While comparing brands, I've discovered that power rating is not in itself a foolproof indicator of brightness. I have seen some that are rated at 5mw, at very attractive prices -BUT- they have an intermittant, 50% duty cycle at a high enough frequency to be undetectable to the eye via persistance of vision- they flash off-and-on quickly, like the incandescent light bulbs in your house (yes, they really do!). Other lasers, also rated at 5mw output, are rated for a continuous duty cycle- in other words, they do not flash off-and-on faster than the eye can see. It is said that the continuous duty lasers are obviously brighter, with a more easily seen beam. My question is if anyone has had experience with the two side-by-side? If you're not sure what you have and are happy with it anyway, thats great but won't tell me what I would like to know. There is more info on duty cycles at the Scopetronix Website: http://www.scopetronix.com/ Click on the "Green laser pointers" link. Thanks! __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com
Well, I can't explain how they do it, so it's got to be a result of intelligent design. Look here <http://www.utahastronomy.com/diveboss/GuessWho> if you dare. ;) No cheating!
diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
Well, I can't explain how they do it, so it's got to be a result of intelligent design. Look here <http://www.utahastronomy.com/diveboss/GuessWho> if you dare. ;) No cheating!
Che Guevara? Patrick :-)
Chuck Hards wrote:
While comparing brands, I've discovered that power rating is not in itself a foolproof indicator of brightness.
Think these would be bright enough? http://starphaser.com/products.htm Patrick :-)
Find any brands under $100 Chuck? --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
While comparing brands, I've discovered that power rating is not in itself a foolproof indicator of brightness. I have seen some that are rated at 5mw, at very attractive prices -BUT- they have an intermittant, 50% duty cycle at a high enough frequency to be undetectable to the eye via persistance of vision- they flash off-and-on quickly, like the incandescent light bulbs in your house (yes, they really do!).
Other lasers, also rated at 5mw output, are rated for a continuous duty cycle- in other words, they do not flash off-and-on faster than the eye can see. It is said that the continuous duty lasers are obviously brighter, with a more easily seen beam.
My question is if anyone has had experience with the two side-by-side? If you're not sure what you have and are happy with it anyway, thats great but won't tell me what I would like to know.
There is more info on duty cycles at the Scopetronix Website:
Click on the "Green laser pointers" link.
Thanks!
__________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com
http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
__________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com
participants (5)
-
Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Patrick Wiggins -
Richard Tenney -
Rob Ratkowski