How far can 5mw 654nm red laser pointers point?

lazerbeam · 06-27-2009, 07:24 PM

IMPORTANT: How far can a 5mw 654nm red laser pointer point?

I mean like you can still see the dot.

cust11 · 06-27-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazerbeam

IMPORTANT: How far can a 5mw 654nm red laser pointer point?

I mean like you can still see the dot.

I would say the dot would be visible for a couple hundred yards.

-Mike

randomlugia · 06-27-2009, 08:24 PM

It really depends on the divergence of the laser, if it's focusable or not, or where it's focused. I assume you know about divergence and that laser beams doesn't stay thin forever. From a couple hundred yards away, the dot would be HUGE. You could also use a beam expander/telescope to get a smaller point from distances, but like I said, it will be very hard to get a small dot from that far away, no matter how bright.

lazerbeam · 06-28-2009, 01:46 PM

thanks!

dr-ebert · 06-28-2009, 08:21 PM

It depends a lot on ambient brightness of course, and also from where you are observing the dot - I guess you mean for the one holding the laser? Shining it on a wall outside in bright sunlight, for example, you'd probably have problems seeing it more than a few meters away; in darkness, there should be no problems from a hundred meters (assuming a typical 1mrad or less divergence).

06-27-2009, 07:24 PM	#1
lazerbeam Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	How far can 5mw 654nm red laser pointers point? IMPORTANT: How far can a 5mw 654nm red laser pointer point? I mean like you can still see the dot.

06-27-2009, 08:24 PM	#3
randomlugia Class 3R Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Williamsport, MD Posts: 1,809 Rep Power: 104	Re: How far can 5mw 654nm red laser pointers point? It really depends on the divergence of the laser, if it's focusable or not, or where it's focused. I assume you know about divergence and that laser beams doesn't stay thin forever. From a couple hundred yards away, the dot would be HUGE. You could also use a beam expander/telescope to get a smaller point from distances, but like I said, it will be very hard to get a small dot from that far away, no matter how bright. __________________ Laser Addict---Audiophile---Knife Nut

06-28-2009, 01:46 PM	#4
lazerbeam Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Re: How far can 5mw 654nm red laser pointers point? thanks!

06-28-2009, 08:21 PM	#5
dr-ebert Class 2M Laser Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 716 Rep Power: 27	Re: How far can 5mw 654nm red laser pointers point? It depends a lot on ambient brightness of course, and also from where you are observing the dot - I guess you mean for the one holding the laser? Shining it on a wall outside in bright sunlight, for example, you'd probably have problems seeing it more than a few meters away; in darkness, there should be no problems from a hundred meters (assuming a typical 1mrad or less divergence). __________________ 1. Quoting in forums should cost money. There are too many people who blindly quote the immediately preceding post, including already-quoted quotes. 2. Someone who tells others to "use the Search button" without providing a set of reasonably obvious search terms that actually returns the proper answer within the first results page should get banned for a week.

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