Digital Camera Phenomena
The use of digital cameras is currently a volatile
issue within the field. Those who have used them and
come up with what they consider to be "good results"
are quite disturbed by those of us who refuse to use
them without further study of how they work. We, the
members of Umbria, do not use digital cameras, and
refuse to allow those who investigate with us, to use
them for a very simple reason. If you
have an anamoly on a photograph, the first step is to
analyze the negative. How can you analyze the negative
with a digital camera? You cannot. We also remain very
suspicious by the sheer amount of "evidence" produced
by digital cameras, as well as disturbed by our
observances that nearly every digital photograph we
have seen contains only massive amounts of orbs, and
usually in identicalconfigurations to pictures taken
thousands of miles away with a digital camera. Bottom
line: We do not trust the "science" and "evidence" that
digital photography produces, and we do not support,
advocate, or even believe in the use of such cameras
in the field of paranormal research.
We spent some time this winter e-mailing around to
several different manufacturers of digital cameras as
well as several professional photographers. We got
very little response (this, sadly, is not all that odd
when you mention what field you're in), but of the
responses we did get, each provided a plausible
mechanical explanation for the presence of orbs on a
photograph taken with a digital camera.
A recent newsletter from The American Ghost Society, probably the best
organization we've been associated with, contained the
following information from founder Troy Taylor:
GHOST HUNTING DATA:
YET ANOTHER REASON WHY DIGITAL CAMERAS AND GHOST HUNTING DON'T MIX!
We have talked many times in the past, and you can see
the section on the web page for more information, about
why digital cameras should not be used when ghost
hunting. There are a number of issues here that could be
addressed again, but one basic and important one.
This is that digital cameras do not provide genuine
evidence of the paranormal because they do not have
print copies, nor do they have negatives. Because of this,
the photos cannot be authenticated... i.e. they do not
provide genuine evidence. As far as I have always been
concerned, this really needs to be the last word
on it. There is no argument here. Those who know me,
know that I never claim to have all the answers, nor
am I a ghost "expert", as such things do not even
exist. However, when it comes to this.... what is there
to wonder about? No photos, no negatives, no
enlargements for analysis = no evidence!
Troy further quoted a gentleman named Bob Schott, creator
of "Adventures Beyond" and "America's Most Haunted," on
the subect of digital cameras in paranormal research
(it's long and a little messy, but if you still think
digital cameras are useful in investigations, or if
you're routinely arguing with people who do, then it's
worth the read:
This is short and sweet and if you don't understand the
terminology and the technical components and their
functions then you should probably ask yourself why
you would even be using this equipment in the first
place? But don't feel too bad because there are a
whole lot of others out there that are doing exactly
that. I just don't want any of my "Adventures Beyond"
supporters to follow those unprofessional habits, I
encourage you to elevate yourself to a higher level of
technical expertise when you make your equipment purchase
decisions. This will set you apart from the others and give the results
you acquire far more credibility.
Here it is:
1. Digital cameras use Binary technology
(both still and video)
2. Still cameras use a single chip ccd
3. DVCams (higher end) have 3 with normal of 48
microns. Video cams (high 8mm, Beta, etc) operate
on Sine Wave, they also use 3 ccd technology, 1-R
1G 1B, from 1/3" upward.
4. All are subject to magnetic line applications
(mil gs)
5. Lines of resolution are far inferior to that of
film. You are dealing with pixels. It is not uncommon
for some video/digital cameras to have a 'few'
inherent pixel flaws.
6. WHEN YOU RECORD ON EITHER OF THESE UNITS YOU ARE NOT
'EMULSING' THE IMAGE ON THE TAPE AS WITH FILM.
7. YOU CANNOT EXPOSE FILM TWICE (-MULTIPLE USAGE OR
RE-USE....Meaning, you can't keep using the same
exposed roll of film over again, like you can
with tape), YOU CAN RE-RECORD OVER VIDEO TAPE
NUMEROUS TIMES. *(Some individuals, in order to cut
costs, reuse the tapes over and over again, this
weakens the elements).
8. WITH VIDEO/DIGITAL YOU ARE BASICALLY LAYING DOWN
A MAGNETIC CODE WHICH IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE IMAGE.
The flawed research factor: One of the more
prominent pieces of equipment for paranormal research
is the EM meter to detect the presence of electromagnetic
energy. You'll see most of the 'ghost' clubs on the
internet playing this unit up as their 'main' piece of
investigative technology. This contradiction of
compatible applications is one of the things that
wears me out: (Don't get me wrong, good Natural
EM meters are a very useful tool, BUT...THE TWO
ELEMENTS (EM Meters and digital cameras) ARE NOT
COMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHERS APPLICATIONS/RESULTS.
If electromagnetic energy should be present during
the investigation while using a digital camera then
what EXACTLY, do you think you are going to accomplish?
The presence of a LITTLE EM energy can cause a LITTLE
interference in your image, the presence of a LOT of
EM energy can cause a LOT of interference.
Place the tape from a digital camera near a degausser
or magnetic or electromagnetic energy and it can
'clean' the tape, wipe out or disrupt any or
part of any image recorded.
The instant results' issue: I have had a few technical ]
discussions with some in the science community that
weren't 'considering all the elements' over this one.
Users of digital cameras brag that the big benefit is
that they get 'instant image results'.
INSTANT IMAGES OF WHAT??? THE IMAGE CAPTURED IS A
CODE, SENSITIVE TO A VARIETY OF ELEMENTS.
If electromagnetic interference can completely disrupt ]
the image, how do you know that what you are getting
is valid if electromagnetic energy is present?
AND, ISN'T THIS ONE OF THE WAVE LENGTHS WE LOOK FOR
TO HELP DETERMINE IF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IS PRESENT?
They are also simply not useful in low light and you
can get smears, chroma tears, pixel shifting etc.
especially in low micron sized pixels on a single
ccd. *(more so on a 3ccd digital cam with a prism or
beam splitter.) Digital camera manufacturers claim resolutions of 1500-1900 however
this is interpolated, they actually provide apprx
equivalent of 600-700 lines of resolution. HOW CAN
YOU INTELLIGENTLY COMPARE THIS TO OVER 4000 LR(lines of
resolution to fillm)? * Film of course uses emulsion/
light (SIMPLY NO C0MPARISON).
Optical:
The other 'Critical' factor is the lens. Unless you're
going to spend over $6000.00 (what you'd have to pay
for a digital camera with interchangeable
lenses) you will be using substandard lenses.
REMEMBER: OPTICS WIN OUT OVER DIGITAL MANIPULATION,
PERIOD.
Bob's webpage is located at Adventures Beyond.
The bottom line, for Umbria, is that we don't believe
digital cameras produce much more than Digital Camera
Phenomena, and we won't use them, nor will we allow
those on investigations with us to use them.
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