Ghost Hunting Equipment and Tools
After years of field testing and everyday use, we have settled on a few key pieces of electronic equipment which we depend on for collecting reliable evidence during our investigations. These indispensable items include MiniDisc recorders with external microphones for EVP recording, Ghost Meters for detecting moving electromagnetic energy fields, and various digital and film cameras for photographing paranormal energies. We also use Sony NightShot video cameras to document our investigations.
This type of equipment can be purchased from local or online electronics stores, and good used equipment can also sometimes be found on online auction sites such as eBay. Some of the items listed below are available for purchase in our Ghost Hunters Store.
We have also discovered that period music is quite effective in attracting paranormal energies, and simple trigger objects such as coins or small toys can be used to detect the presence of paranormal energies.
In our experience, you only need a few key pieces of equipment to get consistent results during investigations. Don't waste your money on fancy, expensive equipment that you don't need and you'll never use. Contact us first if you need advice on purchasing or using investigation equipment or accessories.
Our Key Equipment
SP's Equipment
- EMF
- Ghost Meter EMF meter
- Photo
- Olympus SP350 8.0 megapixel digital camera
- Olympus FL-20 external hot shoe flash
- Olympus IS-50 35mm film camera
- Ilford Delta 3200 Professional black and white film
- Polaroid One Instant camera
- Polaroid 600 color instant film
- Audio
- Sharp MD-SR60 digital MiniDisc audio recorder
- Sony 5MDW80CL2 80-minute MiniDiscs
- Azden EX505U unidirectional lavalier microphone
- Video
- Sony CCD-TRV75 Hi8 Analog IR NightShot video camcorder
- Sony HVL-IRH2 extender light
- Sony P6-120HMPL Digital8/Hi8 HMP video cassette tapes
Eddie's Equipment
- EMF
- Ghost Meter EMF meter
- Photo
- Canon EOS Rebel EXi 12.2 megapixel digital camera
- Audio
- Sharp MD-SR60 digital MiniDisc audio recorder
- Sony 5MDW80CL2 80-minute MiniDiscs
- Azden EX505U unidirectional lavalier microphone
- Panasonic RR-QR100 digital audio recorder
- Video
- Sony CCD-TRV615 Hi8 IR NightShot video camcorder
- Sony HVL-IRC IR extender light
- Sony P6-120HMPL Hi8 HMP video cassette tapes
Other Useful Ghost Hunting Tools
In addition to the electronic equipment listed above, we use common household items during our investigations which can be purchased locally or online.
- Trigger Objects
- In active areas at investigation sites, we often place coins on top of photocopies of the coins to see if they will be moved. Alternately, a coin can be placed on a blank sheet of paper and an outline drawn around the coin. We check these trigger objects periodically during investigations and sometimes monitor them with video surveillance. If a coin or coins are moved during an investigation and we can verify that no one has entered that area, this is a good indication that paranormal energy is present at the site. We also use childrens' toys (stuffed animals, marbles, jacks, etc.) as trigger objects in certain situations.
- CDs of Period Music
- At older sites such as Civil War battlefields or locations where many generations of people lived, we play period music as a method of attracting paranormal energies. These are recordings of music which would have been popular during a particular time period (ex. Civil War songs, early 1900's children's songs, etc.). This technique has proven to be very successful in initiating interaction with paranormal energies, especially when used prior to EVP recording sessions.
- CD Player
- We use a small, portable battery powered CD player to play period music during investigations. The battery powered feature comes in handy when we investigate sites with no power sources such as Civil War battlefields.
- Flashlights
- It's essential to carry a flashlight during investigations! We use powerful pocket size LED flashlights and sometimes take larger military issue flashlights on outdoor investigations.
- Extra Batteries
- Spare batteries are a must since batteries will often drain completely during an investigation. Always take plenty of fresh batteries in a range of sizes and carry of couple of spares in your pocket at all times if possible.
- Note Pad and Pen
- A note pad and pen are useful for recording the time and description of paranormal events which occur during investigations. It's much easier to find key information in a note pad rather than fast forwarding and rewinding through an audio recording.
- Watch
- A watch is essential to note the various times when paranormal events occur during an investigation.
- Dowsing Rods
- Skilled users can sometimes use these L-shaped brass rods to find areas of concentrated paranormal energy.
