02/08/07: NEWS from Supernatural Summit on the Paranormal
Supernatural Summit
The Official Newsletter of the Supernatural Summit Ghost Hunter's
Conference
And Western New York Paranormal, Inc.
Visit us on-line at http://www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com
Vist us on-line at http://www.WNYPARANORMAL.com
09 February 2007 --- Welcome to the New Issue of the Newsletter!
Haven't been to the Supernatural Summit Ghost Hunter's Conference and
Psychic Fair before? You don't know what you're missing! This year's
event is better than the last with a LARGER trade show and psychic
fair, MORE speakers, MORE workshops among other surprises!
Tickets are still available for the entire weekend (good Friday
through Sunday) for just $125.00. The registration fee includes access
to workshops, an invitation to the Friday night mixer, unlimited
access to the trade show and psychic fair, lunch both days and more!
The rates go up $50 more in just three weeks so register soon!
Here's a sneak peak at some of the subjects we'll be covering this
year, Dangers of the Paranormal, Introduction to EVP, Spiritual
Photography, Ghost Hunting Ethics, along with interactive programs
like table tipping, a ghost hunt among much more!
You can register at http://www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com. Registration
may be done on-line or downloaded and sent by snail mail. Groups of 5
or more e-mail us for a special link that receives you a 15% discount!
You can download the registration forms from http://
www.supernaturalsummit.com/register.html
And it's not just the conference that we are talking about in this new
issue but also some other great articles from our members
Contents for this Issue:
* Supernatural Summit Ghost Hunter's Conference and Psychic Fair
* Forms of Phenomenon By Rev. Tim Shaw, WNY Paranormal
* Practical Spirit Photography, Christopher Bailey, Grimstone Inc.
* review of sony minidv handycam, model dsc-hc42 ntsc By Jeremy
Hawthorne, ARC Paranormal
2007 SUPERNATURAL SUMMIT GHOST HUNTER'S CONFERENCE - REGISTER NOW!
Don't Miss out on the Supernatural Summit Ghost Hunter's Conference
and Psychic Fair!!
All the information you need to sign up can be found at
http://www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com. Reservations are first being
offered to those working in the paranormal community. Beginning March
1, 2007 - tickets go on sale to the general public. You may also call
585-399-7765 for more information. Registration forms may be
downloaded at http://www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com/register.html .
Payments are accepted in the form of check or money order, credit
card, paypal, or google check out.
About the conference: The 2007 Supernatural Summit Ghost Hunter's
Conference and Psychic Fair, hosted by Western New York Paranormal,
will be held during the weekend of April 13, 14, and 15 at the Holiday
Inn in Batavia New York. This annual event is one of the quickest
growing paranormal ghost conferences in the United States bringing the
experts in field research together to share their information with
you. This year's conference will again feature leaders in field
research presenting over 30 workshops, lectures and other surprises.
This event is specially tailored to let you pick your own area of
interest with two different choices each hour to choose from on a
variety of subjects. New this year, is a Friday night mixer and
orientation with the speakers followed by a special paranormal event
with special events also on Saturday evening.
Speakers for 2007 include: Conference Vince Wilson of Ghost Tech,
Derek Bartlett of CAIPRS, Christopher Bailey of Grimstone Paranormal,
Parapsychologist Mary Grace, Jeremy Hawthorne from ARC Paranormal, Joe
Cetrone and Michael Puccerll from R.I.D.D.I.A., Richard Kimmel of the
WW2 Paranormal Organization, Robin VanPelt of the United States Ghost
Chasers, Ralph Esposito of RE Paranormal, Jenni Oneski of East Coast
Paranormal, psychic Karyn Reece, and Dwayne Claud, Reverend Tim Shaw,
Steve Salatino, Sarah Higgins, and Rich Eider of Western New York
Paranormal. Ghostly Talk Radio will also be on-site with Scott and
Doug all weekend.
Booth Space is available to paranormal organizations to promote their
group for just $50.00. The space is 8' x 10' and includes a table,
linen and two chairs. In the past, many people have attended looking
for information on groups in the region to call for assistance or to
even join. For more information email in...@supernaturalsummit.com .
