A rear view camera system for a motor vehicle includes a movable carrier assembly, a camera optical system, which is movable with the carrier assembly, and a drive unit coupled with the camera optical system. The camera optical system is pivoted in relation to the carrier assembly about an adjustable axis which is rotatably coupled with the drive unit and can be moved about the adjustable axis between a rest position and a recording position. These can be adjusted depending on the surrounding areas to be recorded. An eccentric component is coupled in movable fashion with the adjustable axis. A rotation of the eccentric component changes the distance between the adjustable axis and the support element so that the camera optical system can be moved to a recording position in which the camera optical system protrudes from the recess of the carrier assembly.