---
title: camera
framework: mapkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: mapkit/mkmapview/camera
---

# camera

The camera to use for determining the appearance of the map.

## Declaration

```swift
@NSCopying var camera: MKMapCamera { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion A camera object defines a point above the map’s surface from which to view the map. Applying a camera to a map can have the effect of giving the map a 3D-like appearance. You can use a camera to rotate the map so that it orients to match the user’s heading or to apply a pitch angle to tilt the plane of the map. You can check the map’s isPitchEnabled property to determine whether the map can use pitch. Assigning a new camera to this property updates the map immediately and without animating the change. If you want to animate changes in camera position, use the setCamera(_:animated:) method instead. Don’t set this property to nil. To restore the map to a flat appearance, apply a camera with a pitch angle of 0, which yields a camera looking straight down onto the map surface.

## See Also

### Configuring the map display

- [setCamera(_:animated:)](mapkit/mkmapview/setcamera(_:animated:).md)
- [showsCompass](mapkit/mkmapview/showscompass.md)
- [showsPitchControl](mapkit/mkmapview/showspitchcontrol.md)
- [showsScale](mapkit/mkmapview/showsscale.md)
- [showsZoomControls](mapkit/mkmapview/showszoomcontrols.md)
- [showsBuildings](mapkit/mkmapview/showsbuildings.md)
- [showsPointsOfInterest](mapkit/mkmapview/showspointsofinterest.md)
- [pointOfInterestFilter](mapkit/mkmapview/pointofinterestfilter.md)
- [showsTraffic](mapkit/mkmapview/showstraffic.md)