Space is limited.
VENDOR SPACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE...if you are a reader, sell paranormal
merchandise and are not simply presenting paranormal material like a
group would, 8x10 spaces are still available for $100 for the entire
weekend.
Registration for the 2007 Supernatural Summit Ghost hunter's
Conference:
Admission: $125 Per Person until February 28th (groups of 5 or more
save 15%)-- Includes Friday night mixer, Saturday and Sunday Workshops
with breakfast and lunch both days and admission to the trade show!
Discounts are available at The Holiday Inn in Batavia by mentioning
the Supernatural Summit. See More About the conference at http://
www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com or register at http://
www.SUPERNATURALSUMMIT.com/register.html
FORMS OF PHENOMENON BY REV. TIM SHAW
There is some confusion encountered by the lay person when the subject
of mediumship and telepathy comes about. It is only through the proper
study of these phenomenons that we can get an accurate understanding
of each. The confusion arises mostly because it seems that elements of
telepathy are sometimes involved in the practice of mediumship and
aspects of mediumship can play an active part in telepathy. The study
of mediumship is extremely important to the religion of Spiritualism.
It provides confirmation for the survival of the individual person,
along with giving proof of the continuity of life.
In order to differentiate between the two it is important to examine
of the possible causes of the phenomena. First, an investigator should
look into the possibility of fraud. This can be done deliberately or
can be the unconscious efforts of a medium. Second, the investigator
should examine the message given for recognizable identifications of a
spirit entity. It is only when he is satisfied with these answers that
he will then be able to judge for himself if a message is of spirit
origin.
Of all the phases of mediumship, clairsentience may be the one
universal chord that runs through all of them. Defined as: clear
sensing", Spiritualists have come to regard this as their "sixth
sense". Clairsentience can be found in clairvoyance, clairaudience,
psychometry, intuition, and the mental communication between the
discarnate entity and the medium.
Psychometry can be defined as both "soul sensing" and "object
reading". Discovered by Dr. Joseph Rodes Buchanan through a series of
experiments which incorporated the use of sealed envelopes it was
found that it was possible not only to give accurate descriptions of
the writers of the notes sealed within the envelopes but also from
sheets of paper, not written upon, that came from pads used by
others.
When we talk about psychometry we are referring to a "measurement or
perception by the intuitive faculties of the soul. It is possible to
obtain information from the "emotional atmosphere" which is
incorporated with the object in question. This process can produce
information concerning people related to the object as well as the
objects past and history.
W.G. Roll, project director of the Psychical Research Foundation
investigated psychometry and noticed certain characteristics
associated with this phase of phenomena. Two aspects that he noted
were: the "recency effect" which reveals that the more recent the
event that is connected with a test object, the more likely it is to
gain attention and be recognized by the psychic. Next discovered was
the "vividness effect", which means the more vivid an event is
connected to the test object, the more likely it is to gain the
attention of the psychic.
During the 1920's, Gustav Pagenstecher formed the conclusion that
sensitives can tune into or link up directly with an object and relate
events and people associated with it. He felt that the object itself
was the key to the information received. Eugene Osty, a French
physician, after careful study concluded that the object itself was
only a starting or focal point for the psychic. Also, people left
their own psychic imprint upon an item that they came into contact
with. This would mean that the object was only necessary to start the
process off and clairvoyance or telepathy would then take over.
Psychometry has many positive uses. It can be used as an indicator of
future events, give valuable information in the study of history,
biography, archeology and earth sciences. Also it is a very good
beginning for those who wish to develop their own mediumship or
psychic abilities. It is easy for the student to follow their own
progression by the usage of psychometry.
Next, we shall examine the phenomena of Spirit Photography. There are
several phases of this phenomenon. Basically in spirit photography a
spirit image shows up on a photographic plate or film negative, after
the photograph has been taken by a camera and developed. Other phases
of this phenomenon are "skotography" through which spirit writings and
images are produced on sealed photographic plates. This was
accomplished by holding the plates to the solar plexus, or forehead.
