A method is provided for characterizing manufacturing variations in a camera and imperfections in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. In one embodiment, a method for characterizing a camera includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting parameter values of a model for the image provided on the image sensor from the multiple images; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The objects in the field of view may have a predetermined color, contrast or pattern. In one instance, the controlled condition includes an external light source for illuminating the field of view, and the image sensor is sensitive to a plurality of color components. The field of view may be illuminated at a predetermined light intensity for each of the color components. The camera may include an archival memory for storing the images taken. Alternatively, the camera may include a transmitter for sending images taken to an external depository. The camera may also be associated with an identification, and the transmitter sends the images together with the identification to identify the images sent.