Photo Recon
 

Can anybody tell me how you activate the camera for photo recon? None of the controls mentioned in the manual or onscreen works, and I am playing on a laptop that does not have number pad (as for using 7 to raise the camera, etc).

So, I sit undetected in Osaka harbor on my 1st career mission, unable to complete it successfully because I don't know where the camera is and how to take pictures through the periscope.

Can somebody help this newbie?

I haven't done many photo recon missions recently, but I think you should see a red camera icon amongst the other icons at the bottom of the periscope screen that you press.

Just checked this, and torplexed is right ;)

I think also you have to lock on to the subject with the scope. Sometimes command is picky, although several targets will sometimes be present they may only want a snapshot of a special one, so if it doesn't work with one then try them all.

Red Camera Icon?
 

Thanks Torplex, ReFaN and Breadcatcher...but no such red icon anywhere, including periscope view and after trying all the station icons. Do you have to LOAD a camera before a mission for the icon to appear?

Once you are at location and able to see ships and "lock on" (L-Key) your periscope onto those ships, a button on your command bar lights up. As for the color, that possibly depends on mods of the user interface. Maybe that's why you don't see a red icon.

Also, if you use automated targeting instead of manual; it doesn't suffice to just point the periscope at the target. The lock on has to be enabled.

You can use either periscope for making pictures (as the photograph icon is on their command bars too) and possibly the TBT on the bridge, but since most harbors have a couple warships or close by land based guns, I advise against using the TBT for pictures.

edit add:
The external camera isn't meant for photo recon. It really is an addition to your optics (periscopes and TBT) which is already build in at every sub at sub-delivery.

Hope that Helps

For future reference :salute:

"How to complete a mission... By Beery :yeah: "

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=111509

Also, remember
 

The selected "photo target" may not be the vessel of interest. If you lock on a target and the ICON doesn't light up, either you are not close enough or it is not the target of interest. Try another. It took me a while to realize that. When you do get a successful LOCK and snap the picture, it will be stored on the Clip Board. :up: Old_Tex

Photo Recon Solved
 

Thanks to everyone for pitching in. The detailed tip from AngronIsAngry made Jeffrey happy and resulted in the Eureka moment in Osaka harbor; this is not to diminish the encouragement and help from all the rest of you, which reassured me that there was a camera somewhere onboard the Porpoise. And there was. Compliments to all of you.