporation, Inc. Transfer may not be made except in accordance
         with the terms of such Common Stock Purchase Warrant. In addition, no
         sale, offer to sell, pledge or transfer of the shares represented by
         this certificate shall be made unless a Registration Statement under
         the federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such
         shares is then in effect or an exemption from the registration
         requirements of such Securities Act is then applicable to such shares.

         2. NEGOTIABILITY. This Warrant is issued upon the following terms, to
which each taker or owner hereof consents and agrees:

         (a) Except where directed by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant
to the dissolution or liquidation of a corporate holder hereof, and until after
November 20, 1991, title to




<PAGE>   2



this Warrant may not be sold, assigned, hypothecated or transferred other than
to a person who is both (i) an officer and a shareholder, (ii) an officer and an
employee or (iii) an officer and a registered representative of Van Clemens &
Co. Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation ("Van Clemens"), or to a successor (or
an officer and a shareholder, an officer and an employee or an officer and a
registered representative of the successor) in interest to the business of Van
Clemens, by endorsement (by the holder hereof executing the form of assignment
attached hereto) and delivery in the same manner as in the case of a negotiable
instrument transferable by endorsement and delivery.

         (b) Subject to the next paragraph, any person authorized to be a holder
as specified in subparagraph (a) above, in possession of this Warrant properly
endorsed, is authorized to represent himself or herself as absolute owner hereof
and is granted power to transfer absolute title hereto by endorsement and
delivery hereof to a holder in due course. Each prior taker or owner waives and
renounces all of his or her equities or rights in this Warrant in favor of every
such holder in due course, and every such holder in the due course shall acquire
absolute title hereto and to all rights represented hereby.

         (c) Until this Warrant is transferred on the books of the Company, the
Company may treat the registered holder of this Warrant as absolute owner hereof
for all purposes without being affected by any notice to the contrary.

         3. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE; REORGANIZATION. In case the Company
shall at any time hereafter subdivide or combine its outstanding shares of
Common Stock or declare a dividend payable in Common Stock the exercise price in
effect immediately before the subdivision, combination or record date for such
dividend payable in Common Stock shall forthwith be proportionately increased,
in the case of combination, or proportionately decreased, in the case of
subdivision or declaration of a dividend payable in Common Stock, and each share
of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrant shall be changed to the
number determined by dividing the then current exercise price by the exercise
price as adjusted after such subdivision, combination or dividend payable in
Common Stock.

         No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise
of the Warrant, but the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of any
fraction of a share which would otherwise be issuable in an amount equal to the
same fraction of the market price per share of Common Stock on the day of
exercise as determined in good faith by the Company.

         In case of any capital reorganization or any reclassification of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company, or in the case of any consolidation with
or merger of the Company into or with another corporation or the sale of all or
substantially all of its assets to another corporation effected in such a manner
that the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities
or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, then, as part of such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, as the case may
be, lawful provision shall be made so that the holder of the Warrant shall have
the right thereafter to receive, upon the exercise hereof, the kind and amount
of shares of stock or other securities or


                                       -2-


<PAGE>   3



property which the holder would have been entitled to receive if, immediately
before such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, the
holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock which were then purchasable
upon the exercise of the Warrant had the Warrant been exercisable. In any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company) shall be made in the application of the provisions set
forth herein with respect to the rights and interest thereafter of the holder of
the Warrant, to the end that the provisions set forth herein (including
provisions with respect to adjustments of the exercise price) shall thereafter
be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any shares of
stock or other property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Warrant.

         When any adjustment is required to be made in the exercise price,
initial or adjusted, the Company shall forthwith determine the new exercise
price; and

         (a) Prepare and retain on file a statement describing in reasonable
detail the method used in arriving at the new exercise price; and

         (b) Cause a copy of such statement to be mailed to the holder of the
Warrant as of a date within ten (10) days after the date when the circumstances
giving rise to the adjustment occurred.

