In a device for capturing an image of the external area of a vehicle by means of a camera (20), there is a motor with a secondary transmission (40) which moves the camera (20) between a retracted position (10.1) and an extended position (10.2) relative to an aperture (51) in a vehicle wall (50). In order to realize a compact positioning of the camera in the retracted position, it is proposed to provide the sliding carriage with a sleeve-like cavity (11) which extends in the direction of movement (12) of the sliding carriage (10). The sliding carriage is therefore a sliding sleeve (10). The camera (20) is stored in a manner in which it can swivel (21) in the cavity (11) of the sliding sleeve (10), wherein the swivel axis (21) extends diagonal to its direction of movement (12). The camera (20) in its idle position is swivelled into the sleeve cavity, whereas in its operating position it projects at least partially through a side opening in the sleeve wall (16).