A full spectrum camera is one of the most valuable pieces of equipment a paranormal investigator can carry. Its ability to capture light across the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectrum — including wavelengths completely invisible to the human eye — makes it a genuinely capable tool for documenting environments and anomalies that standard cameras simply cannot detect. But getting the most out of a full spectrum camera for paranormal investigation requires the right setup, the right settings, and an understanding of what the camera can and cannot do. This guide covers everything you need to know. For an honest overview of what full spectrum cameras can and cannot do for ghost hunting, read: Why Full Spectrum Cameras Can't See Ghosts (But Are Still Brilliant for Ghost Hunting).
Why Full Spectrum Cameras Are Used in Paranormal Investigation
The premise behind using full spectrum cameras in paranormal investigation is straightforward: if there are phenomena occurring at wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, a standard camera — which is deliberately designed to see only what the human eye sees — will not capture them. A full spectrum camera removes this limitation, allowing investigators to document a much broader range of light phenomena.
Whether you approach paranormal investigation from a sceptical, scientific, or open-minded perspective, the logic of using the best available imaging technology is sound. A full spectrum camera doesn't guarantee you'll capture anything anomalous — but it ensures that if something is there to be captured, you have the best possible chance of capturing it.
Essential Equipment
The Camera
A full spectrum converted mirrorless camera is the ideal choice for paranormal investigation. Mirrorless cameras offer several advantages over DSLRs for this application: an electronic viewfinder that shows you exactly what the sensor sees in real time, silent shooting mode, live view video, and a compact, lightweight form factor. The Sony A7 series is a popular choice among serious paranormal investigators, offering excellent image quality, reliable autofocus, and good low-light performance. The Sony A7S variants are particularly valued for their exceptional high-ISO capability. For more on why the Sony A7 is an excellent base for conversion, read: Why the Sony A7 is One of the Best Cameras to Convert to Full Spectrum.
IR Illuminator/Floodlight
An IR illuminator is essential for paranormal investigation in dark environments. Without one, your full spectrum camera will have very little infrared light to work with indoors at night, and your images will be dark and noisy regardless of how high you push the ISO. For a full guide to IR illuminators and how to choose the right one, read: What is an IR Illuminator/Night Vision Light, and Do You Need One?
An 850nm IR illuminator provides strong output and is the most practical choice for most investigation scenarios. If you're concerned about the faint red glow of an 850nm illuminator being visible to other investigators or affecting the environment, a 940nm illuminator is completely invisible but produces less output.
Lenses
For paranormal investigation, a versatile zoom lens is generally more practical than a prime. A wide-angle to standard zoom — such as a 16-35mm or 24-70mm — allows you to cover both wide environmental shots and closer detail work without changing lenses in the dark. Fast lenses (f/2.8 or wider) are valuable in low-light investigation environments. Check that your chosen lens is free of infrared hotspots before relying on it for investigation work.
Tripod and Remote Shutter Release
A sturdy tripod is essential for static camera setups and for any long-exposure work. A remote shutter release allows you to trigger the camera without touching it, eliminating camera shake and allowing you to stand back from the camera during capture.
Spare Batteries and Memory Cards
Cold environments drain batteries faster than normal. Always carry at least two fully charged spare batteries and multiple memory cards.
Camera Settings for Paranormal Investigation
Shoot in RAW
Always shoot in RAW format. RAW files contain the full data captured by the sensor and give you maximum flexibility to adjust exposure, white balance, and detail in post-processing. If you capture something interesting, you want to be able to examine it at full quality.
ISO
In dark investigation environments, you'll typically need to push ISO significantly — ISO 3200, 6400, or higher is common. Modern full-frame mirrorless cameras handle high ISO well, but noise increases with ISO, so use the lowest ISO that gives you a usable exposure. The Sony A7S series is exceptional in this regard, maintaining clean images at very high ISO values.
Shutter Speed
For handheld shooting, use a shutter speed fast enough to avoid motion blur — at least 1/60s, ideally faster. For static tripod setups, longer exposures are possible and can reveal detail that shorter exposures miss.
Aperture
Use a wide aperture (low f-number) to maximise light gathering — f/2.8 or wider if your lens allows.
White Balance
Set a custom white balance for your investigation environment, or shoot in RAW and adjust in post-processing. Auto white balance can produce inconsistent results in infrared-lit environments.
Autofocus
In very dark environments, autofocus can struggle. If your camera has an AF assist beam, enable it. Alternatively, pre-focus on the area of interest and switch to manual focus to lock the focus point.
Video Settings
If you're shooting video as well as stills, set your video to the highest quality your camera supports — at minimum 1080p, ideally 4K if available. Use a frame rate of 25fps (PAL standard in the UK) for smooth footage.
Practical Tips for Investigation
Test Everything Before You Arrive
Test your complete setup — camera, illuminator, lens, and settings — in a dark room at home before the investigation. Confirm that the IR illuminator is working, that the camera is producing clean images, and that you're comfortable operating all the controls in the dark.
Mark Your Setup Positions
If you're setting up static cameras at multiple positions in a location, note the position, direction, and settings of each camera. This makes it much easier to correlate footage from different cameras during review.
Eliminate Contamination Sources
Be aware of potential sources of IR contamination — other investigators' IR illuminators, security cameras, and even some LED lighting can produce near-infrared light that may appear in your images. Document the environment thoroughly at the start of the investigation so you have a baseline to compare against.
Review Footage Carefully
Full spectrum footage rewards careful review. Anomalies that are invisible at normal playback speed may be apparent when footage is reviewed frame by frame.
Document Everything
Keep detailed notes of the time, location, camera settings, and environmental conditions for every image and video clip you capture. This documentation is essential for any serious analysis of your footage and allows you to rule out mundane explanations for anything unusual you capture.
What to Expect
A full spectrum camera is a powerful imaging tool, but it's important to approach it with realistic expectations. The vast majority of images captured during paranormal investigations have mundane explanations — dust particles, insects, reflections, and camera artefacts can all produce unusual-looking images. A full spectrum camera captures more of the light spectrum, which means it can also capture more mundane phenomena that might initially appear anomalous.
The value of a full spectrum camera lies in its ability to document environments comprehensively and to capture anything that might be occurring outside the visible spectrum. Whether or not you capture anything genuinely anomalous, you'll be using the best available imaging technology for the job — and that's the right approach for any serious investigator.
Explore our range of full spectrum converted cameras to build the right investigation kit for your needs.
We will never claim that Full Spectrum cameras can actually see ghosts, and we have another article on "Why Full Spectrum Cameras Can't See Ghosts (But Are Still Brilliant for Ghost Hunting)"