An apparatus for automatically assessing the quality of a printed circuit board assembly using digitized video image analysis. The plurality of light detecting elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein a flat field picture generated by the image sensor, the intensity standard deviation of pixels in each pixel column is greater than that of pixels in any pixel row, or the intensity standard deviation of pixels in each pixel row is greater than that of pixels of any pixel column. The second electrically conductive plate comprises an external electrical connection. The wire has a first end and a second end joined by a tensioning assembly.