A big difference in "Brightness"? (5mW and 200mW)

[Valid]

I have recently ordered a 200mW red laser, and I am wondering if it is alot brighter than your regular 5mW pointer.

I am curious for your opinions, because most of the time video's just don't do justice.

 

[nikokapo]

I have recently ordered a 200mW red laser, and I am wondering if it is alot brighter than your regular 5mW pointer.

I am curious for your opinions, because most of the time video's just don't do justice.

Yes. A lot.

Don't forget to wear safety glasses!

 

[ReaperZ]

LOL 200mw red will blow away your average $2 red pointer.

so so so so so much brighter, you cant even begin to compare the two

 

[Tech_Junkie]

A little common sense goes a long way. A laser is a light source. A 200mW laser is 40X the power of a 5mW. Do you think a 200 watt light bulb will be brighter than a 5 watt light bulb? If the answers is yes, then apply the same theory to a laser. D'uh.

 

[denton808]

the beam of a 200mw red still isn't that visible, but the dots compared side by side will have a huge diff in brightness. also, how far that dot is viewable is greatly increased as well.

when you say 5mw, i assume you mean a 200mw compared to a 5mw red right?

 

[JaiNobeZ]

Well, (as above, assuming you mean red of both) i've an interesting comment to make here.

Yes, the 200mW will be very much brighter. And (here's the interesting bit) especially if you compare them at some distance in sunlight. The 5mW is barely visible, if at all, whereas the 200mW will be perfectly visible and, while not impressive, will appear at least as visible as the 5mW did in the dark.

Hope that helps somewhat.