Shooting a LASER: do's and don'ts? (Page 2): Why don't you use PP to simulate the lazer? You don't have to risk your sensor or your eye sight.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

Why don't you use PP to simulate the lazer? You don't have to risk your sensor or your eye sight.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Camera sensors are, in general, more susceptible to damage than the human eye."

http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ilda-camera-info.html

"Lasers Take Down a $20,000 Camera in Less Than One Second"
https://fstoppers.com/news/lasers-take-down-20000-camera-less-one-second-2700

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

f8lee wrote:

I guess my question is, what's the point of the image?

If the gun/laser sight is pointed directly at the camera, will it not simply produce a red (or green) dot in the image? Why bother taking the shot live - just place the dot into the appropriate spot in post

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

In Bob's very first reference, http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ilda-camera-info.html, it states
"The following information has been provided by the International Laser Display Association (ILDA). It is primarily about camera sensor damage at concerts but also applies to using laser pointers “around the house” and aiming them into a camera. Tips for audience members with cameras when lasers are in use:
Therefore, if you attend a show as an audience member, you should take reasonable precautions not to let a laser beam DIRECTLY enter your camera lens."
Seems pretty clear to me.
JimmyT

rmalarz wrote:

http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ilda-camera-info.html
http://www.ilda.com/camera-sensor-damage.htm
https://fstoppers.com/news/lasers-take-down-20000-camera-less-one-second-2700
https://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/1186/can-a-laser-pointer-damage-the-sensor-in-a-digital-camera
http://www.laserist.org/camera-and-DLP-damage.htm

--Bob

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Add the laser light effect in post. Why take chances?

Stan

(Oops! Sorry JerryG - I posted before reading all posts)

Bipod

Naptown Gaijin wrote:

The task: Using a mirrorless ILC, photograph a ha... (show quote)

Don't fool around with firearms.

If you don't believe me, ask Brandon Lee.
He thought it was safe, too.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

rmalarz wrote:

http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ilda-camera-info.html
http://www.ilda.com/camera-sensor-damage.htm
https://fstoppers.com/news/lasers-take-down-20000-camera-less-one-second-2700
https://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/1186/can-a-laser-pointer-damage-the-sensor-in-a-digital-camera
http://www.laserist.org/camera-and-DLP-damage.htm

Excellent sources... top one in particular. I know my 5w Northrop targeting laser would just cook things.

Dik

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Neal, instead of having to do a bunch of research, know mW outputs of various lasers, etc. Why not just NOT point your camera at a source of laser light. That would seem to be the safest and easiest course to take.
--Bob

chemsaf wrote:

In any discussion of laser events, you must know the energy output of the device to understand the impact. Without further research, I do not know if 5 mW will trash a sensor. My responses are based on known safety for the user's eyes and prudent practices.

Neal

Low Budget Dave

A 5mW laser pointer will produce 400 to 500 watts per square centimeter. If you have a CMOS sensor, and you are able to keep the total exposure of any one spot to less than .25 seconds, then you should be fine.

If you have a CCD sensor, or if the camera is sitting on a tripod for an extended exposure in one spot, then 400 W/cm is more than enough to cook the sensor.

Remember that mirrorless cameras keep the shutter open by default, and only close it before taking the picture. So the time required to set up the shot might produce enough heat to damage the sensor.

I recommend that you stay safe, and take the picture with the laser turned off, then create a fake laser "starburst" in photoshop.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

From the material posted, the sensor may be more sensitive to the laser than your eyes. It would appear that it's a bad idea to use a digital camera with lasers, period. If you must, use a 'junker' camera that you can afford to lose.

Dik

WB9DDF Loc: Knoxville, IL

In a previous job I recorded an arc welder using a camcorder a few feet away with no damage to the sensor. I would speculate that the arc was putting out a lot more light and hear energy than a laser pointer.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I concur, especially in light of "Please do not answer these questions unless you KNOW FOR SURE, as I don"t want anybody blinded based on your "I don't think so..." answer."
I guess when we start seeing questions like, "how much do you think a new sensor will cost me?" or statements like "I didn't think that flash burns would make my eyes hurt this much!"
You just can't make this stuff up!
JimmyT Sends

sb wrote:

Sounds like someone is trying out for a Darwin Award!

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

WB9DDF wrote:

In a previous job I recorded an arc welder using a camcorder a few feet away with no damage to the sensor. I would speculate that the arc was putting out a lot more light and hear energy than a laser pointer.

It's a different type of light. The arc may be brighter, but the light 'waves' are different; they are scattered. They are slightly different frequencies and are not impacting the sensor at one location and the light waves are not superimposed on each other. They are 'scattered' all over the sensor pixel. A laser is a single frequency and the waves are all combined into a single wave each superimposed on each other (moreorless). There is no phase difference. The impact on the sensor pixel is on a much smaller area and the energy is far more intense. The laser beam has size because there are several of these waves, each with the same frequency and all (moreorless) within phase.

Dik

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Jimmy T wrote:

I concur, especially in light of "Please do not answer these questions unless you KNOW FOR SURE, as I don"t want anybody blinded based on your "I don't think so..." answer." I guess when we start seeing questions like, "how much do you think a new sensor will cost me?" or statements like "I didn't think that flash burns would make my eyes hurt this much!" You just can't make this stuff up!

I originally got my laser to try 'light shows' but found out that it was far too powerful; a split second track across the retina would burn a permanent track on the back of the eyeball. It has warning light that is not connected (not needed since a pilot could not see it anyway) and a key interface and a delay built in. These are all 'safety' items. The laser is dangerous.

Dik

rochephoto

Whenever I shoot a laser I always take out the batteries and I usually find that a small caliber round like a .22 to be sufficient. Remember, It's probably not wise to shoot it in the city, especially if you're going to use more than one shot!