Optical system for an agricultural machine

An optical system for an agricultural machine (2), with an optical element (3), in particular a camera (3), to receive and/or send light through an aperture (4), wherein a shield arrangement (5) is provided to mechanically protect the optical element (3) against external critical conditions impairing its operation, wherein the optical system (1) may be brought into a shield configuration, in which the aperture (4) of the optical element (3) is mechanically protected by the shield arrangement (5), wherein the optical system 1 may be brought into an unshield configuration, in which the aperture (4) is free of the shield arrangement (5), wherein an actuator (6) is provided for switching the optical system (1) between the unshield configuration and the shield configuration and wherein a shield control (7) is provided to switch the optical system (1) via the actuator (6) based on at least one predetermined trigger event.