An image detection system having a camera unit for detecting images of the outside area of a motor vehicle, and a protection element that can be moved from a closed position to an open position by a mechanism through a drive. At least one lens of the camera unit is located behind the protection element inaccessible from the outside when the protection element is located in the closed position. At least the lens is released by the protection element for image detection in the open position. At least the camera unit with the mechanism and the protection element is disposed in a first module and the drive is provided in a second module separate from the first module. The first and second modules are mechanically connected to one another by at least one actuation element so that the drive drives the mechanism by way of the actuation element.