OKPRI: Technology

This page is dedicated to show our viewers some of the equipment that we have.  We are currently in the process of adding new equipment and as the new equipment comes in, we will add photos and descriptions of each.  Below is a few photos with descriptions of some of the equipment that we have.  We will not be showing all the extra batteries and smaller various pieces of equipment.  We will however be adding more equipment to this page in the near future!   Please check back every so often to see the equipment we add as we are always adding to our collection!

Sony HD Camcorder:

True to it's name and great quality products, the Sony HD Camcorder usually ranges in price starting at $1800.00.  This camcorder has great features which include:  The LCD Screen is Manufactured using  extremely high-precision technology, so over 99.99% of the pixels are operational for effective use. The camera has three different night shot settings, which allow the user to increase or decrease the amount of  infrared used at any time. This HD camcorder provides perfect clarity for audio much better than Sony's Digital 8 Camcorders.

It has several audio features for different audio options. Even comes with and internal hot shoe for additional lighting options. We have used wireless mics with this camcorder, however since the audio clarity is so good, wireless mics are not even needed.  The easy LCD flip screen is versatile and can turn 180 degrees.  We would highly recommend this camcorder if ones budget would allow.

Sony Digital 8 Camcorder:

Any Sony digital camcorder is great to use and one of the reasons is because of their ability to use night-vision.  Sony is the only brand of camcorder that makes quality night-shot products.  This camcorder is light weight but has limited Infrared capabilities.  Without an extender, this camcorder will only pick up on an area ranging about 10-15 in front of the camera's view.  If using this camcorder, an IR illuminator & extender is highly recommended.

Although the audio quality on this is not quite as good as the Sony HD, it still puts off impressive audio record back.  Since this camcorder doesn't have an internal hot-shot for extra lighting or IR, an external illuminator and  extender is needed for this camcorder in order to run extra IR.  The extender however needs to be one made by Sony in order to connect properly to the underside of the camcorder.  Another good feature about this camcorder is that is it is compatible to play back Hi-8 tapes, but it is not recommended that you record with a Hi-8 tape due to poor quality.  This camcorder usually runs in price for about $350.00

IR Extenders:

Infrared Extenders are nice to have when you need a little extra IR, h0wever don't expect miracles with them.  Much beyond 35 feet or so the light falls off sharply and they tend to give a rectangular "hotspot" of light right in the centre of frame.  The ability to "dial" the amount of light coming from this unit is nice too, but you could find yourself fiddling with it while filming, this can be distracting for both the videographer and viewer alike.  While the IR Extenders may have short coming disadvantages, they can also prove to be useful when you need the added infrared light.

Camcorder Batteries:

As most paranormal investigators will tell you, you always need batteries, especially when it comes to running some of your more higher tech equipment such as camcorders.  Using the IR and extra lighting on most camcorders will cause  your batteries to drain quiet easily so it's always a good idea to have extra ones around.  When it comes to camcorder batteries, there are different types according to the type of camcorder you have.  You will also find that there are different sizes of batteries as well.  The thicker ones are your extra life batteries and can provide an average of up to 6 hours for a regular Digital 8 camcorder, 4 hours for an HD camcorder and about 15 hours for an IR extender. 

Wireless Microphones:

These wireless microphones can come in handy when you need a little extra boost for audio and clarity.  The type of wireless microphones that you use though, should depend on the type of camcorders that you are using them with.  You have to make sure that those wireless microphones with transmitters is compatible with your camcorder of choice.

Digital Cameras:

We have the Sony DSC-V1 5mega-pixel Cyber shot Digital Camera. This is a great little camera because of its many features which include nightshot and night framing.  The 5 mega pixels allow for great clarity with photos and this camera is great because it allows the user to include extra lighting with the internal a hot-shoe which is also great for extra infrared when using an external IR illuminator.  It has automatic or manual shutter speed as well.  The only thing our group does not like about this camera is that it has about a 7 second delay when used in some settings.

Digital Camera:

Sony S600 --6 mpxl. camera

6.0 megapixel performance, Carl Zeiss® 3X Optical zoom, wide-angle shooting and high sensitivity, the Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-S600 is a great value. Powerful and affordable, the DSC-S600 has strong flash, 2.0¹ LCD screen and 32 MB² Internal Memory for in-camera shooting. One of the things that we like about this type of camera is that it's flash is bright enough to be able to reach the darkest areas and it can still retain the highest quality of photographs.  It can also record video with high quality but yet is small enough to hold in your hand comfortably.  It has a large display screen which allows the user to easily see the picture they are taking and also for easy playback and review. 

