Abstract: Article surface defect detection methods and closed-circuit video systems for use therewith are disclosed for discriminating between different types of light-reflective surface areas on articles. Such methods and systems are particularly adapted to ascertain the presence and absence of, as well as condition of, circuit paths and satisfactory versus unsatisfactory soldered connections on printed circuit boards. In order to optimize the contrast between such two-dimensional and three-dimensional light-reflective surface areas, a specially oriented and polarized screen is interposed between the light source and article surface to be examined, and a rotatably adjustable polarized filter is preferably mounted on the camera, with the axis of the lens system thereof being oriented substantially perpendicularly to both the polarized light rays and the exposed article surface to be examined.