The first mention and discovery of the principles behind the pinhole camera , a precursor to the camera obscura , belong to Mozi ( 470 BC to 390 BC ) , a Chinese philosopher and founder of Mohism . The first mention of the principles behind the pinhole camera , a precursor to the camera obscura , belongs to Mo-Ti ( 470 BCE to 390 BCE ) , a Chinese philosopher and the founder of Mohism .