To implement the single or batch calibrations of mapping cameras, a calibration method to find the inner orientation elements of the camera by star points was presented. The principles and calculation steps of the method were introduced, and the experimental process was described in detail. The method was based on a hole imaging and it established a relationship between celestial coordinate and pixel coordinate by the conversions of different coordinate frames to obtain the inner orientation elements. In comparison to the precision angle measurement method based on the collimator and precision rotating platform, this method greatly simplifies the calibration steps and requires no expensive experimental equipment. Finally, the calibration precision was analyzed, and the effects of noise disturbance and known errors of inner orientation elements on calibration results were discussed. Obtained results indicate that the principal point precision and principal distant precision are better than 3 μm(1/3 pixel) and 7 μm(1 pixle),respectively,which meets the requirement of calibration precision.