Gear

The equipment we use wasn't designed for “ghost hunting” as such but it all can be used to measure or record, particularly in the range we cannot see or otherwise sense. This includes below or above visible light wavelengths, ultra- and sub-sonic sounds, other vibrations and electro-magnetic fields.

James Gilberd from Strange Occurences talks about their equipment

Cameras

Aside from pretty standard digital and film SLR and compact cameras, we use Sony Handycams because they’re good at working in low light or with Infra-Red illumination.

This camera is fitted with a standard Sony IR illuminator as well as a cobbled-together bracket mounting two IR LED torches. This makes the camera able to film with zero visible light.

Night vision sight

Not quite Silence of the Lambs quality but useful for seeing your way round inside or outside without necessarily being seen. Good for spotting things like possums that may be making unaccounted noises.

Sound recorders

We use the little digital voice recorders for note taking and Electronic Voice Phenomenon sessions, with all EVP being backed up by analogue cassette tape for verification.

Thermometers

Electronic, with probe — responds fast to changes in air temperature. The non-contact thermometer with the laser pointer will measure the temperature of objects and surfaces from a distance. We also use standard mercury thermometers.

Headlamps

They may look geeky but they free a hand up for equipment use. We sometimes use red filters when we want to keep our eyes adjusted to low light.

Tool kit

All sorts of old-school ghost-detecting paraphernalia. A plum-bob for checking if a swinging door is hung straight, trigger objects, tape measure, chalk, cotton gloves, magnet, compass, marbles for checking if a surface is level, tape, nylon line, seismic detector, plastic bags, dowsing pendulum, etc, etc, etc…

Old school

The compass is part of the tool kit and will respond to local magnetic fields as well as the Earth’s.

Trigger objects

These are outlined on paper and left in a sealed-off area with video cameras; this is the classic way to test for poltergeist activity.

Electro-magnetic field (EMF) meters

Handy portable devices for measuring the strength of EM fields, the meters are weighted to 50 or 60 Hertz and (one of them) will register slow-moving electrostatic fields also.

Oscilloscope

Less portable but more versatile and adaptable than the EMF meters. Can pick up and measure sound (ultra- and sub-sonic), vibrations (with seismic detector) and will measure frequency as well as amplitude of an EMF.