The Frugal Ghost Hunter

So you’ve considered hunting ghosts? Have you ever thought about the paranormal, or whether or not you could actually catch something supernatural? Ghost hunting is as controversial as it is intriguing. The idea that you could capture evidence of ghosts, spirits, energies, or other phenomenon on tape can be quite interesting to some technologists.

So, what types of tech do ghost hunters recommend using while out stirring up supernatural mischief?

A good digital or high-speed film camera is a great start. When choosing your camera, try to pick out one that has a quality processor, fast shutter speed, and high sensitivity settings. This is vital for night shots as a low quality camera will often leave you with a lot of artificial artifacts and film grain that can hamper positive results. Cameras with night vision have recently come under fire due to some inappropriate uses of the technology, and you may want to check with the legal aspects of owning that type of equipment.

A good EMF detector is a great way of picking up shifts in electro-magnetic fields. There is a theory that when a spirit is attempting to manifest itself, it will do so by drawing the energy from around the area to use it its manifestation. Getting an unusually high EMF reading in a small area is believed to be a sign of something supernatural to come. EMF Detectors are made by many companies like Lutron, Electrosensor, Alternative Technologies, Mannix, Cellsensor, and Tri-Field.

Infrared thermometers are used to measure variances in temperature. The theory is that when a ghost or spirit is attempting to manafest itself and draws energy from the area, the temperature will drop since heat is energy. These products are made by many companies like Mannix, Raytek, and Sper Scientific.

Another theory is called electronic voice phenomenon. The idea is that a spirit can communicate with the living through using energy to leave impressions on tape or digital recording devices. Often, a hunter will ask questions while recording in hopes of receiving answers later on. These devices are easily found and made by companies like Coby, Olympus, Sony, Panasonic, and more.

Video is one of the best ways to capture any phenomenon that may affect physical objects and environments. Many purists will state that only film should be used as digital can be unreliable for this type of recording, while others are impartial to the use of digital video cameras. As with still cameras, a good night sensor is extremely vital as hunting during the day is generally not practiced. Sony, Panasonic, Philips, and many other companies make quality video equipment.

Whatever your setup, if you believe or would like to experience ghost hunting, remember that your choices on equipment is just as important as any other part of the experience. Good equipment can yield solid results while faulty tools can give questionable evidence.

Matt Ryan

[tags]Ghost, Hunting, Frugal Geek, Matt Ryan[/tags]