Abstract: Many problems are encountered in photographing or photocopying bound books using current techniques. This is especially true during microfilming old and valuable books. These problems arise partially from the requirement to avoid straining the book to be photographed, especially the spine of the book, and partially from the manner in which the inner page portions are distorted when presented for photographing. A microfilm device of simple construction, which is also simple to operate, to overcome these problems, has a book cradle which can be tilted through at least a 90.degree. arc. The support walls of the book cradle stand perpendicular to one another to support the book cover thereby defining two sides of a work space.