I know at LHR it is strictly forbidden to take a camera through security for personal use. Having said that, I have taken a camera through staff search points countless times and have never been stopped about it. Even in a random check the security guard took the camera out of my jacket along with some other staff and then just said "thanks very much" and I was off again, wasn't interested in the slightest.
Plus remember most mobile phones hae a camera so it would be interesting to see a policy from airport operators about that one!