Forums » Equipment (cameras, recorders, K-II, etc.)

• Rob ~ DEADPsalm

  

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  December 17, 2011 5:07:54 PM EST

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  'Tis the season for dreams of new equipment. What's on your list?

  I have been giving far too much thought to what to add to my kit next. Aside from a couple custom built projects, I am struggling with the option of a SLR type full spectrum camera and illumination system, or a couple MEL meters to give me the full range of their features.

  The camera gives me pause simply because the evidence produced by full spectrum photography seems extremely rare. Does this rarity make the evidence more valid or does it mean evidence is being "missed"?

  The MEL meters give me pause because I already have a TriField, thermal sensor, etc. Yes, the MEL will give me more in one package but will it add value to my investigating technique? One person in our group owns one but rarely uses it and prefers to use a standard EMF meter.

  This post was edited by Rob ~ DEADPsalm at December 17, 2011 5:07:54 PM EST
• Wes Forsythe

  

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  December 17, 2011 9:25:30 PM EST

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  Full spec cameras are widely misused.
  
  As far as I know no one is manufacturing a full spec camera. What we have available are mods of consumer grade cameras with the mod being the removal of the IR and UV filtering.
  
  The problem is that no one is reprogramming the chipset to utilize this part of the spectrum. The camera's computer still thinks it is a plain old camera.
  
  They are best used in low light conditions or with supplemental IR and UV light. Most importantly, because of the computer issue they should ALWAYS be used on a tripod as the camera will still think it is dark. I have seen teams think that they can sit in a dark room with a "bright" UV light and snap off pictures like any other time. They don't understand that UV has a very short wavelength and doesn't go very far. The camera compensates for the lack of light with a slow shutter speed and suddenly they are capturing really cool shots of murky, often demonic looking things that are nothing more than motion blurs of the various things that UV light reveals (dirty windows come to mind). In summary full spec is a wonderful thing if you use it to see the ENTIRE light spectrum. Think of it as looking everywhere for your keys instead of just the bowl they are supposed to be in. The real practical downside is that any still shot is just one moment in time. You lower your odds of capturing a paranormal event unless you know EXACTLY when to snap the photo.
  
  I like my MEL but usually let someone else carry it. I mostly like it so that I don't need a seperate thermometer. Since we really don't know exactly where in the EM spectrum we should be looking for spirit activity (oh, and I am becoming convinced that ghosts as we understand the term are NOT made of simple energy and do not actually give off EM) I am not sure any single meter on the market right now can really give us the big picture we are looking for. The MEL is tuned below the RF range so it isn't as susceptible to interference as some.
  
  If I could only have one and not the other (I have one of each)? I would probably go for the full spec since the MEL doesn't really add anything solid to the equation, but the camera does.
• Wes Forsythe

  

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  December 17, 2011 9:31:44 PM EST

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  My wish list: I am wanting the EVP recording setup based on David Rountree's dual mic design. I also might add a RTEVP if I came across one at the right price. But mostly I just have to replace a computer or two and add storage drives to efficiently process and archive all the video that one can collect with 17 (yes, up one more from 16) video cameras.
• Rob ~ DEADPsalm

  

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  December 17, 2011 10:38:22 PM EST

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  Yes, a couple members of our group have recently purchased RTEVP devices. I have decided this is a bit further down in my wish list. :)
  
  I am working on an ELF system that will benefit from a new computer but that computer is on a different wishlist since I can use it for other things (a new computer is much easier to explain to the family).
  
  I do agree with the thought that video is better than still for investigations purposes. Most digital cameras have a video mode and that is how I would use it most. As for distance lighting being a problem, additional lighting placed creatively and strategically can solve this. There are high-end systems designed specifically for UV and IR imaging but as far as I know there are not many paranormal teams able to afford them.
• Carolyn D

  

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  December 18, 2011 11:55:54 AM EST

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  I wish there was a "Like" button for your response about full specs, Wes. I want more video cameras for more coverage and cross reference. Not gonna happen this Christmas, but a girl can still dream.