A real‐time schlieren system is described that incorporates a video imaging system to permit quantitative data to be obtained as to relative sound pressure distribution and wave front shape of ultrasonic waves. For 2.5‐MHz sound, system jitter is less than a tenth of a wavelength, field of view is 125 mm, and position can be measured to 25 &mgr;m. To illustrate the capabilities of this system, a study of 1‐&mgr;s‐duration sound pulses in water reflecting off a metal surface at different angles of incidence was performed on the system. Rayleigh waves 3° removed from the Rayleigh angle were observed. At the Rayleigh angle, a null is observed in the reflected beam.