A self-contained wireless camera (10) and a wireless camera system (25) having such a device and a base station (20). Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry (200, 210) of the camera device receives video signals from a camera (130) and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver (101) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor (140). The base station device (20) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices. Different transport protocol modules 230 and 240 can be selected according to the application that the user selects for operation.