PURPOSE: To make the movement time of an X-ray film from a stand-by position to a photography position constant and to facilitate an adjustment of photographic timing, by selecting speed characteristics according to the movement distance of the X-ray film and controlling the driving of a cassette holder on the basis of the speed characteristics.

CONSTITUTION: The X-ray film 13a is held detachably in the cassette holder 13 and movable between the stand-by position and photography position through a timing belt. For the split photography of the X-ray film 13a, an operator inputs information on the movement distance, i.e. photographic format (entire surface, two division, etc.) and which divided frame is to be exposed to an input part 12 firstly, and then the movement distance is calculated on the basis of the movement distance information; and a drive control part 11 controls the speed characteristics of a stepping motor 17 to hold the movement time constant regardless of difference in the movement distance of the X-ray film from the stand-by position to the photography position.