Can a laser pointer ruin a camera?

[Andy79]

Can a laser pointer ruin a camera

[TomMac]

If the laser is strong enough it may be possible....

a pointer ( small ) tested just temp blinded the camera. Prob hard to hold steady enough in one spot to do any damage.

But it will do same on almost any camera, wired or not.

[jguerdat]

As Tom sez, if strong enough it's possible. However, while the light is collimated, it's not focused, in part to ensure safety for people who decide to try to blind themselves. As noted in https://www.rp-photonics.com/laser_pointers.html#:~:text=A%20laser%20pointer%20is%20a,a%20collimated... 

There have been extensive debates on laser safety issues associated with laser pointers. Typical output powers are a few milliwatts – normally below 5 mW in order to comply with safety class 3R, and sometimes below 1 mW for class 2. Direct staring into a 1-mW beam can be irritating for the eye: it can cause temporary flash blindness.

Pointing at a camera sensor could provide enough focusing to provide point damage (where the light is focused) but hand-holding the pointer pretty much eliminates the possibility of holding it still enough for damage to occur at any one point.  Just a guess, though...