A camera device for a motor vehicle includes an image sensor to provide a raw image (R) of an environment of the camera device. Additionally, an image processing device generates an output image (I) from the raw image (R) by means of a spreading function of a histogram spreading. The spreading function generates from a respective input pixel value (Li) of each pixel of the raw image (R) each one output pixel value (Lo) of a corresponding pixel of the output image (I). Furthermore, the histogram spreading may be adapted to the capturing situation. At least one parameter value (S, G) of the camera device depending on a brightness (B1, B2) of the environment is acquired and a limit value (L) for the output pixel values (Lo) is set in the spreading function depending on the at least one acquired parameter value (S, G).