         4. INVESTMENT INTENT. Neither the Warrant nor the shares of Common
Stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Warrant have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Warrant
is issued to the holder on the condition that the Warrant and any Common Stock
purchased upon exercise or the Warrant (excepting Common Stock for which a
Notification under Regulation A or a Registration Statement has been filed and
declared effective) are or will be purchased for investment purposes and not
with an intent to distribute the same. Before making any disposition of the
Warrant or of any Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Warrant, the
holder will give written notice to the Company describing briefly the manner of
any such proposed disposition. The holder will not make any such disposition
until (i) the Company has notified him or her that, in the opinion of its
counsel, registration under the Securities Act is not required with respect to
such disposition, or (ii) a Notification under Regulation A or a Registration
Statement covering the proposed distribution has been filed by the Company and
has become effective. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder hereof with
respect to such proposed distribution, the Company will use its best efforts, in
consultation with the holder's counsel, to ascertain as soon as possible whether
or not registration is required, and will advise the holder promptly with
respect thereto.

         5. INCLUSION IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT. If after November 20, 1991, and
prior to October 23, 1998, the Company shall propose to file a Registration
Statement (other than on Forms S-8, S-4, or S-15 or other similarly
inappropriate forms) under the Securities Act covering a public offering of the
Company's Common Stock, it will notify the holder hereof at least twenty (20)
days prior to such filing and will, after October 23, 1991, include in the
Registration Statement (to the extent permitted by applicable regulation), at
the sole expense of the Company, the Common Stock purchased by the holder or
purchasable by the holder upon the exercise of the


                                       -3-


<PAGE>   4



Warrant to the extent requested by the holder hereof. The holder shall be
responsible for payment of the fees of such holder's counsel and the payment of
commissions relating to the shares of Common Stock purchased by the holder and
sold pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company need not include the Common Stock so purchased or purchasable in any
such Registration Statement if the underwriter with respect to such proposed
public offering determines, and has a reasonable basis for determining, that
such inclusion would be inadvisable or detrimental to the success of that
offering. If the Registration Statement filed pursuant to such twenty (20) day
notice has not become effective within six months following the date such notice
is given to the holder hereof, the Company must again notify such holder in the
manner provided above.

         The obligations of the Company to include the shares purchased or
purchasable under this Warrant in a Registration Statement pursuant to this
paragraph shall terminate if on the last day on which this Warrant may be
exercised the Company would not have been obligated to provide the holder hereof
with twenty (20) days notice as provided in this Section 5.

         6. REGISTRATION -- GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of securities being issued by the Company, the Company
shall not be required to include any of the securities of the holder hereof in
such underwriting unless he or she accepts the reasonable terms of the
underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by
it. In the case of any registration initiated by the Company, the Company shall
have the right to designate the managing underwriter in any underwritten
offering. The Company will furnish the holder hereof with a reasonable number of
copies of any prospectus included in such filings and will amend or supplement
the same as required during the period of required use thereof, provided, that
the expenses of any amendment or supplement made or filed more than nine (9)
months after the effective date of the Registration Statement filed at the
request of any holder shall be paid by any such holder. The Company need not
maintain the effectiveness of any Registration Statement filed by the Company
more than nine (9) months following the effective date thereof.

         In the case of filing of any Registration Statement, and to the extent
permissible under the Securities Act of 1933 and controlling precedent
thereunder, the holder hereof shall enter into cross indemnification agreements
with the Company and, if requested and applicable, the Underwriter(s) named in
such Registration Statement, in customary scope covering the accuracy and
completeness of the information furnished by each.

         The holder of the Warrant agrees to cooperate with the Company in the
preparation and filing of any such Registration Statement or in its efforts to
establish that the proposed sale is exempt under the Securities Act as to any
proposed distribution.

         7. NOTICES. The Company shall mail to the registered holder of the
Warrant, at his or her last post office address appearing on the books of the
Company, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which (a) a record
will be taken for the purpose of determining the holders of Common Stock
entitled to dividends (other than cash dividends) or subscription


                                       -4-


<PAGE>   5



rights, or (b) a record will be taken (or in lieu thereof, the transfer books
will be closed) for the purpose of determining the holders of Common Stock
entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders at which any
capital reorganization, reclassification of shares of Common Stock,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale of
substantially all of the Company's assets shall be considered and acted upon.

         Notwithstanding such notice requirements, until exercise and payment
therefor, any holder hereof shall not be deemed a shareholder of the Company
with respect to shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant.

         8. RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK. A number of shares of Common Stock
sufficient to provide for the exercise of the Warrant upon the basis herein set
forth shall at all times be reserved for the exercise thereof.

