An analytical instrument may have multiple distinct channels. Such may include one or more illumination sources and sensors. Illumination may be delivered to specific locations of a specimen holder, and returned illumination may be delivered to specific locations of a sensor array. Illumination may first pass a specimen, and a mirror or reflector may then return the illumination past the specimen. Optical splitters may be employed to couple pairs of fiber optics proximate a specimen holder. Such channels may further include a plurality of illumination sources positioned on one side of a specimen holder and a plurality of sensors on the other side. The plurality of sensor may capture image of a specimen and a spectrophotometer may concurrently scan the specimen. A plurality of specimens may be imaged and scanned in a single pass of a plurality of passes. Spherical or ball lenses may be placed in an optical path of the illumination to achieve a desired illumination pattern.