Damaging a camera

[c_dug]

Is it possible to permanently damage the picture capture part of a camera using a strong light or laser?
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Islander]

[c_dug]

Would it need to be done while the camera is taking a picture or any time?
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Just for clarification I'm not planning on breaking anybodies personal camera.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[angryjonny]

Depends on the camera. A regular one with a shutter, yes the shutter would need to be open and you'd basically overexpose or burn the film.

It may be possible to ruin a digital camera at any time as I don't believe there is a shutter on most.

Assuming you're talking about a Gatso, I believe most take film and will have a shutter of some sort. Some non Gatso "safety" cameras are digital - particularly the taller "anti-tamper" ones that double as red-light cameras.

[oldpink]

long exposure to a very high powered light or laser (150+ mW) would break a digital camera
but a standard film camera it would do no damage as it would only damage the film if there was any in it

though full open exposure to the sun on a bright day would most likely melt the internals of any camera
____________________
I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Islander]

I think most digital cameras have a basic shutter so they'd need to be actually taking a picture although with the laser powers you'd need you may well damage the shutter curtain itself.

Higher power lasers aren't cheap either and you really do have to be careful with them.

Re: GATSOs - this is interesting

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19898072

[oldpink]

I have a couple of very high powered lasers (460mW)
they have a master control key to arm them as they can be very dangerous, there used in concert halls for Efx
____________________
I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Islander]

[oldpink]

[Spudly]

If you use an optical infra red filter, it's possible to make a terrifying laser from a dvd players laser.

Leave the IR filter off and you are looking at something which will cook bacon, not to mention skin, fingernails, eyeballs and clothing.

Better to use the filter.
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The Old Apprentice

[SWID]

[oldpink]

[Spudly]

[Spudly]

I used to use one of these when finding my wsy around the sky with my telescope/;

https://www.gy3.co.uk/laser-pointers.html

For all sorts of reasons, the green one is the most visible.
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The Old Apprentice

[Islander]

A blu ray laser's maximum output is around 250mW. That'll heat skin given enough time but it's hardly James Bond territory.

Lasers are single wavelength devices that emit their radiation coherently (i.e. in phase). Putting an IR filter on a laser that's not an IR device is going to make bugger all difference. Putting on on a laser that is an IR device is going to either attenuate it or do nothing depending on whether the wavelength of the filter matches that of the laser and whether the filter is a notch or bandpass type.

[Spudly]

https://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-tech/WhyisIRbad.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_pointer#Infrared_hazards_of_DPSS_laser_pointers
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The Old Apprentice

[oldpink]

1–5 mW Laser pointers
5 mW CD-ROM drive
5–10 mW DVD player or DVD-ROM drive
100 mW High-speed CD-RW burner
250 mW Consumer 16× DVD-R burner
400 mW DVD 24× dual-layer recording

400mW will burn skin, can blind you or cause permanent damage but the colour and frequency play a part in this as well

[G]

I reckon this one will do it :
https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/04/texans-build-wo/

[The Artist]

Did anyone on here ever get their arctic laser?

https://www.techwarelabs.com/wp-content/gallery/wicked-lasers-spyder-iii-arctic/arctic_series.jpg

[Ariel Badger]

I have a 30W laser cutting machine that will cut through 20 mm of perspex. It would cut a camera in half so I dare say that will affect its ability to take a decent picture.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Islander]

400mW is certainly powerful enough to burn skin or damage eyes - no doubt about that.

I picked the Blu Ray because it's significantly higher than a standard DVD player's laser which was the one being cited as powerful - which they aren't on the scale of things really. Any laser should definitely be kept away from eyes.

For the OP, here's a demo of what a fairly powerful stage laser (1W) can do to a camera's sensor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLR2LzHO-M&feature=plcp

It's worth watching some of his other stuff - he sounds like a lunatic but he very obviously understands what he's doing.

[oldpink]

Northrop the US defence suppliers are rumoured to have a few off the scale weapon based lasers
but it seems that the technology is moving over to maser (microwave not light)
apparently they are far more powerful if not useless as toys as there is nothing to see
____________________
I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Spudly]

Oh I dunno, I reckon exploding eggs with my focused beam of microwaves would never get boring.
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The Old Apprentice

[The Artist]