Abstract: The invention relates to a method of photodetection for a panoramic camera and to a system for implementation of such a method. A panoramic camera can incorporate a photodetector system of the charge transfer type, an optical system for focusing on a sector of the field of observation and a mechanical rotational drive system for the support having a vertical axis of the assembly. The camera incorporates a photodetection system including at least one module constituted by contiguous arrays (b.sub.1 to b.sub.n) arranged vertically, structure permitting the integration of the charges in synchronism with the rotation of the support, structure for varying the number of activated arrays and for comparing the luminance levels received successively by the elementary cells of the various arrays situated at the same height. The invention also applies to target seeking and to the rapid detection of false alarms due to noise peaks.