Camera (FF1)
The Camera is the Camera Obscura used by Miku, and her brother Mafuyu, in Fatal Frame. It is the first Camera Obscura introduced in the series.
History of the Camera
Mikoto Munakata was given this camera by a girl in a white kimono soon after she came to live at Himuro Mansion. She then showed it to her parents, Ryozo and Yae. Yae took it and began taking pictures with it, but became scared of what the photos showed. When Mikoto suddenly vanished along with the camera, Yae killed herself, believing she was responsible for the disappearance of her daughter.
The camera was passed down through the family to Miyuki, Mikoto's daughter, who used it to help her husband with his archaeological studies. Many years later, she too began suffering from overuse of the camera like her grandmother Yae, and eventually hanged herself in the same way. Mafuyu kept the camera and took it with him when he set out for Himuro Mansion. When Miku entered the mansion, she found the camera lying in front of the mirror in the Rope Hallway.
After her battle with Kirie, the camera broke, revealing a piece of Holy Mirror inside. Soon afterwards, the cavern collapsed and Miku had to flee, presumably leaving the camera behind. In Fatal Frame V, Miku's daughter mentioned on seeing a Camera Obscura that her family once owned a similar device, but the camera itself was gone, and only the case was left.
Owners
- White Kimono
- Ryozo Munakata
- Yae Munakata
- Mikoto Munakata
- Miyuki Hinasaki
- Mafuyu Hinasaki
- Miku Hinasaki
Deaths from Overexposure?
Related Notes
Upgrading & Equipment
Upgrading
The camera's performance, divided into Range, Speed and Max Value, can be upgraded from the Camera menu, using points accumulated through photographing and defeating ghosts. The camera's functions are divided in bonus or auxillary functions and special functions. Auxillary functions become available after a certain point early in the game and can be unlocked with points. Special function need to be obtained first by meeting certain requirements, and can then be unlocked with points. Only one auxillary function and one special function can be active at any time, in contrast with later games.
Films
The films available for use with this camera are: Type-14, Type-37, Type-74, Type-90 (gold version).
Bonus Functions
Pressure - Pushes ghosts back.
Slow - Slows down ghosts' movement for a limited duration.
See - Make ghosts more visible for a limited duration.
Paralyze - Stop movements of ghosts for a certain duration.
Search - Search for locations of ghosts and tracks them automatically.
Special Functions
Sense - Enables radar to gauge out the direction of ghosts. This function is unlocked by completing Mission Mode.
Chase - Automatically chase after ghosts when you press R2. This function is unlocked by completing Mission Mode with all S ranks.
Zoom - Enhance zoom (L2/R2 buttons) functions. This function is unlocked by completing the game once.
None - Ability to take shots without using up film.
Zero - Always have full spirit energy. This function is unlocked by completing the spirit list.
Types of Shots
- Close Shot - Achieved by taking a shot of the ghost while very close to it.
- Core Shot - Achieved by taking a shot when the capture circle is lined up with the crosshairs.
- Zero Shot - Achieved by taking a shot when the capture circle turns orange/red.
- Double Shot - Obtained by shooting two ghosts at once.
- Triple Shot - Obtained by shooting three ghosts at once.
- Special Shot - Achieved by killing a ghost while obtaining any other type of shot.
- Bind Shot - Obtained by taking a shot after using the aux. function Paralyze.
- Find Shot - Obtained by taking a shot after using the aux. function See.
- Slow Shot - Obtained by taking a shot after using the aux. function Slow.
- Impact Shot - Obtained by taking a shot after using the aux. function Pressure.
Capture Circles
The Camera uses a simple system of blue and orange capture circles: blue for Vanishing and Stationary Ghosts and for normal shots against Hostile Ghosts, orange for when a Zero Shot can be achieved against Hostile Ghosts. On the screen is also a bar that shows the charge level, with the color of the characters dependand on the color of the capture circle. The initial starting charge value can be increased by equipping better film.
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Standard circle
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Blue circle
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Orange circle
Gameplay Tips
- You can reload up to 30 shots of Type-14 Film from the menu at a save point camera.
Misc Info
- This camera was never referred to as a Camera Obscura in the English translation; it wasn't until Fatal Frame II that the term began to be used. The Japanese name (射影機, shaeiki) has been the same throughout the series.
- The game does not say that this camera was created by Dr. Kunihiko Asou, but supplementary material for Fatal Frame II mentions that Asou went missing after planning to visit Himuro Mansion.[1]
- Although this camera is supposedly the most advanced, complete version of the Camera Obscura, it also seems to be the least stable. Not only has it caused more known cases of Overexposure than any other camera in the series, it also breaks spontaneously after the battle with Kirie.
- Films were changed and altered after this version of the game, with Type-07 introduced as the weakest kind, Type-61 replacing Type-37, the red Type-90 replacing Type-74, and Type Zero replacing the gold Type-90.