Problems with the Library Cameras (DRV3 Ch. 1)
How They’re Supposed to Work
So all of the cameras Shuichi asked Miu to make use infrared sensors to detect movement. When motion is detected, the sensor sends a signal to the receiver built into the camera, and the receiver triggers the camera to take a photo. The two cameras set up at the library entrances have the infrared sensors attached to them.
But the infrared sensor for the camera facing the moving bookcase is detached, and the sensor was instead supposed to be placed on top of the moving bookcase—so when the bookcase moved, the receiver built into the camera would activate, and a photo would be taken.
Additionally, this bookcase camera was also supposed to trigger another receiver that Shuichi was holding, so he’d be alerted when movement of the bookcase was detected.
Problem #1: The Camera Aimed at the Moving Bookcase Didn’t Work Like It Was Supposed To
Thanks to Kiibo for calling this out. He’s absolutely right. The sensor placed on top of the moving bookcase should trigger the photo. So the first photo taken of Rantaro makes sense. But the second one?...
Given what we know of the camera’s operation, there should be no possible way for the second photo of Rantaro to have been taken.
Unless, he stood there and waited until the bookcase automatically began to close again before walking over to the camera. But why the hell would he do that? And that wouldn’t even make sense given the timeline—the bookcase door had just begun to close once Shuichi and Kaede stepped foot into the library, after Rantaro was dead.
And this is all without considering how the 30-second camera intervals would come into play...
So something is definitely off with this camera.
Problem #2: Lighting
So the flash being switched on only for the bookcase camera that Kaede set up was one of the biggest things that implicated her in the trial. And yes, in the photos taken of Rantaro moving the bookcase, the flash is very clearly on.
And there’s clearly no lighting issues in the photos of the rear library entrance, they both look the same:
But the front library entrance?...
Between the photos taken of the groups entering, and the “accidental” picture of Shuichi, there’s a noticeable lighting change. It’s easiest to tell by looking at the stack of books by the door.
Shuichi shouldn’t be blocking any major light sources or anything, and closing the library door shouldn’t make a difference, so why is the lighting so different? Was the flash for this camera actually on or something, and Shuichi quickly switched it off when he retrieved it?
Someone probably should’ve noticed if it was on, but hey, maybe the flash function on cheap, disposable cameras isn’t all that strong, and maybe everyone was too panicked to pay close attention to it.
And if that is what the library room really looks like when the camera flash is turned on... Then in the bookcase photos of Rantaro, for the flash to make that much of a lighting difference, the library must’ve been completely dark when the photos were taken...
This is just a theory, of course, the lighting change for the front entrance could be caused by something completely unrelated. But, when the issue of camera flash was brought up in the trial, Shuichi made sure to use the “accidental” photos of himself for comparison against Rantaro’s bookcase photos instead of the strangely well-lit entrance photos...
Thus conveniently avoiding any issues or questions about the odd lighting.
...Suspicious.
Problem #3: Camera Delay
The cameras clearly have a delay from when they should be triggered—when any movement is detected—to when a photo is actually taken (maybe 2-3 seconds). I’m not sure if this means anything, or can lead to any significant developments, but I figured I should at least point it out.
At the very least, it may call the legitimacy of Shuichi’s “accidental photos” into question...
Problem #4: ...Are These Even the Same Cameras?
I did a visual comparison of the cameras when they were placed in the library, and when they were retrieved after the murder, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to find anything but...
The color of that tape or whatever it is at the bottom of the cameras is pretty different, and it couldn’t have been from the tape they used to secure the cameras—that tape was clearly a beige/brown color. And, it also looks like the mechanism behind the infrared sensor slightly changed color (and possibly style) as well.
I dunno. It’s weird. But if you think about it... If someone knew about Shuichi’s plan, it wouldn’t be all that hard to swap out the cameras...
Hmm.
——
Anyway, that’s all I got. Let me know your thoughts!
