A negative film carrier for driving a negative film in a longitudinal direction of the negative film to convey the film to a printing position, is provided with a bar code reading mechanism. In the mechanism a light emitting element on one for illuminating the bar code is disposed to face one side surface of the film, and a light receiving element is disposed to face the other side surface thereof. These elements are mutually separated when the film is inserted between them in the widthwise direction of the film at the printing position. At the time of film transporting condition these elements are linked together to unitedly move and follow the edge of the film so as to accurately coincide with the bar code.