An apparatus for electronically obtaining and interpreting the closely focused digital image of a substance has a housing, a light generation source, an optical sensor, an electronic control/input/processing/storage/output unit a display, an optional printer and optional data output ports. The electronic control/input/processing/storage/output unit controls the light generation source, which generates light, which light diffused through and over the substance and is sensed and converted to electrical impulses by the optical sensor array, which collective electrical impulses represent the closely-focused digital image of the substance, which digital image can be interpreted to report the relative quality of the substance.