Camera

Capturing a ghost is a simple matter of photographing it until it dissipates. With film being in limited supply, it is good to know that the power of a shot may be increased to deal more damage by focusing on the target for a few seconds before releasing the shutter. The power meter, represented by a line of symbols on the bottom of the viewfinder, builds up as long as a spirit remains in view and slowly decreases if they vanish. A fully-charged photo (a Zero Shot) deals much more damage than a quick snap, but be warned that the camera loses its charge once the picture is taken.

In the centre of the viewfinder is a small targeting crosshair. If you can manage to line it up exactly with the ghost's core circle, so that the cross is contained entirely within it, the picture will be a Core Shot and will deal bonus damage. For many ghosts, this is practically impossible without the use of the Paralyze ability, but it is an effective tactic against the slower spectres.

Before or during a ghost's special attack, the capture circle may glow amber for a little while. A picture taken at this time will interrupt the attack and stun the target for a moment, even if it is taken with low power. This is an effective tactic which may be used to get Miku out of tricky situations and retreat to a safer position.

Every photo of a spirit, be it bound or aggressive, is worth a certain amount of Spirit Points. The simple rule is that stronger and more aesthetically pleasing pictures are worth more points than brief glimpses hastily captured. Special shots (Zero, Core, close-up, etc.) offer major bonuses, especially if they deal the finishing blow. After completing the story, your top 10 pictures are kept for posterity (outside of the albums) so it's important to make them good ones.

Besides personal pride, spirit points may be accumulated and exchanged to increase the camera's abilities. This option is available after defeating Ogata's first incarnation on the first night. Three core functions of the device may be upgraded:

• Speed

The rate at which the camera's power builds. This is an essential upgrade early on, as all the strength in the world won't help you if you can't keep your target in your sights for long enough to use it.

• Range

The size of the capture circle. This makes it easier to hold a weaving target in the viewfinder, but that doesn't become a problem in the early stages of the story.

• Power

The maximum charge of the camera. Obviously an essential upgrade in the long term, but remember that the extra power requires longer to charge.

After defeating Ogata for the final time, the camera gains the ability to use auxilliary functions. These special abilities may be unlocked with spirit points, but only one may be equipped at a time. While looking through the viewfinder, the currently-equipped function may be activated at the cost of a Spirit Stone.

• See
• Pressure
• Paralyze

Probably the most important auxilliary function of them all, Paralyze will hold any ghost in place for a few seconds. It only works if they are within the capture circle when the ability is used, but they will stay immobile to let you build power or line up for a better shot. A photograph of a paralysed spirit count as a bonus Bind Shot.

• Slow
• Find

Using this function will rotate the viewfinder to point straight at your target. Although this sounds useful at first, if used against a moving or invisible target you'll probably lose them immediately afterwards.

A second collection of functions may be slowly unlocked over the course of play. As before, only one of these effects may be in use at a time, but they are used alongside the auxilliary function.

• Zero

This may be unlocked after completing the Ghost List, photographing all 108 spirits. The pictures need not be saved. It holds the camera's power at the maximum level, removing the need to wait for it to charge.

• Unknown
• Zoom

This becomes available after completing the story. It allows the lens to be zoomed in or out, while keeping the capture circle the same size. This effectively allows you to cover a wider area by zooming out after drawing the camera.

• None

After completing the story a second time on Nightmare difficulty, None causes the camera to use no film when taking pictures. It still requires (and uses the power of) film, but doesn't deplete your stock.

• Sense

Complete Battle Mode to unlock this ability, which adds four small arrows to the centre of the viewfinder. If a ghost is present but not within the capture circle, these arrows will illuminate to point your way. Although this doesn't sound particularly useful, it can be used to replace the missing filament on Nightmare mode.