WestLicht shows a permanent exhibition of outstanding cameras. Included are exhibits such as underwater, toy, umbrella handle and carrier pigeon cameras, KGB spy cameras in cigarette packs and one of the 30 modified Hasselblad cameras that were carried into outer space onboard the Apollo moon mission. There are also temporary exhibitions on artistic photography. The highlight each year is the "World Press Photo" show with the world's best press pictures.

In June 2012, the OstLicht Gallery was opened in the tenth district in the new cultural area of the former Ankerbrot factory. On 800 m² of historic industrial architecture, temporary group and individual exhibitions of contemporary photo art are shown. Also offered are a freely accessible library of 20,000 books and magazines, a bookshop and a bar.