-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MASx2ZCfzHNA0cY7frArddN7Rt4LwTQGxU79fsVwh6AQFBnm2Q0yfsYe5+3m3GBD
 3JSxfeqNIhx7q59cIsB2yQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-010272.txt : 20040512
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-010272.hdr.sgml : 20040512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040512152406
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-010272
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040512

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRIED ELIOT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230156

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16182
		FILM NUMBER:		04799227

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		37 WEST 12TH STREET APT 11G
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10011

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000206030
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS & LENSES [3827]
		IRS NUMBER:				111962029
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
		CITY:			ROCKY HILL
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018711500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
		CITY:			ROCKY HILL
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06067

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VERNITRON CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000206030</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXYS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230156</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRIED ELIOT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>175 CAPITAL BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKY HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options - right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.960</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1671</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1671</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23309</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable as to 334 shares on the first anniversary and subsequent three anniversaries of the date of the grant, and an additional 335 shares on the fifth anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David A. Almeida, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>exhibit24-fried.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
For Executing Forms 3, 4 and 5


	KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Stephen W. Bershad and David A.
Almeida, signing singly, as a true and lawful attorney in fact
for the undersigned and until such authority is specifically
revoked to:

1	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned Forms 3,
4 and 5, or other comparable or replacement Forms, in
accordance with Section 16a of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

2	perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete the execution of any such Form 3, 4 or 5, or
amendments thereto, or other comparable or
replacement Forms under Section 16(a), and the timely
filing of such Form with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and any other required
authority; and

3	take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion
of such attorney in fact, may be of benefit to, in
the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents
executed by such attorney in fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this instrument shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as such attorney in fact may approve.

	The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney in fact
full power and authority to perform all and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary and proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if
personally present, with full power of substitution or
revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney in fact, or any substitute or substitutes, shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys in fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are
not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
instrument to be executed as of this 4th day of March 2003.

s Eliot M. Fried
Signature

Eliot M. Fried
	      Print Name

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
