In order to underpin fundamental considerations on the advantages and disadvantages of various gastro-photographic set-ups, the efficiency of three standard-type factory-new intra-and extragastric cameras (GTPA, GTFC, GFBK) was examined in comparative experiments and then compared in their information yield with direct observation via the gastroscope (GFBK).Only direct observation through the gastroscope made possible an optimal recognition of details and structure. In the field of photographic documentation, the pictures obtained with the aid of the extragastric camera via the gastroscope permits the greatest recognition of details. The best recognition of structure elements, on the other hand, is achieved with the pictures delivered by the gastrocamera with fibrescope (GTFC), while the information yield of the "blind" gastrocamera (GTPA) was lowest.