| Because you should use that Christmas present more often!
No, really, there some good reasons for video. Video can capture an entire area and most of the activity that goes on. Catching a photo of a full-body apparition is a really cool thing, but you don't learn much about it. But seeing how it appears, how long it stays around, and how it leaves can provide a wealth of information. Photos show that something was there, but video shows what it was doing. Video is also far more efficient. You can capture hours of digital video for a tiny fraction of the trouble (and expense) of the same number of photos. Digital camcorders can cover a tremendous amount of landscape in a short time. They may not have the same fine-quality results, but it's a question of detail over volume. Photos for detail, camcorders for volume. (As a side note, most camcorders can also be set to take still photos. This is not a good idea. The quality is not as good, and it eats up memory and battery power a lot faster than video would.) Most camcorders now have limited low-light capability, allowing you to film in near-darkness. This is far superior to having a spotlight that will ruin your night vision, or trying to film in a blackened room. Know what you get when you video total darkness? More darkness. Not very productive stuff. Video also allows you to stop, rewind, and review on the spot if you think you saw something, giving that instant gratification that people crave. Note that this is generally A BAD IDEA and should be avoided at all times. If you absolutely must do this, then have another camcorder going at the same time that you don't stop. Keep a continuing record of everything. But there is one great benefit to video that many researchers overlook; documentation. Video will also catch what the researchers are doing and how they are doing it. While this may not be of much use at the moment, it is of vast importance later on. It is a theory by many people that the researcher's actions influence what sort of paranormal activity happens. Video is the best way to document this relationship. Also, every researcher should try to keep learning and keep improving his methods. Video is invaluable as a training tool. Digital versus analog? Did you really want to go there? Okay, here's the story; go with digital. Not only are VHS cassettes harder to find (and 8mm is virtually extinct), cassette technology never really reached it's full potential. You'll get a better quality of footage in digital than on VHS. It's also safer to store, since CD's cannot be wiped clean if you set it next to something magnetic, while VHS tapes can be damaged if you put them too close to the television. Just keep them in those paper sleeves and plastic cases. A camcorder is not vital to paranormal research, but it is very very helpful. It is more important to have a camera and an audio recorder at all times, a pen and pad to write everything down, and a watch to keep track of when things happen. But after those things, it's not a bad idea to invest in a good quality camcorder. Keep going! Gimme More! Back to the Equipment page Back to the main Q&A page Back to the Front Page |
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| Why Do We Use Video Cameras? |