What Is an SLS Camera and How Does It Detect Spirits?

An SLS camera (Structured Light Sensor camera) is a ghost hunting device that maps a room in 3D and overlays stick-figure tracings onto human-shaped forms it detects — including forms that can't be seen with the naked eye. The Kinect SLS Camera Stickman V8 works in absolute darkness as well as in full light, which is a big reason it has become a popular tool for paranormal video. If you've ever watched an investigation and wondered what those on-screen stick figures actually are, this guide explains exactly how the technology works, what it can and can't do, and how to use it responsibly. You can also see related gear in the Cameras & Accessories collection.

How does an SLS camera detect spirits?

The Kinect SLS Camera uses an infrared light projector paired with a monochrome CMOS sensor. The projector casts infrared dots arranged in a 3D formation across the space in front of it. Those dots let the camera read depth and detail — essentially building a three-dimensional map of the room. The system then "sees" people by recognizing a human shape based on joints and movements, and it traces a stick figure onto anything it interprets as a human form.

Because detection relies on infrared and shape-recognition rather than visible light, the camera can register figures where nothing is visible to the eye. Originally, this structured-light and depth-perception technology was designed for gaming, but the same capability is what makes it useful for revealing anomalies during investigations. Video can be recorded directly to the camera or to an SD card up to 64GB (not included).

What makes this SLS camera different

This model ships as a complete system built around a 10-inch Windows 10 tablet pre-loaded with the Kinect software and apps. The tablet includes a touchscreen, dual camera, Bluetooth, and a full-sized USB input. According to the product page, using a quality 10" Windows tablet — rather than a phone — delivers longer battery life, a larger picture, a full USB connection, and more reliable performance.

Importantly, the site is clear that a phone app is not the same as a true SLS camera. The current phone app is based on the Snapchat app (adding amusing false faces for fun) and requires a subscription service. That app does not provide an IR light array for 3D mapping, does not seek out the human form where one can't be seen with the naked eye, does not use dual cameras or color-coded textures to identify proximity, and does not truly work in complete darkness.

Key SLS camera facts at a glance

• Detection method: IR dot projection + monochrome CMOS sensor for 3D depth mapping

• Recognition: identifies human shapes by joints and movement, then traces stick figures

• Lighting: works in complete darkness or full light

• Recording: to the camera or an SD card up to 64GB (not included)

• System: 10" Windows 10 touchscreen tablet, dual camera, Bluetooth, full USB

• Build: slimmer and more compact than the previous version, with the microphone now intact

• Support: serviced for as long as you own it; 90-day warranty against build defects

• Sensor note: Kinect sensors are no longer produced, so each sensor is used or remanufactured, but tested and in full working order

Tips for using your SLS camera effectively

Proper setup makes a real difference. Position the camera in areas with minimal clutter, and make sure the room has no mannequins or full-size photos of people, which can cause false readings. A tripod helps stabilize the device for better accuracy. Avoid pointing the camera at reflective surfaces like mirrors or windows, since these can create false positives.

There's also an important on-screen quirk to understand: people and entities always appear reversed from reality on the display. So if a figure appears on the left of your screen, it corresponds to the right side of the room. Knowing this helps you correctly interpret where activity is occurring.

An honest note on interpretation

The manufacturer is transparent about the limits of the technology, and that honesty is part of credible investigating. They do not guarantee that the stick figures the camera produces are paranormal in nature. As with all detection gear, it's up to the investigator to rule out natural explanations before concluding that a reading is paranormal. This same principle applies across the REM, Motion & Temp collection — instruments read the environment, so there can always be a natural cause behind a reading.

Why investigators rely on it

The appeal of an SLS camera is that it turns the invisible into something you can watch in real time. It can help detect unseen entities in dimly lit rooms, map movement across a space as a figure appears to sit or walk, and validate personal experiences — for example, a stick figure appearing exactly where you felt a cold breeze. Combined with responsible technique, that makes it one of the most visual and compelling tools in modern paranormal research.