What about Red laser pointers?

[Wits' End]

I see Abeland has a 635 nm and a 650 nm on eBay . The 635 is supposed to be brighter. How much brighter?
How do they compare to greenies?
I see a ~$20 pointer as a possible toy but I don't think I could go ~$60+

 

[abeland1]

My 635nm reds are the best that I could find. It is essentially the same pointer that I used to lecture with before I retired. Our eyes are 2 to 3 times as sensitive to 635nm as they are to 650nm. Our eyes are 30 to 40 times as sensitive to green (532nm) as they are to 635nm. This
is why the greens appear so powerful to us, even when the effective radiated power is equal.

 

[Wits' End]

Wow, the man himself /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Forgive my untrained questions-
So the effective range under the same conditions would be the same?
The green would be more visible in a moist air situation?
As a toy, in 'adult' (at least chronologicaly) hands, are both the 635 and the 532 going to be fun?
The green has more wow factor I assume because it is more unusual and more visible.
I know these questions are subjective but I'm hoping to elicit responces from anyone with experience.

 

[WildRice]

Both colors can stand out, but GREEN definately wins. Even with stock power, under the right conditions it can look like a lightsaber.

3year old Greenie (modded to about 12mW)
5mW HeNe
Jeff