An example optical computing device includes an integrated computational element (ICE) core arranged within an optical train that optically interacts with electromagnetic radiation and a substance, the ICE core being further configured to operate in a optical region of interest corresponding to a characteristic of the substance, a first bandpass filter arranged in the optical train and configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation across a first wavelength zone within the optical region of interest, a second bandpass filter arranged in the optical train and configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation across a second wavelength zone within the optical region of interest, and a detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation that has optically interacted with the substance and the ICE core and configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the substance.