The invention of the camera cannot be attributed to a single inventor, as it developed over many years through the contributions of various individuals. However, the concept of capturing images dates back to the early 11th century with the work of Alhazen (Ibn al-Haytham), who described the principles of optics and the camera obscura.
The first true photograph was created in the early 19th century by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827, using a technique called heliography. He is often credited with creating the first successful permanent photograph.
Subsequently, Louis Daguerre developed the daguerreotype process in the 1830s, which significantly improved the quality and accessibility of photography, leading to wider adoption of the camera. Thus, while there isn't a single inventor of the camera, Niépce and Daguerre are two key figures in its history.