Laser Safety through Spotting Scope

[The King]

Can the reflection from a modern laser that is eyesafe be viewed without issue through a spotting scope? Sorry if this has been covered before.

I seem to remember the answer was yes because the 1500nm laser was out of the eye hazard band regardless of how viewed.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

are you talking about return laser from a lrf? even if it is from a lrf its not returning into a spotter to have any impact on the eye...

 

[The King]

Yes - laser reflection returned from an LRF that is mounted and cowitnessed to a spotting scope with reticle.

As far as my research indicates, it’s fine. Hazard grows as a function of reflectivity of the target, but only so much.

For example, if the hazard range for direct shot into the eyeball is 0m, then magnifying the 0 meter distance 15x to account for the optical magnification results in no additional hazard.

Seems like it’s ok, and people use the vectronix on a spotter all day. I’m overthinking this.

 

[tk427]

If the laser is eye safe - LRF must be as you view them through the organic eye piece - then the spotter is magnifying the returned “image” or intensity NOT power (ie energy). Meaning the energy transmitted is the same.

However - common sense says don’t magnify the energy form the Sun etc due to the amount of available energy but a LRF that is eye safe at 100m @x4 will be safe at 1000m @x40 - as I’m aware it’s a linear power reduction by distance.

Someone far clevere than myself may disagree but experience - as you state - proves all is safe and gtg

 

[MilDot1960]

Lasers that can't be seen with the naked eye are fine which include 904/5 and above such as 1500/1550 etc,

Some optics like the Leupold Mk 4 series Spotter and binos etc have anti Laser coatings on the objective lenses and so do the M series Steiners with their Green Lenses, It is that coating what makes the Mk 4's special, The Coyote 10x50 Mk 4 binos let the light through but for some reason it has no effect on your eyes as much, I know because when I found out about the coating I tried them out using a <1.0 mw 635nm Class 2 Trimble measuring Laser. But you should not be able to see your LRF's Laser without the use of Night Vision Equipment because they can't be seen with the naked eye and LRFs that run up in the 1500nm range can't be seen even with NV equipment. This is another Good reason why you should never is IR lights with NV gear because in a War zone or other sensitive areas they are one way to make sure you get shot.

Although the Golden Ring HD spotter and other brands might have much sharper Glass/Picture they do not have Anti Laser coatings on their objective lenses, One way to avoid getting zapped by a Laser through you scope is to fit an ARD because unless the light source is within about 5 degrees of being slap bang in the centre of the Objective lens then it won't get past the ARD,

hope that helps,

John.

 

[MilDot1960]

With the MK 4 Bino's it does not stop a red Laser from getting through but it does cut down the effect of it, I don't think I would risk eye damage by looking at lasers with them.

 

[The King]

Helpful replies. I have my laser setup on a precision adjustable mount and use it at night with my Leupold spotter. You can clearly see the laser hit through the spotter with NODS.

 

[MilDot1960]

Helpful replies. I have my laser setup on a precision adjustable mount and use it at night with my Leupold spotter. You can clearly see the laser hit through the spotter with NODS.

If you are using the Mk 4 then you should be good to go but any of their other models I would worry, I just checked my MK 4 Bino's and the BX-2 Tactical 10x42s using the red laser @635nm and aiming it back up through the objective lenses it did reflect on the wall via the eye piece but it was defused to a larger blob without the wavy line pattern that a laser emits, the Mk 4's seemed better and it was harder to aim the laser correctly so it would shine back through them but both pairs have a green coating on all lenses. but I think I zapped my eye with the laser it's self, because it keeps blinking.

hope that helps

 

[The King]

The night vision unit eats the whole laser return at night. It is nothing like as bright as the IR nv lasers. I take those off the spotter when doing day use as those fucker WILL kill your vision.

 

[MilDot1960]

I love my Leupold Spotter and Mk 4 bino's, I bought the Brown GR HD Kit this time last year, some times I wish I had bought the Mk 4 spotter but I already had the Bushnell version from a few years back so I went with the GR this time not only that, but being brown it blends more than black.

 

[mdmp5]

Red is around 650nm, and is eye safe. The bigger the wavelength, the lower the frequency and vice versa. So infrared is fine too. But don’t look at a green or blue or purple laser.