Multiple beams after passing through dichro - is this normal?

[Stuka]

FINALLY, after upteen-gazzillion delays and excuses, I've started active assembly on my RGB projector (no, seriously, Buffo!). I can already tell the optical alignment process in going to be TONS of fun!

SO, here's the noob question:

I'm using a dual-Maxyz for my red laser. Through a little tweaking of the mirror & PBS mounts on the dual plate assembly, I'm able to get a pretty nice single spot on my flame retardent () target . However, I noticed that when the beam is reflected off of a pass green / reflect red dichroic filter (Edmunds), I wind up with one normal-size beam spot, and a couple of smaller beam spots touching either side of the primary beam.

Is this normal for a beam that first passed through a PBS cube?

Thanks in advance!

Randy

[allthatwhichis]

Actually for the maxyz, there will be "wings" on two sides of each beam and on all four sides of two combigned beams. Is this what you are seeing.

[Stuka]

Oh, no - the dreaded "this is worthless without pictures" message!!

Yep, that's what I'm seeing allright - I'll post pictures a little later.

Speaking of pictures - any recommendations on digital camera settings to get a good photo of beams and target spots? I'll be using a Nikon Coolpix 4300 - old, beat-up (2 overseas deployments!), but still working! The "Timex watch" of digital cameras!

[mliptack]

If you had the choice of any camera... find one that you can manually set the exposure settings. Pretty much any digital SLR camera can do it. And I think some Canon point and shoot will let you go up to like a 10 or 30 second exposure.

I have a sony point and shoot that is 7.2mp if I use that I set it on the 'night' setting for the longer exposure. Or I just use the Canon Rebel XTi