Camera system with a zoom lens and a linear encoder

The system (1) has a sensor module (50) arranged downstream of a tube-like guide system and comprising an optical sensor for detecting an optical radiation. A carriage (20) comprises an optical assembly that comprises optical elements e.g. lenses and lens groups. A drive system (60) moves the carriage along an optical axis. The carriage comprises a position transmitter element (21). A scanning sensor (71) detects the transmitter element such that a position-dependent scanning signal linked to a linear position of the carriage is generated to derive the linear position of the carriage. The optical sensor is designed as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, a charger coupled device (CCD) sensor or a pixel array sensor.