I discuss the strategy of search for optical transients of different kinds (first of all accompanying gamma-ray bursts) by means of continuous monitoring of wide sky fields with high temporal resolution. I describe the design and performance of our instruments, FAVOR and TORTORA, and some results of their using. The perspectives of this strategy and possible design of next-generation equipment for wide-field monitoring are discussed. New multichannel systems will give possibilty to search for optical transients in the monitoring and to find their spectral and polarimetric parameters in short time after detection.