The disclosure relates to an electronic document detector particularly adapted for but not limited to use in a document recording system. The document detector comprises a light source, a current source which includes a light sensitive element spaced from the light source and arranged for receiving at least a portion of the light output of the light source for providing a current having a magnitude directly related to the amount of light received by the element, wherein the space between the light source and the light sensitive element defines a path in which documents to be detected traverse. As each document traverses the path, the light sensitive element is shielded from the light source. A current sink coupled to the current source has an input and an output for providing at its output an intermediate control voltage having a magnitude related to the magnitude of the current provided by the current source and within a first range below a given level and within a second range above the given level. A voltage detector coupled to the output of the current sink provides a document indicative signal when the intermediate control voltage falls below the given level into the first range. An intermediate control voltage restoring means coupled between the current sink output and the current sink input restores the intermediate control voltage to a predetermined level within the second range after each document traverses the path.