Laser pointers

[tardis]

Are any of you interested in laser pointers ?

I'm Looking for any information regarding green or red laser pointers.

What are the brands to look for ? Good websites on these ?

Just read some old posts regarding the BTG and BTS models...sound very cool indeed ? Are there any new models ??

I use a cheap red Taiwan laser (IIIa) <5Mw for presentation work at the moment and it does its job well but I now fancy something more powerful for outdoor activites /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks in advance...

Tardis

 

[snuffy]

Half a dozen of us amateur astronomers think very highly of these green laser pointers that Howie Glater sells.


Ps. As a side note, I would not actually recommend that you use this pointer as a replacement for a red laser pointer when doing presentations, unless you work in a planetarium!!! The beam is just too intense. Even used against a beaded glass screen, whiteboard, or a against a plastic rear projection monitor screen, the reflections are just too powerful. I would estimate the intensity of a 5mw green laser to be several orders of magnitude overkill. It might be more appropriate if you present in large halls or auditoriums, or in college amphitheater classrooms, but in executive presentations done in conference rooms, or for use in normal classrooms, it may be just too much. I would bet that if you attempt to use it in smaller venues, you would get complaints that it is too bright or that it is irritating.

 

[tardis]

Thanks for your reply Snuffy. They look very promising. I am totally new to green lasers - i never even knew they existed until a few days ago!

I've heard of lasers with 50Mw ! Is that overkill ? Is the Skypointer sufficient for planetary identification ?

Pardon my ignorance on this...it's a different ball game to knives and flashlights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Regards,
Tardis

 

[snuffy]

[ QUOTE ]
tardis said:

I've heard of lasers with 50Mw ! Is that overkill ? Is the Skypointer sufficient for planetary identification ?



[/ QUOTE ]


I'm afraid of causing damage to someones eyes with the higher powered 50mw jobs. You never know when you're going to reflect the beam off something you can't see in the dark until the laser hits it.
Then it's too late. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

For pointing out stars, planets, constellations, etc. the green (not red) 5mw pointers work just fine. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif