A spectrophotometer comprising means for producing electrical signals Er and Es corresponding to reference and measuring beams, respectively; means for multiplying the value Es by a factor k to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the value kEs; means for controlling said signal producing means so as to keep the value (Er + kEs) constant; and means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the value (Er - kEs), whereby minute changes of the absorbance of a sample can be accurately measured without logarithmic conversion.