Shooting Industrial Lasers at DVinfo.net

Chris Zimmerman · May 21st, 2009, 01:24 PM

I have an opportunity to shoot some high powered Industrial lasers for a company that needs the video for a trade show...Is there a filter (UV?) that I need to have - I obviously do not want to harm my cam, anybody have experience with this type of environment?

Chris Soucy · May 21st, 2009, 06:26 PM

The only effective filter for a direct "into the lens" hit by an industrial laser is a lens cap.

I cannot believe any responsible company would or will allow you or your camera to get into that situation.

The biggest problem you will find is that, whilst you will be able to see (and film) the slight colour fringing around the exit from the laser device and the target when it hits, the intervening gap in clean air will be, unlike the James Bond movies, totally blank.

In order for the light to be visible during it's travels it needs to hit something - dust or suspended aerosol particles in it's flight path, to be seen.

I don't know whether you can still buy them in the States, they seems to have been banned in a lot of countries (except for registered professionals using them for business purposes) but you might want to get yourself one of those green 5 - 10 mW pen type laser pointers and experiment with aerosol delivery systems to see what gives the best effect.

Bottom line is, unless the light beam hits stuff, it's invisible.

Do a Google on both "fog machines" and "smoke machine", there's hundreds if not thousands out there.

CS

Cole McDonald · May 21st, 2009, 07:16 PM

Keep in mind also that cutting lasers are too high a frequency for the camera to "See". Search for previous posts on the matter, I know I've asked about it before.

Chris Soucy · May 21st, 2009, 07:53 PM

Cole makes an exceedingly valid point.

If the particular lasers the company are using are operating in the IR/ NIR region, an A1 won't be of any use to you whatsoever, as the A1 IR filters won't allow it to see those frequencies.

It might be worth giving a CMOS camera like the Canon HV20/30/40 a go, it can see IR, tho' I have no figures for it's limits.

Depending on the aerosol type you end up using, you may find one that will flouresce in the visible spectrum when illuminated by high energy IR/NIR, tho' this could take more investigation than you're willing to expend.

You might want to ask the company concerned, if anyone knows, it should be them.

CS

May 21st, 2009, 01:24 PM	#1
Chris Zimmerman New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 11	Shooting Industrial Lasers I have an opportunity to shoot some high powered Industrial lasers for a company that needs the video for a trade show...Is there a filter (UV?) that I need to have - I obviously do not want to harm my cam, anybody have experience with this type of environment? __________________ Bad TV is really easy to do!

May 21st, 2009, 06:26 PM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Hi Chris........... The only effective filter for a direct "into the lens" hit by an industrial laser is a lens cap. I cannot believe any responsible company would or will allow you or your camera to get into that situation. The biggest problem you will find is that, whilst you will be able to see (and film) the slight colour fringing around the exit from the laser device and the target when it hits, the intervening gap in clean air will be, unlike the James Bond movies, totally blank. In order for the light to be visible during it's travels it needs to hit something - dust or suspended aerosol particles in it's flight path, to be seen. I don't know whether you can still buy them in the States, they seems to have been banned in a lot of countries (except for registered professionals using them for business purposes) but you might want to get yourself one of those green 5 - 10 mW pen type laser pointers and experiment with aerosol delivery systems to see what gives the best effect. Bottom line is, unless the light beam hits stuff, it's invisible. Do a Google on both "fog machines" and "smoke machine", there's hundreds if not thousands out there. CS Last edited by Chris Soucy; May 21st, 2009 at 06:33 PM. Reason: +

May 21st, 2009, 07:16 PM	#3
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Keep in mind also that cutting lasers are too high a frequency for the camera to "See". Search for previous posts on the matter, I know I've asked about it before. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

May 21st, 2009, 07:53 PM	#4
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Near Infra Red........... Cole makes an exceedingly valid point. If the particular lasers the company are using are operating in the IR/ NIR region, an A1 won't be of any use to you whatsoever, as the A1 IR filters won't allow it to see those frequencies. It might be worth giving a CMOS camera like the Canon HV20/30/40 a go, it can see IR, tho' I have no figures for it's limits. Depending on the aerosol type you end up using, you may find one that will flouresce in the visible spectrum when illuminated by high energy IR/NIR, tho' this could take more investigation than you're willing to expend. You might want to ask the company concerned, if anyone knows, it should be them. CS