http://boardsus.playstation.com/t5/PSP-General/The-Old-and-New-PSP-cameras-Features-and-comparative-review/m-p/44602182The Old and New PSP cameras. **Features and comparative review**As you probably all know, there are now two different cameras for the PSP, the old silver one (model number PSP-300) shown here on the right, and the new black one (model number PSP-450) shown on the left that comes bundled with the new Invizimals game. Here's some comparitive information about both cameras, rather than a review of the game, plenty of which can be found elsewhere.
Using the camera software that is built into the PSP's firmware, in Photo Mode, the new PSP-450 has a resolution of 0.3Mp, giving it a maximum still picture size of 640x480. The old PSP-300 has a resolution of 1.3MP, giving it a maximum still picture size of 1280x960.
In Movie Mode, the resolution is the same for both cameras, 320x240 or 480x272 at either 15 or 30 fps.
The old camera also allows an "Image Quality" setting of either Fine or Standard, which does not appear in the settings menu when using the new camera. This produces a somewhat sharper picture in all resolutions.
Additional Notes.
Both cameras work with the Invizimals game, so if you already have the old camera, you can buy the non-bundled version of the Invizimals game that comes without the camera.
You need PSP firmware v6.00 or above to operate the new camera, or to play Invizimals. The old camera only needs firmware v3.00 or above.
The new camera has a built-in mic that seems to work exatly the same way the old one did.
Both cameras screw onto the USP port on the top of all old "K" series PSPs. If you want to use either camera with the PSP Go, you will need to buy the accessory adaptor in order to attach it.
Note that at the moment neither the Invizimals game nor the camera has hit the stores in North America, nor has the game appeared yet on the PSP Store for download, so if you want either you will have to import them.
I got mine from HMV in the the UK. Here's the link.
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&primaryID=0&simpleSearchString=invizimals&btnSubmitSearch.x=31&btnSubmitSearch.y=13 The Invizimals game itself seems to be fun, and works as advertised, but I haven't yet got very deeply into it at the moment since I wanted to check out the camera features first and dispell any rumours about it.
Unfortunately, it looks like Sony have built a cheap, low-resolution version of the old camera, in order to hold down the cost of the game bundle.
This is not a camera you would buy for the PSP just to take pictures since the resolution is so low. But as part of a games bundle, it works well and makes an interesting and unusual game.
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