diff --git a/tests/test_cameras.py b/tests/test_cameras.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f498d082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_cameras.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+"""Generic tests for cameras, specific camera hardware reqipres hardware specific tests."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera import BaseCamera
+from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera.simulation import SimulatedCamera
+from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera.opencv import OpenCVCamera
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_picam_thing(mocker):
+    """Import PiCamera without hardware well enough to get a ThingDescription."""
+    dummy_cam = mocker.Mock()
+    mock_picamera2 = mocker.MagicMock()
+    mock_picamera2.return_value.__enter__.return_value = dummy_cam
+    mock_picamera2.return_value.__exit__.return_value = None
+
+    mocker.patch.dict(
+        "sys.modules",
+        {
+            "picamera2": mock_picamera2,
+            "picamera2.encoders": mocker.Mock(),
+            "picamera2.outputs": mocker.Mock(),
+        },
+    )
+    mocker.patch(
+        "openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera.picamera.recalibrate_utils.load_default_tuning",
+        return_value={"mock": "tuning"},
+    )
+    from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera.picamera import StreamingPiCamera2
+
+    return StreamingPiCamera2()
+
+
+def _get_clean_camera_description(camera_thing):
+    """Return actions and properties for a camera Thing, separating those exposed to the UI.
+
+    Return cleaned sets of actions and properties for camera_thing, excluding
+    calibration actions exposed to the UI as primary or secondary calibration actions,
+    and excluding the properties exposed in manual camera settings.
+
+    :returns: Dict with keys:
+
+        * "actions" - Actions not explicitly exposed to the UI by this camera.
+        * "properties" - Properties not explicitly exposed to the UI as manual camera
+            settings.
+        * "calibration_actions" - Actions explicitly exposed to the UI by this camera.
+        * "manual_properties" - Properties explicitly exposed to the UI as manual
+            camera settings.
+    """
+    camera_thing.path = "/mock/"
+
+    td = camera_thing.thing_description()
+    actions = set(td.actions.keys())
+    properties = set(td.properties.keys())
+
+    # Calibration actions are camera specific
+    primary = [btn.action for btn in camera_thing.primary_calibration_actions]
+    secondary = [btn.action for btn in camera_thing.secondary_calibration_actions]
+    calibration_actions = set(primary + secondary)
+
+    actions -= calibration_actions
+
+    # Manual properties are also camera specific
+    manual_props = {ctrl.property_name for ctrl in camera_thing.manual_camera_settings}
+    properties -= manual_props
+
+    return {
+        "actions": actions,
+        "properties": properties,
+        "calibration_actions": calibration_actions,
+        "manual_properties": manual_props,
+    }
+
+
+def test_thing_description_equivalence(mock_picam_thing):
+    """Ensure extra actions and properties are not added to camera Things without explicit approval.
+
+    This test verifies that extra actions are not unintentionally introduced to
+    camera child classes. Any addition of actions must be accompanied by an update
+    to this test, prompting review and justification for why the action does not
+    belong to the general base class.
+    """
+    base_td = BaseCamera().thing_description()
+    base_actions = set(base_td.actions.keys())
+    base_props = set(base_td.properties.keys())
+
+    sim_description = _get_clean_camera_description(SimulatedCamera())
+    opencv_description = _get_clean_camera_description(OpenCVCamera())
+    picamera_description = _get_clean_camera_description(mock_picam_thing)
+
+    # Note. These are the actions and properties that are not exposed to the UI via
+    # `primary_calibration_actions`, `secondary_calibration_actions`, or
+    # `manual_camera_settings`.
+    sim_actions = sim_description["actions"]
+    sim_props = sim_description["properties"]
+
+    opencv_actions = opencv_description["actions"]
+    opencv_props = opencv_description["properties"]
+
+    picamera_actions = picamera_description["actions"]
+    picamera_props = picamera_description["properties"]
+
+    # Camera actions and properties should generally be equivalent except for exposed
+    # manual settings and calibration actions.
+    assert opencv_actions == sim_actions == base_actions
+    assert opencv_props == sim_props == base_props
+
+    # For now PiCamera has a number of extra actions and properties. These should be
+    # reduced over time by creating a way to use the functionality in a way as clearly
+    # defined as PiCamera specific, or by replicating the functionality for other
+    # cameras.
+    picamera_extra_actions = {
+        "flat_lens_shading_chrominance",
+        "set_static_green_equalisation",
+        "stop_streaming",
+        "reset_ccm",
+    }
+    picamera_extra_props = {
+        "mjpeg_bitrate",
+        "colour_correction_matrix",
+        "lens_shading_tables",
+        "sensor_resolution",
+        "lens_shading_is_static",
+        "capture_metadata",
+        "camera_configuration",
+        "stream_resolution",
+        "tuning",
+        "sensor_modes",
+        "sensor_mode",
+    }
+    assert picamera_actions - base_actions == picamera_extra_actions
+    assert picamera_props - base_props == picamera_extra_props