A miniature still camera wherein a brick-shaped main section of the housing supports and guides an L-shaped second section the longer leg of which is parallel to and located in front of the elongated front side of the main section and the shorter leg of which is parallel to a shorter second side of the main section. The second section is reciprocable between a first position in which its longer leg conceals a picture taking lens which is recessed into the front side of the main section and the shorter leg conceals a view finder in the main section, and a second position in which the lens and the view finder are exposed and the camera is ready to take pictures. The second section cocks the shutter and/or actuates the film transporting mechanism during movement between its first and second positions and is biased to its second position by a helical spring which reacts against a lug of the main section and bears against an eyelet of the second section. The lug and eyelet surround an elongated guide rod which is mounted in the second section adjacent to and in parallelism with the longer leg. The shorter leg of the second section has a tongue which extends into and is guided by a groove in the rear wall of the main section.