The paper describes a recording microphotometer of compact design. The plate or film under investigation rests on a moving horizonatal stage driven by a governor-controlled clock-work motor and coupled to a recording drum. The optical system is vertical and emoloys a photronic cell connected directly to a taut-suspension reflecting galvanometer whose deflexions are recorded photographically on the revolving drum. In addition to its use in spectrophotometry the instrument has been employed for the measurement of X-ray diffraction negatives and as a recording densitometer in connexion with a survey of low illuminations by photographic photometry.