K-11 EMF Meter:

Said to be made specifically for paranormal investigating, this emf meter has quickly become a favorite a select few groups who use them, our group included.   The K-11 meter is great because it is not as sensitive as some other type of emf meters and usually does not pick up on weak emf fields.  This meter however is a stationary type meter and should not be used as mobile or it will give false readings due to movement. 

The K-11 meter is a helpful aid for those investigators who like to monitor a specific area for changing emf fields.  It is a light only meter, and quite small, but don't let it fool you....if you're looking for a great way to monitor emf, the K-11 meter is an excellent choice!

Gauss Master & Dr. Gauss EMF Meters:

One of the more common & basic forms of meters for both advanced paranormal researchers and beginners alike, the gauss meter lives up to it's name with great quality for picking up changing emf fields.  What is great about this meter is that it has 2 levels of sensitivity: depressed for greater sensitivity and un-depressed for less sensitivity.  This meter is very sturdy and has become a favorite of our group! 

Cell Sensor EMF Meter:

An emf meter that is well known in the paranormal community.  It is both a sound and light meter and has 2 levels of sensitivity.  Although popular with some groups, our group is not particularly found of the cell sensor due to it's levels of sensitivity and slight levels of movement which can trigger a false reading for emf.

Stationary EMF Arrays:

These little arrays are very hard to find and not commonly sold or distributed.  They are great for monitoring areas either large or small for emf changes.  They are strictly a stationary meter and are probably the most non-sensitive type emf meter that we have encountered so far. 

These meters are a light meter only, however, one of their greatest features is that they enable any paranormal investigator the change to clearly see any changing emf fields due to their 10 bright LED lights which light up the array immediately.  The green LED lights represent the weaker emf fields while the red LED lights represent higher emf fields.  The higher up the LED's go, the stronger the emf field.

Digital Audio Recorders:

Different groups have their preferences in audio recorders, some like analog better than digital for various reasons, but our group prefers the Olympus digital VN series of recorders due to their excellent recording quality and easy functions.  Olympus has many models of audio recorders, most with basic features, some with just longer recording time than others.  We highly recommend the Olympus brand and of course, as technology advances, you will probably want to upgrade your audio recorders.  We would highly recommend that audio recorders used, should be maintained on a high quality setting to help the audio clarity.  This would require using an audio recorder with long HQ recording time if one did not want to be bothered by changing out recorders throughout various times in the investigation.  It's a personal choice however and should be decided by the investigator using the audio recorder.

External Microphones: 

An external microphone of one's choice is always something that we highly recommend due to better quality for audio recordings.  External microphones also seems to decrease some of the background noise that an audio recorder may pick up and increase one's chances of recording more evp.  Our group has done extensive experiments for running audio.  Our experiment consisted of having 2 investigators sync their same brand of audio recorders, staying side by side during the investigation, one using an external microphone and the other not using an external microphone.  The ending results showed that the investigator who ran audio with the external microphone picked up more evps that the other investigator's who didn't use an external microphone. 

Temperature Probe:

While there are many styles, makes and models of temperature probes, many of them work well for the purpose of reading temperatures of a specific area or room.  This type of temperature probe is a CEM DT-8810 Infrared Thermo-Meter and is good for getting the temperature of a certain area, but not for ambient temp. of a room. This temperature probe takes a temperature reading of an area 6 feet in diameter so any area measured with this probe should be noted at a distance of 6 feet.  Our group has found this probe to be sturdy and great for measuring hot and cold spots of an area.  This meter has a green back light and a red laser light to help any investigator see the readings and/or areas that they are using the temperature probe on in the dark.  It has 2 degree type settings, Fahrenheit and Celsius. 

 IR Motion Sensor:

We use this IR Motion Sensor to firstly guard an area were experiments are set up, thereby protecting them from interference from outside sources.  We also believe that this may also alert us if the experiment is tampered with by a spirit.  It can also be used to "watch" an area for movement if we suspect that a spirit maybe moving about.  The IR Motion Sensor works by detecting movement of a heat source like a human body.  There is some debate as to whether it could detect a spirit moving about because they don't always give out a heat signature. They can also be affected by strong draughts too so always place in an area that is relatively draught free and preferably indoors.  This model comes with a remote control keyfob so it can be armed/disarmed at a distance without setting it off.

 The Stud Detector:

The Stud Detector was originally designed to find hidden electrical wires and metal pipes behind stud walls, hence the name.  We drafted this one into service to help eliminate False Positive EMF Meter activations.  If we get a high EMF reading near to a wall socket or light switch, we can then use the Stud Detector to tell if the switch or socket is "live".  This was the can eliminate this as a source of the high EMF.