"Thoughtography" is another a phase that does not use camera
equipment. The result depends upon the psychic ability of an
individual to produce the desired images.
There are several problems associated with phase of mediumship. With a
basic working knowledge of photography and the correct equipment it is
easy to produce double exposures that emulate spirit entities as well
as all sorts of other effects. Unfortunately this type of phenomena
was so widespread that investigators began to believe all spirit
photography was fraudulent until proved otherwise.
The study of phenomena is one of belief, education, experimentation,
and the constant questioning of results. It is only when we examine or
eliminate every possibility of deception can we then positively say
that something is the product of true spirit communication through
mediumship.
PRACTICAL SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISOPHER BAILEY, GRIMSTONE PARAORMAL
Since the 19th century, never has spirit photography been as popular
as it is today. From the amateur ghost hunter to the professional
paranormal investigator, more people are looking to prove the
continuance of life after death through the lens of a camera. Spirit
photography is considered to be a form of mediumship or spirit
communication in which the ghost or entity makes contact with the
physical world by leaving an image on a photographic plate or digital
image. Though this may be a fun hobby to some, or part of a trade to
others, it is always important to understand your equipment and its
proper use. This is the best way to be sure to gather clear
documentation and avoid false positives.
Glossary of Terms:
Aperture: Circular hole in front of the lens which controls the
amount of light that enters the camera and reaches the film or digital
CCD.
Apparition: A partial or full visual manifestation of a ghost or
spirit. It may appear as a shadowy silhouette, semi-translucent, or
completely solid as in life.
APS: APS stands for Advanced Photo System. It is a new film system
for consumer photography that uses a unique format and photofinishing
techniques.
Camera Shake: Movement of the camera due to improper camera
support. It will often produce out of focus pictures or pictures
containing motion blur.
CCD: CCD stands for charged couple device. It is the sensor used
within digital cameras that consists of a series of light sensitive
diodes. This sensor receives the image information (photons) and
converts it into data that is able to be processed by the camera
(electrons).
CMOS: CMOS stands for complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor.
Unlike CCD chips, CMOS chips have transistors at each pixel which
permits each one to be read individually. While more cost efficient
and easily manufactured, the transistors generally allow less light to
reach the pixel sensor and thus do not provide as high quality
fidelity as a CCD.
Dorbs: Ghost hunting slang for dust orbs. These are spherical
anomalies caught on film which are created by flash reflections of
dust, pollen, and/or fine particles which are within the focal length
of the camera. These are often confused with spirit orbs.
Ectoplasm/Ectomist: Traditionally, ectoplasm was the term
described as a stringy gel-like semi-solid which often extruded from
various orifices of a medium during spirit contact. Modern spirit
photography now considers it a paranormal vaporous airborne substance
which appears in photographs.
F Stop: It is the number that equals the lens' focal length
divided by the diameter of the aperture. The smaller the F stop value,
the more light you are allowing into the camera at any one time.
Focal Length: When focus is set at infinity, it is the distance
from the rear nodal point of the lens to the focal plane.
Frames per second: Frames per second or fps is used to describe
how quickly a motor drive or winder can automatically advance a film
camera. In regards to a digital, it refers to how quickly the cameras
processor and buffer can take photographs in succession.
Hot Shoe: A universal fitting atop many cameras used to run
accessories such as an external flash.
ISO: International Standards Organization. It is the prefix to
film speed which has replaced ASA (American Standards Association).
The higher the ISO value, the faster the film speed and generally the
grainer the image quality.
Lux: Internal Standards unit of illumination equal to one lumen
per square meter. This is the minimum amount of light needed for a
camera to record a visible image.
Nodal Points: These are located in two areas of a compound lens
system. The frontal nodal point is located where the rays of light
entering the lens appear to converge. The rear nodal point is where
the rays of light appear to have come from after passing through the
lens.
Shutter Speed: The rate at which the camera's shutter opens and
closes. The faster the shutter speed, the smaller the time of
exposure. It is typically incremented in fractions of a second.
Simulacra: The ability of the human brain to associate
recognizable images to unidentified objects.
