Deep surveys with ISOCAM

Several surveys were performed during the lifetime of ISOCAM ranging from large and shallow surveys to narrow but very deep surveys including the Hubble Deep Field, other empty fields and galaxy clusters. I will first briefly review the underlying physics of the mid-infrared emission of galaxies (from 5 to 18 microns) and discuss its link to the far-infrared emission and the star formation rate. Then I will present the results of the surveys and discuss both their consequences on galaxy evolution and their limits.