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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
 
                          METRIKA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                81 WYMAN STREET
                       WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02254-9046
 
                                                                October 21, 1997
 
Metrika Systems Corporation
5788 Pacific Center Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92121
 
Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-1 Relating to 967,828 Shares of
     the Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Metrika Systems Corporation
 
Dear Sirs:
 
     I am General Counsel to Metrika Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and have acted as counsel in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-1 (the "Registration
Statement"), of 967,828 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per
share (the "Shares"), which may from time to time be sold by certain
shareholders of the Company.
 
     I or a member of my staff have reviewed the corporate proceedings taken by
the Company with respect to the authorization of the issuance of the Shares. I
or a member of my staff have also examined and relied upon originals or copies,
certified or otherwise authenticated to my satisfaction, of all corporate
records, documents, agreements or other instruments of the Company, and have
made investigations of law and have discussed with the Company's representatives
questions of fact that I or a member of my staff have deemed necessary or
appropriate.
 
     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the
Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and are validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
 
     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, and to the use of my
name under the caption "Legal Opinion" in the prospectus constituting a part
thereof.
                                            Sincerely,
                                            /s/ Seth H. Hoogasian
 
                                            SETH H. HOOGASIAN
                                            General Counsel