         9. MISCELLANEOUS. Whenever reference is made herein to the issue or
sale of shares of Common Stock, the term "Common Stock" shall include any stock
of any class of the Company other than preferred stock with a fixed limit on
dividends and a fixed amount payable in the event of any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

         The Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or
through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or
by any other voluntary act or deed, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or
performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions to be observed
or performed hereunder by the Company, but will, at all times in good faith,
assist, insofar as it is able, in the carrying out of all provisions hereof and
in the taking of all other action which may be necessary in order to protect the
rights of the holder hereof against dilution.

         The representations, warranties and agreements herein contained shall
survive the exercise of this Warrant. References to the "holder of" include the
immediate holder of shares purchased on the exercise of this Warrant and the
holder of any new warrants issued pursuant to Section 1 upon the purchase of
less than all of the Common Stock purchasable under this Warrant, and the word
"holder" shall include the plural thereof.

         All shares of Common Stock or other securities issued upon the exercise
of this Warrant shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the
Company will pay all taxes in respect of the issue thereof.

                                * * * * * * * * *



                                       -5-


<PAGE>   6




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant has been duly executed by Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., this 30th day of December, 1994.

                                    PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.

                                    By: ______________________________
                                        President





                                       -6-


<PAGE>   7




                                  EXERCISE FORM
                  (TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANT)

To Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.:

         The undersigned, the holder of the within warrant, hereby irrevocably
elects to exercise the purchase right represented by such warrant for, and to
purchase thereunder *________________ shares of the Common Stock of Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., and herewith makes payment of $______ therefor, and
requests that the certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
______________, and be delivered to _______________________, whose address is
_____________________________________________ .


Dated:_______________               ____________________________________________
                                    (Signature must conform in all respects to 
                                    the name of holder as specified on the face 
                                    of the warrant)


                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Address)



                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (City - State - Zip)


*Insert here all or such portion of the number of shares called for on the face
of the within warrant in 100 or more share increments with respect to which the
holder desires to exercise the purchase right represented thereby, without
adjustment for any other or additional stock, other securities, property or cash
which may be deliverable on such exercise.





                                       -7-


<PAGE>   8



                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM
                (TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON TRANSFER OF THE WARRANT)


         For value received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto _______________________ the right represented by the within warrant to
purchase _________________ of the shares of Common Stock of Precision Optics
Corporation, Inc. to which the within warrant relates and appoints
_____________________ attorney to transfer said right on the books of Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., with full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:_______________               ____________________________________________
                                    (Signature must conform in all respects to 
                                    the name of holder as specified on the face 
                                    of the warrant)


                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Address)



                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (City - State - Zip)

In the presence of:



_______________________





                                       -8-






<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.8



                       PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.

                         PRIVATE PLACEMENT SELLING AGENT

                      COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT NO. ___


         Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the
"Company"), hereby agrees that, for value received, __________, or his or her
assigns, is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the
Company at any time or from time to time after February 21, 1992, and before
5:00 p.m., Boston, Massachusetts time, on August 21, 1998, _____ shares of $.01
par value Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock"), at a price per share
of $1.375.

         1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT. The purchase rights exercised by this Warrant
shall be exercised by the holder surrendering this Warrant to the Company at its
principal office, accompanied by payment, in cash or by certified or official
bank check payable to the order of the Company, of the purchase price payable in
respect of the Common Stock being purchased, along with the exercise form
attached hereto duly executed by such holder. If less than all of the Common
Stock is purchased, the Company will, upon such exercise, execute and deliver to
the holder hereof a new Warrant (dated the date thereof) evidencing the number
of shares of the Common Stock not so purchased. As soon as practicable after the
exercise of this Warrant and payment of the purchase price, the Company will
cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the holder hereof, or as such
holder may direct, a certificate or certificates representing the shares
purchased. The Company may require that such certificate or certificates contain
on the face thereof legends substantially as follows:

                  The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
         restricted pursuant to the terms of a Common Stock Purchase Warrant
         dated August 21, 1990 issued by Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a
         copy of which is available for inspection at the offices of Precision
         Optics Corporation, Inc. Transfer may not be made except in accordance
         with the terms of such Common Stock Purchase Warrant. In addition, no
         sale, offer to sell, pledge or transfer of the shares represented by
         this certificate shall be made unless a Registration Statement under
         the federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such
         shares is then in effect or an exemption from the registration
         requirements of such Securities Act is then applicable to such shares.

