A system for filtering light using a spectrometer enhanced with spectral filters using an array of independent photodetectors to measure the fluorescent or scattered light signal. A system comprising a light source, an illuminated sample, a light spectrum device, a collimator lens, a plurality of spectral filters each having a varying and selected light transmission spectrum and a plurality of photodetectors wherein each photodetector is oriented to a spectral filter. A scanning cytometer for measuring fluorescence and light scattering from an illuminated portion of the sample comprising a first light source, a scanner scanning in two axes, a fluorescence detector, an objective lens, an optically translucent medium through which a sample may be illuminated and a confocal apparatus positioned distally from the light source and sample and through which light signals from the sample are transmitted to a fluorescence detector.