Abstract: An apparatus for handling and automatically positioning film samples such that individual film samples can be retrieved from a magazine and moved precisely to a position where a subsequent operation can be performed such as the reading thereof by a densitometer. Individual samples are acquired from the magazine by means of a vacuum pad supported on a rotatable arm. Once acquired, the sample is repositioned in a horizontal plane through rotation of the arm. A second arm is moved into position such that clamping jaws grasp one end of the sample. Once the sample has been grasped by the clamping jaws, the sample is released from the vacuum pad. The second arm which is rotatable in a horizontal plane is mounted on a linear slide such that through operation of the linear slide and rotation of the arm, the acquired film sample can be automatically and precisely positioned through computer control thereof.