A camera is usable to observe a switched position of a switch contact of a switchgear apparatus. In an embodiment, the camera includes a light source to illuminate the switch contact, an image sensor, and a lens to focus light beams emanating from the switch contact onto the image sensor. In an embodiment, the camera additionally includes an elastic light protection cap to seal off a beam path, from the lens to the image sensor, from the light source in a lightproof manner.