A method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting buttons and the like. The buttons to be inspected are fed to a velocity control system which imparts a uniform velocity to each button and propels it between a light source and detector. The light from the source is controlled by a mask to limit the light to the central zone of the button. The amount of light which passes through the central zone of the button is then converted to an electrical signal by the detector electronics. The electrical signal is then compared to pre-set upper and lower limits. If the signal falls within the pre-set limits, an accept signal is generated which is used to control a reject mechanism for automatic separation of buttons for collection and use.