Item from The Gods are Bastards by D.D. Webb
The magical camera — an enchanted device that captures images through arcane light manipulation, documenting a world in transition.
Lightcappers are among the newer magical technologies — affordable enough for newspapers and wealthy individuals but not yet ubiquitous. They capture images through arcane light manipulation, producing pictures with a slightly luminous quality that photography can't replicate. They represent the everyday side of the world's magical-industrial transition — a practical tool that uses enchantment to solve a mundane problem. The fact that they exist says as much about this world as the gods and dragons: magic here isn't just for heroes, it's for documentation.
A boxy device of polished wood and brass with a crystal lens array at the front. Resembles an early camera but with arcane components replacing the photographic mechanism — enchanted crystals instead of film, runic controls instead of mechanical shutters. Produces images on treated paper or crystal slides.
Also known as: Lightcapper, Magical Camera