Lasers Can Damage Your Sensor

[Canon Rumors]

Lasers can damage your Canon HDSLR camera’s CMOS sensor

An interesting story on Planet5D in regards to CMOS sensors and laser lighting.

Lasers used in a light show have damaged a Canon EOS 5D Mark II CMOS sensor and I sure didn’t know it was possible, but I thought I’d get a warning out since it appears to have damaged this guy’s sensor.

Check out the video at Planet5D.

Read More: http://blog.planet5d.com/

cr

Lasers

can damage your Canon HDSLR camera’s CMOS sensorLasers can damage your Canon HDSLR camera’s CMOS sensor

[Jan]

Wow... I didn't think this could happen. I'm still wondering if the pixels are really damaged or only temporarily out of order...

[deeznuts]

Were the lasers attached to sharks?

[Canon Rumors]

Were the lasers attached to sharks?

Hah

[aviator.4.life]

Wow thanks for the heads up.

[Kedest]

Aren't they dangerous to the human eye too then?

[Grendel]

Aren't they dangerous to the human eye too then?

Yes. But the amount of energy that can cause damage to a CMOS sensor may still be below the danger level of retina damage. Also, the eye is capable to repair minor damage to the retina. Personally I would play it save and stay away from these laser systems w/o proper protection (esp. since my eyes are already pretty bad..)

[Jaszek]

and there I am wanting to shoot a laser show. lol

[that1guy]

Were the lasers attached to sharks?

Freakin' sharks 

[DetlevCM]

This is something I am quite curious about:

1) I beleive a laser can damage a sensor - the light will induce a current of some sort - else the sensor couldn't register the light - and I'd guess that fried something.

But 2) - there was discussion about this on Photography on the Net where people claimed it couldn't happen. (And yes they saw the video and deemed it "inconclusive")

I suppose if someoe with actual knowledge on sensor design could chip in it would be great.

I do like physics, but I am a maths student - not a physicist or engineer.