Honestly, the first time I booted up Breath of the Wild, I spent a solid hour running around Hyrule like a headless chicken, convinced I’d missed some vital tutorial. I was desperately searching for ways to document the ridiculous things I was doing, like trying to launch myself off a cliff with a Korok leaf or stacking twenty crates to reach a high ledge. My brain, conditioned by other games, just assumed a ‘camera’ function was a given. It wasn’t.
So, how to get the camera in Breath of the Wild? It’s not a matter of finding it in some obscure inventory tab or buying it from a shop. It’s tied to a specific quest, and frankly, if you miss it, you’re going to feel like you’re playing half a game.
I remember the sheer frustration when I realized I’d probably walked past the NPC who gives you the Sheikah Slate’s most useful tool. That particular wasted afternoon set me back an embarrassing amount of time, I reckon at least three hours of pure, unadulterated ‘what am I even doing’ confusion.
The First Steps: Talking to the Right Person
Look, I’ll cut to the chase. If you want that sweet, sweet camera functionality, you need to head back to Kakariko Village. Specifically, you need to find an old woman named Impa, who resides in the house that looks like a giant mushroom. She’s the one who gives you the main quest to find Zelda’s memories, but she’s also the gatekeeper for this particular piece of tech.
When you first meet her, she’ll probably give you the quest to find Impa’s Grandchild, Paya. Do that. It’s a simple fetch quest, really. But after you’ve done that little bit of legwork, and she’s sent you off on the bigger quest to find the memories scattered across Hyrule, that’s when the opportunity arises.
Why the Sheikah Slate Is More Than Just a Map
Everyone knows the Sheikah Slate is your go-to for fast travel, bombs, and that infuriating Magnesis rune that always seems to drop things at the worst moment. But the camera? That’s where the magic of personal documentation really kicks in. I spent ages trying to screenshot things before I got the actual camera, and let me tell you, the in-game ‘screenshot’ is just a black rectangle. Useless. (See Also: How To Reset Zosi Camera System )
The camera, or the ‘Hyrule Compendium’ as it’s officially called when you start filling it, is your personal encyclopedia of all things Hyrule. You can snap pictures of monsters, materials, treasures, and even characters. This isn’t just for bragging rights; it’s actually a core mechanic for later on. For instance, the researcher named Symin, who hangs out in Hateno Village at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, will pay you rupees for completed compendium entries.
Seriously, I ignored it for ages, thinking it was just a novelty. Big mistake. HUGE. I ended up backtracking all the way to Kakariko *again* because I’d completely forgotten about Impa’s offer, and I was missing out on valuable early-game rupees. It felt like trying to cook a gourmet meal with only half the ingredients; the whole experience felt incomplete, and my wallet was definitely lighter for it.
The Quest for the Camera: It’s Easier Than You Think
So, back to Impa. After you’ve done the initial ‘Find Paya’ bit, and she’s given you the main quest to find the memories, talk to her *again*. This is the part most people miss. They get the main quest and bolt, thinking that’s it. Nope. Chat with her a bit more. She’ll mention something about wanting to record what Hyrule has to offer, and she’ll offer to upgrade your Sheikah Slate with the camera function. It’s a free upgrade, by the way. No rupees, no quest items needed beyond what you’ve already done.
The prompt will pop up, and you’ll confirm. Boom. Camera. It’s that simple. No complex puzzles, no fighting a mini-boss. Just a conversation.
It feels almost too anticlimactic after worrying about it for so long. (See Also: How To Set Up Trace Camera )
Beyond the Snapshot: Using the Hyrule Compendium Effectively
Once you have the camera, the real fun begins. You’ll find the camera function on your Sheikah Slate’s menu. Just hit the L button to bring up the slate, then cycle through the abilities until you hit the camera icon. Aim and click. Easy.
Now, about the Hyrule Compendium. It’s not just a photo album. It’s a functional in-game encyclopedia. When you take a picture of a monster or item, it automatically adds an entry. This is where the LSI keyword ‘Hyrule Compendium’ comes into play. This compendium is your best friend for identifying enemies and understanding their weaknesses. For example, if you’re constantly getting torched by Lizalfos, taking a picture and checking its entry might reveal it’s weak to ice arrows, saving you a lot of frustration.
The game even prompts you to take pictures of specific things for certain quests later on, so having it from the get-go is a massive advantage. My buddy Dave, bless his heart, didn’t get the camera until he was halfway through the Gerudo Desert. He spent the first thirty hours of the game meticulously drawing pictures of everything in a physical notebook, convinced it was the ‘intended’ way to document things. He was genuinely surprised when I showed him the in-game tool. Seven out of ten times I hear someone complain about a specific enemy type or missing out on a recipe ingredient, it’s because they never got the camera from Impa.
| Item/Feature | Functionality | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikah Slate (Base) | Map, Magnesis, Remote Bombs, Cryonis | Handy, but feels like a smartphone with no apps. |
| Sheikah Slate (with Camera) | All base functions + Hyrule Compendium | This is what makes the slate truly useful for documentation and questing. Essential upgrade. |
| Hyrule Compendium | Picture book, monster/item database, quest helper | Don’t sleep on this. It saves you headaches and earns you cash. Absolutely worth the initial chat. |
The Camera Quest? What If I Missed It?
Don’t freak out. It’s not a timed quest. You can absolutely go back to Kakariko Village and talk to Impa. The game doesn’t penalize you for it. You might just feel a bit silly, like I did, realizing you spent ten hours playing without a tool that makes a lot of sense. The key is to revisit Impa after you’ve received the main quest to find Zelda’s memories.
Can I Take Pictures of Anything?
Pretty much! You can photograph monsters, creatures, plants, insects, ore deposits, weapons, shields, bows, and even characters you meet. If it’s something you can interact with or find in the world, you can probably take a picture of it for your compendium. (See Also: How To Factory Reset Hikvision Camera )
Does the Camera Help with Shrines?
Directly? No. The camera itself doesn’t solve shrine puzzles. However, the Hyrule Compendium can help you identify enemies or materials that might be relevant to the environment of a shrine or the rewards you might find inside. It’s more about indirect knowledge gathering.
Do I Need to Take Pictures of Everything?
Not necessarily for progression, but it’s highly recommended if you want to complete the Hyrule Compendium and earn rewards from Symin. For a casual playthrough, focus on pictures for quests or things you’re curious about. For completionists, it’s a massive undertaking. The National Park Service, for example, has extensive documentation of flora and fauna, and the Hyrule Compendium functions similarly, just for a fantasy world and with more immediate in-game benefits.
What If I Accidentally Take a Bad Picture?
You can retake photos as many times as you need. The game only saves the latest picture taken for each unique item or creature. So don’t stress about getting the perfect shot the first time; just focus on capturing the subject.
Conclusion
So, how to get the camera in Breath of the Wild? It’s a simple conversation with Impa in Kakariko Village, happening after she gives you the main quest to find Zelda’s memories. Don’t overthink it. Don’t assume it’s hidden somewhere obscure. Just go back, talk to the old lady, and get the upgrade.
I wasted so much time initially fumbling around, trying to remember where I saw the ancient shrine that supposedly held this ‘camera artifact’ I’d heard whispers of. Turns out, it was just sitting in a house, handed over by a friendly NPC. It’s like looking for a specific wrench across your entire workshop when it’s actually just sitting on your workbench.
Honestly, the ability to document the wild, often hilarious, moments in Hyrule is a significant part of the game’s charm. Without it, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of the personal experience you can craft for yourself. Get that camera, and start filling up your compendium. You’ll thank yourself later when Symin is handing you rupees for it.