The Beyond: Still Camera Guide

This is going to be brief, but it's important.

Digital or film?

   You have to first figure out what you want to accomplish through your photography. That will help you determine which type of camera would be more productive for you to use. Do you want to use film, or do you want to go digital?

So, ask yourself... What are you trying to accomplish by taking pictures?

Is it a personal study? Are you going to be investigating homes in order to help people who need it? Are you bored, and just looking for something to do?

   If you answer yes to any of those questions, then it doesn't matter if you use film or if you go digital. It'll all come down to personal preference.

But...

   If you're looking to PROVE the existence of the beyond to someone, believer or non believer, then digital is out of the question!

   The problem with digital is that it is too easily falsified. All you have to do is know a little about photoshop, and you can make any normal picture look like it has a paranormal anomaly. If you're interested in obtaining solid proof you have to be prepared for skeptics to shoot it down, and THEY WILL. With actual film, you you will have a film negative of your proof that cannot be tampered with. That goes a long way in proving your case. With digital, all that you have is your word, and unfortunately it's not good enough.

   With that said, many people DO accept digital as proof. I'm just trying to prepare you for the inevitable skeptic who, come to think of it, probably wouldn't believe the film evidence either.

   If you're not worried about proving it to the world, digital will do just fine. I mean, you know you didn't falsify anything... Right? If you're investigating a home, you're not going to give false evidence to a homeowner, or a colleague.

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Film Cameras

Pros

Initially much less expensive
Can produce a negative, and be used as proof

Cons

Expensive to develop
Film costs

Advantages & Disadvantages of Digital Cameras

Pros

LCD screen to preview your picture
No film which saves a TON of cash in developing
Easy to transfer images to computer
Most modern digitals have a limited infrared capability

Cons

Initially Expensive
Cannot be used to obtain solid proof

Choosing a camera
   Personally, I think both are useful. Use your digital most of the time. Take your pictures without worrying about wasting film. Keep an eye on your LCD screen, and the moment you see something odd on the screen, pull out the film camera. Start snapping pictures. You got the SOLID evidence with the bare minimum of wasted film.

   After you've decided on film or digital, it's pretty simple. Pretty much any camera will work. With film, even disposable cameras can do the job. The general consensus is that you want an auto focus 35mm camera with 400 speed film.

   As far as digital cameras are concerned, the first thing you want to make sure is that it works well in 'low-light' conditions. That shouldn't be much of an issue because most digital cameras made lately, have at least some infrared capabilities. The more megapixels on the camera, the higher the quality of photos will be, but many have had great results with low megapixel cameras.

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