         2. NEGOTIABILITY. This Warrant is issued upon the following terms, to
which each taker or owner hereof consents and agrees:

         (a) Except where directed by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant
to the dissolution or liquidation of a corporate holder hereof, and until after
August 21, 1991, title to


                                       -1-


<PAGE>   2



this Warrant may not be sold, assigned, hypothecated or transferred other than
to a person who is both (i) an officer and a shareholder, (ii) an officer and an
employee or (iii) an officer and a registered representative of Van Clemens &
Co. Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation ("Van Clemens"), or to a successor (or
an officer and a shareholder, an officer and an employee or an officer and a
registered representative of the successor) in interest to the business of Van
Clemens, by endorsement (by the holder hereof executing the form of assignment
attached hereto) and delivery in the same manner as in the case of a negotiable
instrument transferable by endorsement and delivery.

         (b) Subject to the next paragraph, any person authorized to be a holder
as specified in subparagraph (a) above, in possession of this Warrant properly
endorsed, is authorized to represent himself or herself as absolute owner hereof
and is granted power to transfer absolute title hereto by endorsement and
delivery hereof to a holder in due course. Each prior taker or owner waives and
renounces all of his or her equities or rights in this Warrant in favor of every
such holder in due course, and every such holder in the due course shall acquire
absolute title hereto and to all rights represented hereby.

         (c) Until this Warrant is transferred on the books of the Company, the
Company may treat the registered holder of this Warrant as absolute owner hereof
for all purposes without being affected by any notice to the contrary.

         3. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE; REORGANIZATION. In case the Company
shall at any time hereafter subdivide or combine its outstanding shares of
Common Stock or declare a dividend payable in Common Stock the exercise price in
effect immediately before the subdivision, combination or record date for such
dividend payable in Common Stock shall forthwith be proportionately increased,
in the case of combination, or proportionately decreased, in the case of
subdivision or declaration of a dividend payable in Common Stock, and each share
of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrant shall be changed to the
number determined by dividing the then current exercise price by the exercise
price as adjusted after such subdivision, combination or dividend payable in
Common Stock.

         No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise
of the Warrant, but the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of any
fraction of a share which would otherwise be issuable in an amount equal to the
same fraction of the market price per share of Common Stock on the day of
exercise as determined in good faith by the Company.

         In case of any capital reorganization or any reclassification of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company, or in the case of any consolidation with
or merger of the Company into or with another corporation or the sale of all or
substantially all of its assets to another corporation effected in such a manner
that the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities
or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, then, as part of such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, as the case may
be, lawful provision shall be made so that the holder of the Warrant shall have
the right thereafter to receive, upon the exercise hereof, the kind and amount
of shares of stock or other securities or


                                       -2-


<PAGE>   3



property which the holder would have been entitled to receive if, immediately
before such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, the
holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock which were then purchasable
upon the exercise of the Warrant had the Warrant been exercisable. In any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company) shall be made in the application of the provisions set
forth herein with respect to the rights and interest thereafter of the holder of
the Warrant, to the end that the provisions set forth herein (including
provisions with respect to adjustments of the exercise price) shall thereafter
be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any shares of
stock or other property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Warrant.

         When any adjustment is required to be made in the exercise price,
initial or adjusted, the Company shall forthwith determine the new exercise
price; and

         (a) Prepare and retain on file a statement describing in reasonable
detail the method used in arriving at the new exercise price; and

         (b) Cause a copy of such statement to be mailed to the holder of the
Warrant as of a date within ten (10) days after the date when the circumstances
giving rise to the adjustment occurred.

         4. INVESTMENT INTENT. Neither the Warrant nor the shares of Common
Stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Warrant have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Warrant
is issued to the holder on the condition that the Warrant and any Common Stock
purchased upon exercise or the Warrant (excepting Common Stock for which a
Notification under Regulation A or a Registration Statement has been filed and
declared effective) are or will be purchased for investment purposes and not
with an intent to distribute the same. Before making any disposition of the
Warrant or of any Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Warrant, the
holder will give written notice to the Company describing briefly the manner of
any such proposed disposition. The holder will not make any such disposition
until (i) the Company has notified him or her that, in the opinion of its
counsel, registration under the Securities Act is not required with respect to
such disposition, or (ii) a Notification under Regulation A or a Registration
Statement covering the proposed distribution has been filed by the Company and
has become effective. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder hereof with
respect to such proposed distribution, the Company will use its best efforts, in
consultation with the holder's counsel, to ascertain as soon as possible whether
or not registration is required, and will advise the holder promptly with
respect thereto.

