1. An optical device for obtaining still photographs or for exposing cinematic film. It consists of a light-proof box with a lens at one end and a plate or film at the other. To make an exposure the shutter is opened and an image of the object to be photographed is formed on the light-sensitive film. The length of the exposure is determined by the intensity of light available, the film speed, and the aperture of the lens. In the simpler cameras the shutter speed and aperture are controlled manually, but in automatic cameras the iris over the lens or the shutter is adjusted on the basis of information provided by a built-in exposure meter. In ciné cameras the shutter automatically opens as the film comes to rest behind the lens for each frame; the film passes through the camera so that a set number (commonly 16, 18, or 24) of frames are exposed every second.

2. A similar device (a digital camera) in which the film is replaced by a semiconductor array, which records the picture and stores it within the camera in a (usually) replaceable memory module. Moving pictures can be similarly recorded using a video camera. Digital cameras were first used in astronomy because of the high quality of images they produce.

3. The part of a television system that converts optical images into electronic signals. It consists of a lens system, which focuses the image to be televised on the photosensitive mosaic of the camera tube, causing localized discharge of those of its elements that are illuminated. This mosaic is scanned from behind by an electron beam so that the beam current is varied as it passes over areas of light and shade. The signal so picked up by the scanning beam is preamplified in the camera and passed to the transmitter with sound and synchronization signals. In colour television three separate camera tubes are used, one for each primary colour.