Ghosts Camera: Cameras that see Ghosts?

Making a Ghosts Camera: Converting and Using an IR Digital Camera for Ghost Hunting

All of us are aware of color photography which primarily photographs the visible light spectrum, but
are ghosts normally found within the visible light? Many ghost photographers would agree that
ghosts seem to prefer darkness for cover. There is nothing magical about this. If you want to hide,
then you seek cover, and darkness provides the best place to hide. Today, many are attempting
to photograph ghosts in darkness by using the regular flash unit. The problem with this is that the
bright flash of light is distracting to the ghost investigator, and most likely to ghosts who do not wish
to be detected. The obvious solution would be to use infrared lighting to covertly illuminate the
darkness, while not illuminating it with visible light. To do this, one needs to use a camera capable
of infrared photography - a real ghosts camera!

The old-time method for infrared photography would be to use IR film that is both difficult and
expensive to work with. A lower cost solution would be to use a digital camera that is able to see
the infrared spectrum of light and record it digitally. Digital cameras have great white light and
infrared visibility (from about 350 -1000 nm), but unfortunately use an IR-cut filter (aka "hot mirror")
that blocks out most of the infrared spectrum. By virtually eliminating infrared light, digital cameras
take better color photographs. The IR-cut filter allows only the visible light spectrum to be
recorded by the camera's eye (approximately a range of 350-700 nm), spanning from only the
upper end of the ultraviolet spectrum (10 - 400 nm), through the visible (380-750 nm), and up to
the infrared spectrum (750 - 1000 nm).

Why not consider using a digital camera that is converted to see a broader spectrum for ghost
hunting? By doing, so we can allow the camera to see more (potentially from the upper end of the
ultraviolet range, completely through both the visible and infrared spectrum), providing a better
opportunity to possibly capture a ghost in our photographs. Though such a modified digital
camera should make a great tool for ghost hunting in low-light conditions, it may not be good for
daylight situations. It will depend on whether or not you choose to eliminate the visible spectrum. If
the visible spectrum is filtered out, you'll have a camera that can take stunning daytime
photographs.

But for our ghosts camera, we will recommend using an infrared illuminator for nighttime conditions.
This will still allow ghosts the cover of darkness, but illuminate the area for the camera to be able to
see what remains hidden to the human eye. These can be purchased at any camera store.

The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of
different wavelengths of radiation, from sound to
light. Theories abound as to where on the
spectrum that ghosts may best be able to be
detected. For example, are ghosts and spirits at
a lower, or higher vibration (wavelength) than our
equipment can capture? If so, then can we
modify our equipment to focus on specific
wavelengths to capture paranormal evidence?
By experimenting with enhanced cameras in
reportedly haunted locations, we just may be able
to find out.

Let's first show you an example of an infrared photograph
as compared to a color, and black white image. The
images at left show the difference between all three.
Notice how the sky is dark in the infrared photograph,
while the leaves are shades of white. The black and
white photo is an opposite effect, with a lighter sky and
darkened leaves.

Modifying Cameras To See Infrared
It is not known as of this writing if all digital cameras can
be modified, but it is well-known that the Canon G1 and
G2 are able to be converted along with other digital
cameras (see digital cameras you can modify).

To create a camera that can see a broader spectrum of
light, you will need to remove the IR cut filter, replacing it
with clear optical glass. For the faint of heart, you should
know that you can purchase cameras already converted,
or simply have your digital camera sent away and
modified (see links at the bottom of the page).

Ghosts camera - black & white photograph

Tearing digital cameras apart and removing the IR filter can be difficult, and one
must be sure to re-assemble the camera exactly as it came apart. The basic idea
is to carefully remove any covers, wire bundles, or circuit boards that obscure the
CCD sensor (the eye of the camera), which when removed will reveal a rubber
grommet and the IR cut filter. Typically, after the grommet is removed, the camera
can then be tipped upside down to allow the filter to drop out. Now the tricky part.
It is sometimes possible to purchase an optically clear piece of glass that will fit
back into the space once occupied by the filter you just removed, however it may
be necessary to create one yourself. You could purchase optical glass the same
thickness as the filter you removed. The optical glass can be cut to size with a
glass cutter (score and snap), or it has been reported that glass microscope slides
(as well as thinner glass slip covers for microscope slides) can be used stacked
together to reach the desired thickness. They can be cut the same way as optical
glass. Be sure to smooth the edges, and clean the glass (if using slides, glue
them together with a little adhesive. You'll want to use a permanent, biological
mounting adhesive designed for making permanent microscope slides to do this
such as EUKITT from EMS, or Entellan Neu from Merck) before installing them in your digital camera. If you want to skip the glass part, it has been reported that you can trim with scissors a few pieces of developed, unexposed camera film to the exact same size as the IR filter. Re-assemble your camera using enough pieces of the film to duplicate the thickness of the IR filter you removed. This is supposed to effectively block out just the visible light spectrum, turning your camera into an infrared-only unit. If your camera is reassembled correctly, it should function properly. However, the ghosts camera will not be useful for normal color photography, so be sure and have a separate camera to use for regular picture taking.

Ghost Camera - Film to filter visible light.

Above: You can try cutting pieces of
developed, unexposed film to filter visible
light for your ghosts camera.

Right: The inside of a Canon Powershot
A610 5.0 megapixel camera. After peeling
back the foil cover, the CCD unit is exposed.
By removing a couple screws, it can carefully
be pulled back exposing the infrared cut filter.

Carefully remove the rubber grommet around
the filter, and the filter should be able to drop
out of the box when the camera is turned
upside down. After replacing the filter with
either glass or pieces of film, you may need
to use some tack, small amount of adhesive
to hold the film or glass in place if the
grommet cannot be re-used.

Disclaimer: This article is a suggestion, but in
no way implies the ideas will work. Angels &
Ghosts makes no guarantee, and does not
imply that this will indeed work. Angels &
Ghosts is not responsible for damages to
anyone's digital cameras. Camera owners
who try this do so at their own risk.

Companies that convert cameras for infrared photography:
http://www.lifepixel.com/index.html
http://www.maxmax.com/

Angels & Ghosts would like to thank the following photographers and experimenters:
FHKE for images and ideas; as well as Kleptography for explanation and instruction.
Thanks to TKay for suggesting this article!

Ghosts Camera Back to: Ghost Hunting Tips