         5. INCLUSION IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT. If after February 21, 1992, and
prior to August 21, 1998, the Company shall propose to file a Registration
Statement (other than on Forms S-8, S-4, or S-15 or other similarly
inappropriate forms) under the Securities Act covering a public offering of the
Company's Common Stock, it will notify the holder hereof at least twenty (20)
days prior to such filing and will, after February 21, 1992, include in the
Registration Statement (to the extent permitted by applicable regulation), at
the sole expense of the Company, the Common Stock purchased by the holder or
purchasable by the holder upon the exercise of the


                                       -3-


<PAGE>   4



Warrant to the extent requested by the holder hereof. The holder shall be
responsible for payment of the fees of such holder's counsel and the payment of
commissions relating to the shares of Common Stock purchased by the holder and
sold pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company need not include the Common Stock so purchased or purchasable in any
such Registration Statement if the underwriter with respect to such proposed
public offering determines, and has a reasonable basis for determining, that
such inclusion would be inadvisable or detrimental to the success of that
offering. If the Registration Statement filed pursuant to such twenty (20) day
notice has not become effective within six months following the date such notice
is given to the holder hereof, the Company must again notify such holder in the
manner provided above.

         The obligations of the Company to include the shares purchased or
purchasable under this Warrant in a Registration Statement pursuant to this
paragraph shall terminate if on the last day on which this Warrant may be
exercised the Company would not have been obligated to provide the holder hereof
with twenty (20) days notice as provided in this Section 5.

         6. REGISTRATION -- GENERAL PROVISIONS. In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of securities being issued by the Company, the Company
shall not be required to include any of the securities of the holder hereof in
such underwriting unless he or she accepts the reasonable terms of the
underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by
it. In the case of any registration initiated by the Company, the Company shall
have the right to designate the managing underwriter in any underwritten
offering. The Company will furnish the holder hereof with a reasonable number of
copies of any prospectus included in such filings and will amend or supplement
the same as required during the period of required use thereof, provided, that
the expenses of any amendment or supplement made or filed more than nine (9)
months after the effective date of the Registration Statement filed at the
request of any holder shall be paid by any such holder. The Company need not
maintain the effectiveness of any Registration Statement filed by the Company
more than nine (9) months following the effective date thereof.

         In the case of filing of any Registration Statement, and to the extent
permissible under the Securities Act of 1933 and controlling precedent
thereunder, the holder hereof shall enter into cross indemnification agreements
with the Company and, if requested and applicable, the Underwriter(s) named in
such Registration Statement, in customary scope covering the accuracy and
completeness of the information furnished by each.

         The holder of the Warrant agrees to cooperate with the Company in the
preparation and filing of any such Registration Statement or in its efforts to
establish that the proposed sale is exempt under the Securities Act as to any
proposed distribution.

         7. NOTICES. The Company shall mail to the registered holder of the
Warrant, at his or her last post office address appearing on the books of the
Company, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which (a) a record
will be taken for the purpose of determining the holders of Common Stock
entitled to dividends (other than cash dividends) or subscription


                                       -4-


<PAGE>   5



rights, or (b) a record will be taken (or in lieu thereof, the transfer books
will be closed) for the purpose of determining the holders of Common Stock
entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders at which any
capital reorganization, reclassification of shares of Common Stock,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale of
substantially all of the Company's assets shall be considered and acted upon.

         Notwithstanding such notice requirements, until exercise and payment
therefor, any holder hereof shall not be deemed a shareholder of the Company
with respect to shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant.

         8. RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK. A number of shares of Common Stock
sufficient to provide for the exercise of the Warrant upon the basis herein set
forth shall at all times be reserved for the exercise thereof.

         9. MISCELLANEOUS. Whenever reference is made herein to the issue or
sale of shares of Common Stock, the term "Common Stock" shall include any stock
of any class of the Company other than preferred stock with a fixed limit on
dividends and a fixed amount payable in the event of any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

         The Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or
through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or
by any other voluntary act or deed, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or
performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions to be observed
or performed hereunder by the Company, but will, at all times in good faith,
assist, insofar as it is able, in the carrying out of all provisions hereof and
in the taking of all other action which may be necessary in order to protect the
rights of the holder hereof against dilution.

