Abstract: A device for taking aerial motion pictures, includes a camera (3) disposed at the upper end of a vertical periscopic tube (2) whose lower end (1) projects below a carrying airplane. An optical device is provided, adapted to effect vertical sweeping by pivoting about a horizontal axis. The periscopic tube (2) can pivot about its vertical axis and the camera (3) can pivot coaxially relative to the periscopic tube (2). The periscopic tube (2) is carried by a first turning plate (41) mounted rotatably on a fixed plate (40) and driven in rotation by a motor (43), whilst the camera (3) is carried by a second turning plate (51) mounted for rotation on a second fixed plate (50) and driven in rotation by a second motor (53).