Ghost Hunters Toolbox
Famous ghost hunter Harry Price was the first paranormal investigator to attempt to record anomalies using scientific means. His personal kit (above) helped to form the basis of the modern-day ghost hunter's toolbox. You too can compile your own kit for the field, but don’t get too carried away. Less is more, and don’t forget that fickle ‘sixth sense’ that can alert you to have that camera ready.
The Basics While much of the high-tech equipment is optional, anything that makes it easier to monitor an environment is a must-have for serious ghost-hunters. Besides the requisite pen, paper and wristwatch (be fastidious about noting down times and places) you can throw in a tape measure, some chalk, a spool of cotton, sticky tape and anything else you think may be useful.
Compass Like an EMF, the compass picks up discrepancies in magnetic fields. Just watch that North-pointing arrow for any wild fluctuations. For the best results you should rest it on a flat surface.
35mm Camera Preferably an SLR model. We frown on the use of digital cameras exclusively because they provide no negative, which is required by third parties to verify that a photograph that purports to show paranormal phenomena has not been faked. Make sure you remove that camera strap (too many "spirits" end up being stray camera straps!). Also try to avoid taking pictures in inclement weather when outside (many "orbs" are just light refracting off condensation) and try to refrain from smoking and exhaling breath in cold conditions (both have a habit of manifesting on film as ectoplasmic-like entities).
Electro Magnetic Field Meter (EMF) A handy piece of equipment that can register energy emissions and fluctuations in energy fields. It is commonly viewed that ghosts disrupt energy fields, causing higher then normal readings to be registered. As a precaution you should know what the normal readings of the EMF would be in a house or area before use. It’s no good getting excited when the mobile phone rings for instance (and watching the reading shoot off the scale makes you think what that kind of radiation is doing to your brain!). Also rest this instrument on a flat surface for the best results.
Video Recorder and Tripod An excellent way to capture the activities (or lack of) during the evening. The videotape can also be used as a backup to any interesting photographs that may have been taken. It is also a good idea to set it up filming on a tripod in a known area of activity, or in a room where no one is present to see what is picked up. Choose a model which has night vision or 0-Lux capabilities for the best results.
Thermometer or Thermal Scanner Useful in detecting and verifying "cold spots" and monitoring fluctuations in temperature within rooms. Just remember not to keep it in your hip pocket, and to keep a running record of any fluctuations in your notebook.
Tape recorder with External Microphone Used in the collection of Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), tape recorders with external microphones (so that the external machinations of the tape recorder itself are not recorded) have been successful in many instances in recording voices, believed to be those of deceased people. The best results tend to reflect the quality of the recording equipment being used.
Motion Detectors Another excellent tool for monitoring empty rooms. Motion Detectors, as the name denotes, detect movement in a room. You can get battery-operated detectors - again, make sure those batteries are fresh - which will sound off an alarm. There are also top of the range video cameras that can be activated through movement, thus saving you from watching hours of empty tape!