The invention relates to a method for processing film images which are deviated from the film-recording optical path of a moving picture camera and which are converted into digital assist signals (AS) with the aid of an image sensor which is arranged in the assist optical path (S4) of the moving picture camera which is periodically interrupted according to the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. Said assist signals are fed to a data processing device at an image frequency corresponding to the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. Said data processing device processes the assist images derived from the digital assist signal (AS) at the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera. In order to display the assist images at an assist frequency or the image-recording frequency of the moving picture camera, the data processing device transmits the digital assist signals (AS) to a digital storage device or transmits them to a monitor in order to display the assist images at a standardized image frequency, e.g. 24 images/sec. The camera assist device is adapted to the peculiarities of the moving picture camera and enables, in particular, representation of special effects such as slow motion and quick motion which are generated with the aid of a moving picture film.