The quest to measure chemical or isotopic compositions of smaller amounts of matter is usually precipitated by either of two desires: to investigate samples which were previously too small to analyze, or to look in greater detail at potentially interesting material. Studies concerned with the natural abundance variations of stable carbon isotopes (**1**2C and **1**3C) are subject to such demands. The stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry is described in some detail, together with modifications and static mass spectrometry.