Spirit orb: A paranormal based photographed anomaly of a semi-
conscious spherical object. In most cases these are self-illuminating
and also known as spirit lights.
Equipment:
Digital, APS, 35mm, and instant cameras have all been used in the
field of spirit photography with moderate success. Each type has its
own advantages. When first selecting a camera for spirit photography,
it is important to keep in mind the conditions in which you will be
shooting. Most shooting sessions will performed in low light.
If you plan to use 35mm, it is ideal to have a camera that can
handle faster film speeds and offers you some control over shutter
speed and aperture settings. In addition, you may want to use a camera
equipped with a hot shoe for an external flash. The benefits of this
format are that you typically have much higher resolution than that of
commercial digital cameras and have the negative to review and confirm
potential evidence. Most 35mm film is considered equivalent to 16 to
20 Megapixels and thus images can be blown-up with very little
distortion. They also offer the widest variety of lenses, flashes,
filters, and accessories. The general draw-backs of 35mm are the
expense and the delay of film processing. You do not instantly know if
you captured a paranormal anomaly on film.
The APS camera generally has more drawbacks than 35mm for spirit
photography. APS has lower resolution than 35mm photography because it
uses a smaller negative area. This causes increased graininess when
enlarging prints. The negatives are also enclosed; preventing them
from being useful or convenient to review the evidence. On average,
APS processing costs more than 35mm. Therefore, if you wish to go with
a traditional film camera, 35mm offers more benefits and flexibility.
Digital photography has progressed a long way in the recent years.
There are several benefits to using a digital camera for spirit
photography. They include instant viewing of shots taken and money
saved in processing costs. Some digital cameras can record partially
or fully in the infrared spectrum as well. Sony produces two cameras
currently in its Cybershot series that allow for photographs to be
taken in 0 lux through the use of infrared technology. The main
drawback to digital technology is that commercial cameras do not offer
the affordable resolution of a 35mm. The other limitation of digital
photography is that many photographers feel the images produced do not
offer the depth of 35mm. This problem is being greatly reduced through
better lens systems and the introduction of the digital SLR. If you
are selecting a digital camera for spirit photography, you should look
for one that offers high resolution and low interference noise in low-
light. Online publications such as Digital Photography Review
(www.dpreview.com) can offer assistance in selecting a specific
model.
Polaroid or instant cameras also work well for spirit photography.
They offer the benefit of seeing the image results in very little time
compared to other film cameras. The image plate is also resistant to
tampering and image manipulation allowing it to be used as a more
credible source of evidence than digital photography. The main
drawbacks to this camera type are high film costs and very little
control over camera settings.
Other equipment that should be carried with you during photography
sessions include a flashlight and cell phone. Many places used for
taking spirit photographs are poorly lit and offer potential hazards.
It is important to operate safely.
Film:
If you selected a film based camera, you will need to use a faster
film speed than normally used for daylight photography. ISO 400 or 800
speed film works well. Going above ISO 800 often causes a loss of
resolution due to image graininess. Infrared film can also be used.
See "Advanced Tips" for details on infrared film.
Some spirit photographers prefer to photograph only in black and
white. By removing the color aspects of the print, you can see a
greater difference in contrast; which makes anomalies much more
clearly defined in some cases. Kodak currently produces ISO 400 BWC
film for 35mm cameras that requires no special processing.
Digital Resolution:
If you selected a digital camera for use in spirit photography,
you will want to use it on its maximum resolution (highest Megapixel
value). If the camera saves images in more than one format, it is
advised to have it save in RAW, TIFF, or PNG mode. These provide finer
details and less distortion than compressed formats such as JPEG or
GIF.
Preparation:
Before investigating any site, it is important to insure the
upkeep of your camera. Check the lens for signs of smudges, scratches,
dust, or condensation. Use lens cleaning materials that are approved
for your specific lens type. Avoid caustics or harsh abrasives that
could damage your lens further. Cameras should have a lens cap on them
or the lens retracted into the camera housing when not in immediate
use. A smudge or scratch can quickly give a "ghostly" anomaly on a
long series of photographs. Thus lens care is important.
