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Video Cameras
by Arthur Matos | E-Mail
The video
camera. What a world we live in of such technological advancements. The video
camcorder has brought such a new dimension to photographing live moving pictures
on film. It has opened paranormal field research to new levels of capturing
images on film in real time.
The camcorder is a wonderful tool in paranormal field
research, as it gives the investigator the opportunity to record all data and
any anomalies that may appear at the time of the investigation.
Let us delve
into the miniature world of the infamous camcorder. The Camcorder (video camera)
is basically made up of two main components. A charge-coupled device (CCD),
which is a small piece of silicon wafer which is a piece that has been
miniaturized and placed in separate locations to attract light.
These small cells are part of a larger picture that is
formed, they are commonly called Pixels. We now have a silicon based cell
sensor, a lens to focus in on the object, and the last but most important piece
of equipment that no paranormal investigator could not do without, because
without it they would not be able to record, and that is a miniaturized VCR. The
video recording unit has been miniaturized to fit into the palm of your hand.
The camcorder is not as complex as we put it out to be.
Several models that we use in our group are quite common. We tend to use a few
Sony Hi 8 camcorders, and we use these to capture images that may not be able to
be captured on other films due to it's magnetic tape feature, e.g., Mini DVD's.
We also use a few Sony HandyCams Mini DV's. These video recorders are basically
used in either setting
them up to stay on an object and other times we use them to pan around during
the investigation. Remember you never know what you may catch on film at that
moment.
Another factor is that upon performing an investigation it is
a good idea to keep an eye on your power cell (battery). This is due to the
theory that ghosts have a tendency to drain the battery cells dramatically as
they tend to drain all types of energy, and you don't want to lose power during
an investigation, but it's always good to expect it.
There are many brands that are very good out there, but my
suggestion is to look for a camcorder that has "Nightshot" Infrared
night vision technology, so you can record in the dark (Zero Lux), and also make
sure that you have a "Steadyshot" feature. This is a stabilizer for
movement because you may get the shakes during the investigation and one thing
we don't want is shaky evidence. Another nice feature is to have an adaptor for
an external light to mount on top of the device if needed, and last but not
least one that is user friendly for all group members.
The most important advice that I can give when you are
videotaping with camcorders is to always have extra batteries for your device on
hand. Happy Hunting!
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