Abstract: The output of a test light of a densitometer is divided into a test beam and a reference beam. The test beam is caused to traverse film samples, and impinge on a detector that produces a signal responsive to the intensity of the received light. A second detector is arranged to receive the reference beam, which does not traverse the film sample. A measuring system is responsive to the output of the first detector, and utilizes the output of the second detector to compensate for variations in the intensity of the test light.