Make sure your camera is equipped with fresh batteries or that the
internal battery is properly charged. Rapid battery discharge is a
fairly common phenomenon with haunted locations. You may even wish to
bring extra batteries on your photo sessions in case of sudden voltage
drains.
Getting Started:
A good place to start spirit photography, if you are not lucky
enough to live in a haunted home, is at a local cemetery. If possible,
select a nearby cemetery that is older and has a wealth of history
behind it. It is advisable to visit the cemetery first during daylight
hours to become familiar with the layout and possible hazards that may
be present. It is also important to become familiar with specific
cemetery rules or regulations. Be advised that some city, county, or
state regulations prohibits visiting a cemetery after dusk or limit
visitation to certain hours. It is important that you are familiar
with what regulations are in effect for cemeteries near you to avoid
being charged with trespassing. If unsure, contact your local county
municipal building or sheriff's department.
Once you are familiar with the location, come back in the evening
near dusk. The darkening sky will provide a contrasting backdrop to
the anomalies you wish to capture on film. Be respectful of your
location. You are walking among the physical remains of people's
parents, children, brothers, and sisters. For some investigators, it
is standard etiquette to announce your intentions upon entering the
site and to ask for cooperation from the local spirits.
Begin taking pictures whenever you feel inclined. Paranormal
phenomena can occur quickly. If your camera is so equipped, take
pictures in small bursts. If not, take pictures in series of twos
before changing your camera orientation. By having more than one photo
of the same setting, you have additional photos for comparison when an
anomaly is captured.
While telephoto lenses can provide you with amazingly crisp detail
in photographs, it is important to note that most anomalies in spirit
photographs are not visible by the naked eye. Thus, the use of a wide
angle lens allows you to capture more of the surroundings and in
return increases the likelihood of capturing something on film.
Take as many pictures as you desire. The more pictures you take,
the greater your odds will be of capturing paranormal phenomena with
your camera. True spirit photographs are rare. While some
organizations claim a very high success rate for their methods of
spirit photography, these numbers dwindle quickly when the photographs
they present are scrutinized by experts. The chances of taking a true
spirit photograph are roughly two to five percent based on
publications and various reported successes by ghost research
organizations. Thus, you should truly plan to use at least two rolls
of film per site or the equivalent number of digital pictures. You
should also not be discouraged if a few photo sessions do not produce
any viable images.
Some spirit photographers take an electromagnetic field detector
with them to a site. When the meter detects an unusual field reading,
the photographer will take several shots in that area. Others rely on
their instincts or feelings of chills on the back of their neck. There
are a variety of techniques that can be used as aids. Work with what
you have available and what you feel comfortable with.
Keep in mind that many false positive spirit photographs are
created by light reflections, so be mindful of reflective surfaces as
you begin to photograph the area. Subjects like marble tombstones,
road reflectors, or litter can all cause false anomalies in
photographs. The most common false positive is the "dorb" or dust orb.
When fine particles such as dust, pollen, or dirt are within the focal
point of the camera, they can create spherical light reflections on
film. These are sometimes mistaken as spirit orbs. Small insects can
give similar reflections, sometimes more oblong in shape. This
occurrence is more common with cameras that have a built-in flash that
is very close to the lens.
One method to avoid light reflections is to use an external flash
with a diffuser. This provides more consistent lighting throughout the
area, cutting down on the amount of light bounce. The use of an
external flash also positions the flash further from the lens system,
minimizing orb effects.
Another method to reduce light reflections is to reduce the intensity
of the flash. Many camera models allow you to adjust the flash
intensity. While reducing the flash intensity will reduce the amount
of light reflections, it will also result in darker photographs. To
combat this effect, you may have to compensate by further opening your
camera aperture or slowing your shutter speed. If shutter speed is too
low, you risk problems associated with camera shake. The use of a
tripod and a cable release will help minimize camera shake.
If you can avoid using a flash, do so. Most flashes are only
effective for four to five feet in dark open areas. Thus for low-light
areas such as cemeteries, the flash does not bring much benefit to a
camera with good ISO, shutter, and aperture controls.
