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I like lasers

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Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
Do you think that if you hit some low clouds with something like a 20mW 532nm green laser that it would illuminate them a bit? I've never played with one before. I'm trying to imagine what kind of long-exposure fun could be had with that 😀
Click to expand...

20 mw might barely make it, but I think it might. mine is around 40-50 and it lights up clouds when they are low.

I think you'll definitely see the beam although it might be a bit dim all the way up into the sky, but light pollution affects it's visiblity greatly.
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
I have a laser pointer that has a blue LED light on it. Shooting various objects with it I noticed that a pair of onyx bookend my sister sent up from Texas diffuse light in a really cool way, so I decided to have some photographic fun.

Yesterday I set up my camera on a tripod for a long exposure in a dark room. I shot the bookends with the blue LED from various angles to get even light, then before the shutter closed I hit each one a couple times with the red laser. I thought it made a cool photo. I call it "Dos Amigos". They're supposed to be a couple of Mexican guys sitting by a cactus.
Click to expand...

That is really cool!!! I set it as background on one of my boxes. I dig it. 🙂
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Thanks. It's not bad for a second try. I might set it up again and try to light up the "ground" a little more so they don't look like they're just floating there. It's actually an old computer case with a black sweatshirt draped over it.
 
Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Originally posted by: element
Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Are green lasers as bright as they say? What do you do with yours?
Click to expand...

Yeah it's pretty bright. I can aim mine up into the night sky and see it go all the way up as far as you can see. Can be used for pointing out stars. My cam is a bit on the sucky side when it comes to night shots though. I can increase the exposure time all the way up to 15 seconds but it just doesn't look right, it looks kinda fake.

this is a 15 sec exposure of the laser at night into the sky

It looks a lot better in person.

I use it just for experimenting around with and star pointing.

Yeah I'm into astrophotography a bit too: moon5-31-04_1600.jpg

moon1_ni_av2.jpg
Click to expand...


Wow, which scope make/model do you have? I'm considering one myself but I'm afraid I don't know much about astronomy. I know I'll have to drop some bucks and think Meade are decent?
Click to expand...

I have a Nexstar 8 GPS (8" aperture Schmidt Cassegrain) Meade makes some great scopes too.

Try and get the largest aperture you can afford but don't forget that a proper mount is important for astrophotography too.

A lot of large aperture refractor scopes do well in astrophotography too but they are expensive.

http://www.astromart.com/ is a good place to learn some more before buying a scope.
 
Originally posted by: element
Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
Do you think that if you hit some low clouds with something like a 20mW 532nm green laser that it would illuminate them a bit? I've never played with one before. I'm trying to imagine what kind of long-exposure fun could be had with that 😀
Click to expand...

20 mw might barely make it, but I think it might. mine is around 40-50 and it lights up clouds when they are low.

I think you'll definitely see the beam although it might be a bit dim all the way up into the sky, but light pollution affects it's visiblity greatly.
Click to expand...



Neat. As long as it's kind of visible if you keep doing it it'll show up in a long enough exposure. I've done some crazy stuff for the sake of photography. It usually involves laying in ditches, or playing with bugs, but if it would be cool enough I'd consider ponying up for a laser.
 
Originally posted by: element
Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Originally posted by: element
Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Are green lasers as bright as they say? What do you do with yours?
Click to expand...

Yeah it's pretty bright. I can aim mine up into the night sky and see it go all the way up as far as you can see. Can be used for pointing out stars. My cam is a bit on the sucky side when it comes to night shots though. I can increase the exposure time all the way up to 15 seconds but it just doesn't look right, it looks kinda fake.

this is a 15 sec exposure of the laser at night into the sky

It looks a lot better in person.

I use it just for experimenting around with and star pointing.

Yeah I'm into astrophotography a bit too: moon5-31-04_1600.jpg

moon1_ni_av2.jpg
Click to expand...


Wow, which scope make/model do you have? I'm considering one myself but I'm afraid I don't know much about astronomy. I know I'll have to drop some bucks and think Meade are decent?
Click to expand...

I have a Nexstar 8 GPS (8" aperture Schmidt Cassegrain) Meade makes some great scopes too.

Try and get the largest aperture you can afford but don't forget that a proper mount is important for astrophotography too.

A lot of large aperture refractor scopes do well in astrophotography too but they are expensive.

http://www.astromart.com/ is a good place to learn some more before buying a scope.
Click to expand...

Damn your telescope costs nearly $3000 CAN :Q
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
frikken laser!!


yours for 700buckeroos🙂
Click to expand...

Hmmm..... that.
weather balloon

and a few other toys, controller, speaker with some spooky sounds.. etc.

And you're all set for you very own UFO hoax 😀 😀
Scare the bejesus out of your neighbors...

Just make sure the people you pull the hoax on are like the typical people who spot UFO's:
"uh yuh, it sure was bright. Them thar aliens shot up ol' Fido's dog house with one of them thar tractor beams. I'm thinkin they means to give Fido an anal probin' or sumtin."
 
Originally posted by: screw3d
Can you build your own laser pointers?
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sort of. It's not really economical, though, since the stuff you have to buy pre-assembled is 90% of the cost anyway.

You're better off building a CO2 laser if you want powerful homebuilt...it's even invisible, and can burn through stuff 😎
 
Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
Originally posted by: element
Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
Do you think that if you hit some low clouds with something like a 20mW 532nm green laser that it would illuminate them a bit? I've never played with one before. I'm trying to imagine what kind of long-exposure fun could be had with that 😀
Click to expand...

20 mw might barely make it, but I think it might. mine is around 40-50 and it lights up clouds when they are low.

I think you'll definitely see the beam although it might be a bit dim all the way up into the sky, but light pollution affects it's visiblity greatly.
Click to expand...



Neat. As long as it's kind of visible if you keep doing it it'll show up in a long enough exposure. I've done some crazy stuff for the sake of photography. It usually involves laying in ditches, or playing with bugs, but if it would be cool enough I'd consider ponying up for a laser.
Click to expand...

Yeah you can get a 5mw one for like $79 here in the states, then do the pot mod and have a 20-30mw laser for cheap.
 
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