In the Port Nepture quarter of the city, you are sent to the security chief's office in order to find a research camera, one of the most important weapons you can use in Rapture.
The camera looks like an old-fashioned Kodak. It not only takes pictures of your enemies, but it also analyzes them for weaknesses you can exploit. When its research is complete it grants you rewards in the form of added strength along with gene tonics and abilities.
For the camera to work, you must aim it at your target. There is a base level of research points for each shot.
+ You gain points if the target is up close and centered, if the target is fighting, and if the target has company.
- You lose points if the target is dead, if the target already had its picture taken, and if the target is off-focus.
Once your research on a particular kind of target is complete, the camera will no longer take any pictures of that target.
It is sometimes the case that, if you are near the end of a research level, that you can take multiple pictures of a target to complete the level. However, once you take a certain number of pictures of a given target, the camera will not take any more.
The camera uses film as its ammo. It can hold up to one hundred shots before it needs replenishing. Film is available at Circus of Values vendors, for destroyed security cameras, and from film rolls lying about starting at the Port Neptune level.
There are gene tonics related to research and its resultant rewards. These combat tonics come in two levels. Photographer's Eye adds 10% (15% with level 2) more to your research points for every shot, shortening the time it takes to finish a research level. Damage Research amplifies by 30% (60% with level 2) the rewards you have won with research.
There are five research levels for each of the five types of aggressors, for Little Sisters, for each of the two types of Big Daddies, and for the three kinds of security device. The research rewards follow this pattern:
The tonic or ability for levels two and four are listed in the table below. When level five is reached for a given enemy, the research is over and the camera will take no more pictures for that enemy.
| Enemy | Level 2 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressors | ||
| Thug | SportBoost 1 tonic | SportBoost 2 tonic |
| Leadhead | Scrounger tonic | Static Discharge 2 tonic |
| Nitro | Three out of twenty bombs are duds. | Seven out of twenty bombs are duds. |
| Spider | Spider organs are first-aid kits. | Extra Nutrition 3 tonic. |
| Houdini | Natural Camouflage tonic. | Teleport point easier to predict. |
| Big Daddies | ||
| Bouncer | Wrench Jockey 2 tonic. | 50% more wrench damage on everyone. |
| Rosie | Photographer's Eye 2 tonic. | Loot contains rare invention parts. |
| Security Devices | ||
| Bot | Security Expert 2 tonic. | Bot is hacked instantly. |
| Turret | Twice the ammo found on destroyed turrets. | Turret is hacked instantly. |
| Camera | Twice the film found on destroyed cameras. | Flow speed reduced when hacking cameras. |
Each research level for the Little Sisters gives you small boosts to your maximum health and Eve. There are no tonics or abilities associated with Little Sister research.
Finally, the research camera is also your tool in collecting images of Sander Cohen's dead disciples and, if you so choose, of Sander Cohen himself.