In a method for optoelectronically inspecting pharmaceutical capsules (2) in a capsule filling machine (1), the pharmaceutical capsules (2) are fed in single file from a station (3) where the capsules (2) are made to a capsule (2) outfeed portion (8) of the machine (1) along a defined feed path (P) passing through an inspection station (13). In the inspection station (13), each pharmaceutical capsule (2) passes through an electromagnetic field created by coherent, polarised light radiation.