         The representations, warranties and agreements herein contained shall
survive the exercise of this Warrant. References to the "holder of" include the
immediate holder of shares purchased on the exercise of this Warrant and the
holder of any new warrants issued pursuant to Section 1 upon the purchase of
less than all of the Common Stock purchasable under this Warrant, and the word
"holder" shall include the plural thereof.

         All shares of Common Stock or other securities issued upon the exercise
of this Warrant shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the
Company will pay all taxes in respect of the issue thereof.

                                * * * * * * * * *






                                       -5-


<PAGE>   6




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant has been duly executed by Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., this 30th day of December, 1994.

                                    PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION, INC.

                                    By: ____________________________________
                                        President





                                       -6-


<PAGE>   7




                                  EXERCISE FORM
                  (TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANT)

To Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.:

         The undersigned, the holder of the within warrant, hereby irrevocably
elects to exercise the purchase right represented by such warrant for, and to
purchase thereunder *________________ shares of the Common Stock of Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., and herewith makes payment of $______ therefor, and
requests that the certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
______________, and be delivered to _______________________, whose address is
_____________________________________________ .


Dated:_______________               ____________________________________________
                                    (Signature must conform in all respects to 
                                    the name of holder as specified on the face 
                                    of the warrant)


                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Address)



                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (City - State - Zip)


*Insert here all or such portion of the number of shares called for on the face
of the within warrant in 100 or more share increments with respect to which the
holder desires to exercise the purchase right represented thereby, without
adjustment for any other or additional stock, other securities, property or cash
which may be deliverable on such exercise.





                                       -7-


<PAGE>   8



                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM
                (TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON TRANSFER OF THE WARRANT)


         For value received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto _______________________ the right represented by the within warrant to
purchase _________________ of the shares of Common Stock of Precision Optics
Corporation, Inc. to which the within warrant relates and appoints
_____________________ attorney to transfer said right on the books of Precision
Optics Corporation, Inc., with full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:_______________               ____________________________________________
                                    (Signature must conform in all respects to 
                                    the name of holder as specified on the face 
                                    of the warrant)


                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Address)



                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (City - State - Zip)

In the presence of:



_____________________________




                                       -8-






<PAGE>   1



                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
<TABLE>
<S>                         <C>                                <C> 
                                      ROPES & GRAY                     
                                ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE                ONE FRANKLIN SQUARE
                            BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110-2624           1301 K STREET, N.W.     
30 KENNEDY PLAZA                    (617) 951-7000                          SUITE 800 EAST
PROVIDENCE, RI 02903-2328         FAX: (617) 951-7050          WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3333          
(401) 455-4400                                                              (202) 626-3900
FAX: (401) 455-4401                                                    FAX: (202) 626-3961

</TABLE>



                                             October 26, 1998




Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.
22 East Broadway
Gardner, MA 01440

         Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-3
               ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This opinion is being furnished to you in connection with a
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
for the registration of 1,086,900 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, $.01
par value, of Precision Optics Corporation, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation
(the "Company").

         We have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement, the issuance and sale of certain of
the Shares and the issuance of warrants (the "Warrants") exercisable for the
balance of the Shares. For purposes of this opinion, we have examined and relied
upon such documents, records, certificates and other instruments as we have
deemed necessary.

         We express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with or
effect of Federal law or the law of any jurisdiction other than The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares that have
been issued and sold as of the date of this letter are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and that the Shares that are issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and, if and when any such
Shares are issued and the Company has received the exercise price therefor in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant, such Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


<PAGE>   2
ROPES & GRAY

Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.    -2-                       October 26, 1998

         We hereby consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein and in the related
prospectus under the caption "Legal Matters".

         It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection
with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in
effect.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Ropes & Gray

                                    Ropes & Gray


<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by 
reference in this registration statement of our reports dated July 23, 1998 
included in Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.'s Form 10-KSB for the year ended 
June 30, 1998 and to all references to our Firm included in this registration 
statement.




                                             Arthur Andersen LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
October 29, 1998






<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                       2,060,146
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  486,070
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    949,993
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,686,079
<PP&E>                                       3,471,589
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,318,380
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,127,478
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          811,766
<BONDS>                                        208,684
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        66,186
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,040,842
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,127,478
<SALES>                                      4,053,052
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,053,052
<CGS>                                        3,595,756
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,595,756
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             2,606,079
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              26,254
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (1,947,489)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    13,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (1,960,789)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (1,960,789)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.32)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.32)
        

</TABLE>


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