The disclosed devices can ascertain attributes of sample materials. For example, a portable device can include a chamber that forms a reference environment for a camera device to capture an image of a sample material in an interior of the chamber. The portable device can include an opening to the interior of the chamber and a stage configured to position the sample material on a surface area and at a distance from the camera device. As such, the camera device can capture the image of the sample material at a resolution that enables ascertaining an attribute of the sample material based on a detectable physical characteristic of the sample material. The detectable physical characteristic of the sample material includes a color, size, shape, or texture.