If you have yet to join the ghost-hunting sensation that is Phasmophobia, well…that’s totally fine. You’re free to do as you please. I do, however, think you’re missing out, especially if you’re into horror. But the fact that you’re here suggests you are actually looking to play the game. You know what, forget I said anything.
When it comes to investigating haunted locations, most of us know that one of the most classic pieces of “evidence” people typically come across is the ghost orb. For those who don’t know, these are little specs of – what appears to be – dust that floats about and often lead many to conclude an apparition is present. It could also just be dust. Some paranormal investigators even dismiss them as proof, but they are a mainstay of ghost hunts.
As such, Phasmo includes these as a way to help you narrow down what you’re dealing with. Now, in the real world, you can’t normally see orbs without the use of a camera (usually digital). So to that end, the game provides three Tiers of Video Camera that you can use for your investigation.
How does the Video Camera in Phasmophobia work?
Like with any type of camera with video recording functionality, the ones in Phasmophobia are great for distance surveillance. Setting one up in a room means you can watch from the safety of the van, monitoring any unusual activity.
It can also be used to watch other equipment, such as seeing whether the ghost walks through the D.O.T.S. Projector or tampers with the Ghost Writing Book.
The Video Camera also has a night-vision feature. This is especially useful for helping you see your way around when the lights go out. However, its main purpose it to help you see whether any ghost orbs are in the vicinity. There are three Tiers of Video Cameras, each essential to an investigation.
The three Tiers of the Phasmophobia Video Camera
The Video Camera is a “starter” equipment in Phasmo. This means you always have it with you when you load up a map. They are easy to use in the game, but also quite powerful. When you pick it up in the van at the beginning, the viewfinder will be closed. However, as soon as you exit and head towards the main area of the map, it will automatically open up.
When walking around the location, keeping an eye on the night vision will allow you to spot any ghost orbs that are nearby. When you see one, they may float in one direction, but can also change course. As the game doesn’t really have any dust, seeing this is your clue that you’re in the right area.
The Tier 1 Video Camera is very much the baseline of this piece of equipment. While it does have a viewfinder, it’s very small with extremely low resolution. The night vision is also a blurry green, so seeing through it can be quite difficult when it’s in your hand. Placing it on a surface or tripod means you can go back to the van and keep an eye on it from the monitor, but even this is low-quality.
Tier 2 is much better, with a clearer and much larger display screen, giving you a crisper night-vision image overall. Tier 3 is where it’s at, though. Having a bigger viewfinder still (that’s always up) and the best resolution, you could argue that this is even a good substitute for the flashlight.
All three Video Cameras can be placed down, such as on the aforementioned tripods. This means you don’t have to hold it constantly, making it a great way to investigate safely while still keeping a watchful eye on any ghost orbs floating into view.
Some Video Camera tips
An all-around useful piece of equipment, Phasmophobia‘s Video Camera works in tandem with other items to help you detective-ly (that’s a word, right?) solve the puzzle of which ghost you have on your hands. Here are some things to consider when using it:
- During snowy weather, snowflakes can often appear as ghost orbs on the Video Camera. Be wary of this, and try to keep the item facing away from windows if at all possible.
- The Mimic gives ghost orbs as evidence. I’m mentioning this as it’s a secret fourth clue that the game doesn’t tell you about. This isn’t about the Video Camera itself, but I still think it’s worth mentioning.
- Make sure all lights where you’ve set the item up are off to enable stronger night vision.
- As mentioned earlier, setting up other equipment nearby (such as the Ghost Writing Book) means you can use the Video Camera to watch multiple things at once, making things much easier, at least with Tier 2 and Tier 3.
- You can remotely switch between night-vision and regular view from the computer in the van, as well as switch between multiple Video Cameras if you have more than one setup.
- All three items cost $50 in the store.
