As we see it, there are two camps on this - the investigators who believe cameras capture "spirit energy" and those that do not. Each side has its reasons. I have my own theories as I am sure everyone does.
An image captured by a digital camera, on its own, does not prove or disprove the presence of paranormal activity. If there has been an anomalous image capured by a digital camera, it will only be accepted as relevant data IF there was some corroborative data captured at the same time. Corroborative data can be another picture taken at the same time as the image in question that contains the same anomaly. Corroboration can also be a visual sighting, temperature change of at least 10 degrees, an unusual EMF reading, infrared image,video image captured at the same time, or a corresponding audio recording of something anomalous, etc. You get the idea.
These rules are in place because cameras do lie. They have lied, even before technology was available to flawlessly edit photos. Photos, digital or analog, are only as good as the documentation surrounding its capture. I have seen so many photos on ghost sites that could be anything from dust to insects to reflected light or lens flare.
The biggest favor that you can do yourself is to be familiar with the equipment you use, especially its limitations. Paranormal investigators have a disadvantage in that we are forced to use instruments for investigation that were designed for other things. Thus, they have serious limitations that must be taken into consideration.
For this reason we have been moving away from use of cameras and other recording equipment as documentation of evidence tools. In fact, we have been moving away from evidence-gathering altogether as that is not our only goal, but is used as support for our main goal, that of helping people and spirits to deal with an uncomfortable or frightening situation.
Here are links to some famous (Hits) and not-so-famous (Misses) spirit photos and not spirit photos!
In closing, I am not an expert on this. I do not pretend to be. If anyone reading this has other viable or relevant ideas, knowledge, or theories regarding the use of our investigative equipment, especially with regard to cameras, please Contact Us.