Film Processing:
If you are not skilled in developing your own prints, it is highly
recommended that you send all film out to a laboratory for processing.
While this may dramatically increase the time it takes for your
pictures to be ready for review, the quality control present at a
laboratory is much higher than your average 1-hour photo shop. You
will be more likely to receive back images with processing and
chemical errors from a 1-hour developer due to the time constraints
placed upon them. Dust, hair, and improperly mixed chemicals can leave
blob or line shaped anomalies in the pictures. Images are also
sometimes developed with small scrapes. If you are using infrared
film, you do not have the option; it must be sent to the laboratory.
When submitting film for processing, indicate on the envelope
"DEVELOP ALL PICTURES". Lab technicians do not know you are shooting
images at night and looking for anomalies. Your apparition at a glance
may appear to be a defective print and discarded. You may also wish to
include on the envelope to avoid photo correction techniques. Many
laboratories now automatically fix film flaws, such as red eye
reduction. Every change that occurs to your photograph decreases its
creditability of it being genuine phenomena by various skeptics or
experts in the field.
General Tips:
· Avoid reflective surfaces like litter, road markers, and marble
tombstones outdoors. Indoors be concerned over glass, mirrors, metal
objects, and glossy paint.
· Move slowly and do your best not to stir up dirt and dust. This can
create dorbs on film.
· Do not photograph within the path you have just walked. As you walk,
you disturb insects and pollen which can cast reflections.
· Be weary of taking photographs during early morning. Mist can come
off vegetation and the ground. Pictures of this mist are often
confused for ectoplasm. Likewise, morning dew creates reflections.
· Do not photograph during poor weather conditions. Rain and snow can
appear as orbs and other anomalies.
· Be careful when photographing on an angle perpendicular to the sun.
This may create lens flare. Use a lens hood and/or polarized filter to
help reduce the chances of this error.
· When using slow shutter speeds, use a tripod. When possible, use a
cable release.
· Avoid using lens hoods when using a flash. They can decrease the
amount of light that actually reaches the lens from the flash and end
up with under exposed images.
· If photographing in groups, you may want to announce when you are
taking a picture. This prevents individuals from photographing each
other's flash.
Advanced Tips:
Some organizations such as the Ghost Research Society of Chicago
work extensively with infrared film. Likewise, many digital cameras
are capable of photographing in the infrared range. However, some
accessories or modifications may be necessary for proper picture
taking.
When using 35mm infrared film, it should be purchased fresh just
prior to use. Infrared film is stored cold to help prevent exposure.
If your infrared film is not removed from a refrigeration unit, do not
buy it; the film may already be ruined. Keep the film stored in its
container and in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
Remove the film approximately one hour before use to allow it to warm
to room temperature. Inserting the film into your camera must be done
in complete darkness. Even using a dark room's red light risks
exposing the film and destroying it, before it is even used. Likewise
once the film is used, it must be removed in complete darkness as
well.
Using 35mm IR film does not require you to use a filter. However,
if you wish to strictly limit what wavelengths are recorded, you may
wish to use an IR pass filter. These filters can help remove the
chances of recording any visible light. This can be useful especially
during daylight photography.
If you wish to perform IR photography with a digital camera, you
need to see if the CCD or CMOS chip is infrared enabled. Numerous
camera companies place a "hot mirror" between the sensor and the lens
system which blocks out infrared light. A simple test to check is to
point a television remove control at the lens and press a button. If
the LCD display shows light emitting from the remote, your camera can
at least partially photograph in the infrared region. If it does not,
you can consider opening your camera and replacing the hot mirror with
a piece of glass the same size. However, removing the hot mirror can
sometimes cause changes in image clarity and quality. With an IR
enabled camera, you should use a filter to remove the excess visual
light.
The infrared spectrum starts at 700 nm. To completely remove all
visible light from photographs, you would have to use a Tiffen 87 or
greater filter. Depending on the surrounding light during your
photography session, you may have to combine the IR filter with a
neutral density filter to prevent over or under exposure.
