A camera display device includes a display unit which is selectively illuminated during camera operation. The display unit displays information to the photographer such as photometry and rangefinding information. A mode selector switch selects a camera operating mode from a plurality of operating modes and a camera instruction unit outputs an illumination instruction to an illumination light to thereby illuminate the display unit. A timer determines a time period for illumination of the display unit while a control unit continues the illumination of the display unit during a predetermined continuation time period in response to the illumination instruction from the camera instruction unit. The control unit also continues the illumination of the display unit until an end of the camera operating mode selected by the mode selector switch. The operating mode selected by the mode selector switch includes a long exposure mode which continues an exposure longer than the predetermined time of the illumination continuation unit, a bulb exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from the receipt of a signal from a camera release member, and a time exposure mode which continues an exposure for a predetermined period of time beginning from the receipt of a signal from the camera release member.