- Equipment -
Video Equipment

There are several video formats (besides camcorders) available to the paranormal researcher, including small video clips such as MPEGs captured on media card.

Closed Circuit - Professional systems can be expensive and have the disadvantage of setting up cabling etc. However a good system will be better than any hand held camcorder.

Webcam - Webcams including time delay systems, have the advantage of instant remote viewing. They have similar advantages and disadvantages to closed circuit systems.

Camcorders and their different formats:

Analogue 8mm – An old format, pretty obsolete, now limited availability and night-shot capabilities.

Hi 8 – Used by lots of investigators, very successful at capturing light anomalies or ‘Orbs’ generally uses a less clear but wider range night-shot mode, ideal for outdoors or to video a whole room. Has the drawback of no computer editing facility, unless recorded directly to a DVD recorder.

Digital 8 – Hi 8 but able to be recorded and edited digitally, with increased picture and sound quality.

Mini DV – The new digital standard, a much sharper picture and sound. Uses much smaller tapes, enabling a greater reduction in camcorder size and is used by both ghost hunters and professional TV crews. Generally clearer but has a shorter-range night-shot, better suited to close and midfield videoing.
Through our experience it does not tend to record as many light anomalies as the Hi 8 format, raising an interesting question as to why this is? It could be due to technical differences causing Hi 8 to pick up more ‘False’ anomalies or is it that this non-digital format is more sensitive to the paranormal? Green screen night-shot also tends to pick up more than the grey screen type; again we cannot, as yet, explain why this is.

Micro MV – A smaller again version of Mini DV.

DVD – The latest thing! Records direct to DVD, not widely used by paranormal researchers as yet, features at this stage are presumed to be similar to Mini DV.

Why use them for paranormal research?

Besides the obvious; to capture a evidence of paranormal / ghost and / or poltergeist activity, they offer the chance to rule out human interference by touching, throwing or movement which may have caused any apparent phenomena. They also help to document an investigation, being useful to review when writing a report afterwards to refresh your memory of the night. The most common use of camcorders is to use night-shot to try and capture ‘Orbs’ or moving light anomalies, which are believed to be associated with paranormal activity, specifically spirit energy. When selecting a camera or system to use, try to avoid using direct white light such as a spotlight or built in camcorder light. This will create another light source, causing more reflections and creating more illumination of insects and dust/fibre/moisture particles in the air. Also be aware of others with torches and other camcorders, as they will each pick up reflections from the other.

 

What if I get an unusual recording or light anomaly?

First of all, don’t stop filming to review it! You could miss something else or even if nothing else follows it could help in eliminating a natural cause or light reflection. Look carefully at the footage several times; there are a number of possible rational reasons for apparently paranormal phenomenon. Moths and other insects are not always obvious. Could it be dust or fibre particles in the air or even rain? If the phenomenon is restricted to one place then it could be moisture droplets or dust on the lens. If the phenomenon occurs more than once, does it retain the same movement or appear in the same place on the screen? If so it could be refraction from another light source or reflective/polished surface. This is especially true of night-shot, if you notice something whilst filming try to recreate it by moving and panning the camcorder and look for any possible cause of reflection by shining a torch over the area you were filming. Also try to replicate dust in the air by kicking up the floor or other means. If you still think you have got something abnormal then get it checked out by an experienced paranormal researcher and then a videotape expert. If you can go back to the same location, try and get it again! A consistent anomaly might occur at the same or nearly the same time. This could be useful in ruling out a natural cause and if caught more than once, an anomaly becomes more and more interesting.

Can Camcorders be used to prove the existence of ghosts?

Again, the debate is still in progress! No matter how compelling any piece of footage may be there will always be somebody who will dispute that the footage has been faked or that it has a rational explanation. Unfortunately usually only those involved in the capture of the footage will know for sure if anything has been staged or interfered with. Always keep the original and allow it to be subjected to any professional inspection. Footage will always be more interesting if investigators are present and experiencing potential activity, and in the case of locked off cameras, if this can be substantiated or better still another camcorder is used in synchronisation to prove no-one was in the area. Despite the sceptics and hoaxers, moving footage of an orb or another form of paranormal activity provides the best proof to the ‘those who weren’t there at the time’ of their existence, as well as being compelling viewing.