On the opposite side of the visible spectrum is ultraviolet. Many
digital cameras can also take images in this wavelength space. The
"hot mirror" must also be deactivated or removed as with IR
photography. A UV pass filter must be used with the camera; some
include the 18A or B+W 403. This prevents all light above 360 nm from
passing to the camera sensor. This will also slow exposures by 8 to 20
times. A tripod should be used with this filter to prevent camera
shake.
Evaluation:
Once the pictures have been processed or downloaded for viewing,
each individual print needs to be carefully reviewed. Paranormal
indicators can include:
· Unusual shadows that do not have a point of origin.
· Unusual color, lightness, or clarity shifts in sections of the
image.
· Semi-translucent objects or people (be careful that this is not due
to slow shutter speeds).
· Self-illuminating orbs or spheres of light.
You may wish to use such programs as Adobe Photoshop
(www.adobe.com) or Corel Paintshop Pro (www.corel.com) to help
identify anomalies. These programs offer a variety of features such as
Zoom, Gamma Correction, and Channel Splitting to help you better
review your photographs. In addition, many paranormal organizations,
such as Grimstone Inc. (www.grimstone-inc.com), also accepts
photographs to assist you in evaluations.
In Conclusion:
The still camera is a valuable tool for finding proof of the
existence of life after death. Like with all tools, the more
knowledgeable you are on its use, the more you can accomplish with it.
The proper use of a still camera can allow a researcher or ghost
hunter to capture images of subjects that are too quick to be
recognized by the naked eye. They also allow us to glimpse into the
unseen world of the infrared and ultraviolet. It is important to learn
not only the camera's abilities but limitations so you can quickly
dismiss false positive photographs and make accurate assessments on
the rare photos of apparitions.
REVIEW OF SONY MINIDV HANDYCAM, MODEL DSC-HC42 NTSC
BY JEREMY HAWTHORNE, ARC PARANORMAL
Product Name: Sony MiniDV Handycam, Model DSC-HC42 NTSC
Developer/Manufacturer: Sony Inc.
Options Available: None
Options on Product at Time of Review: Not Applicable
Overall A.R.C. Rating: 3.9 out of 5.0
>From the Manufacturer: Capture and transfer video images quickly and
easily with Sony's DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder. Its
professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens captures brilliant
images with lifelike color and tones, and the Advanced HAD CCD imager
provides stunning detail and clarity. The Progressive Shutter System
supplies digital still images with excellent definition and sharpness.
The DCR-HC42 makes transferring data a cinch via the included Handycam
Station docking device. Now you can easily connect to television for
viewing and to a USB-compatible PC for editing and sharing digital
images and video. Memory Stick Duo media compatibility makes it simple
for you to take your images with you wherever you go
A.R.C. Review: This is a decent camcorder for it's price range. The
Night Shot ability is great. Granted, the IR emitter that is built
into this camcorder is not very powerful. That is why is is important
to obtained a secondary light source for taking night vision shots.
This camcorder has two night vision settings, Night Shot Plus and
Super Night Shot Plus. It's recommended staying away from the Super
Night Shot Plus becuase it tends to slow the frame rate down.
It can take two different types of recording media at the same time,
which is a huge advantage. Being a MiniDV camcorder, it takes MiniDV
tapes. It also has a slot for Sony memory stick Duo. This camcorder is
very compact and fits comfortably in your hand. If your new to
camcorder operations then there is an "Easy" button that simplifies
all the functions for you. The 2.7" touch screen is nice but can be a
little confusing to navigate through from time to time. This camcorder
come with a docking cradle that makes uploading easy. Just install the
software and drivers on your computer and plug in the cradle. When you
want to upload you simply dock the camcorder via the connection
located on the bottom and you done. You can see a picture of the
docking station to the left. It's the third picture from the top.
Overall, the DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam isn't a bad choice. It's
moderately priced for a camcorder and at it's peak was the nicest
MiniDV camcorder that Sony produced that came with Night Shot. The
lens has a built-in cover with an "Open/Close" switch, which is an
excellent feature, when you don't have to worry about losing a cover.
The intellegent shoe is great when you want to add accessories too.
The Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar is also a nice lens for such a compact
camcorder.