Help Decide

Well I am getting ready to drop some serious money on a laser and I have narrowed it down to Optotronics and Laserglow. I like the Aries 200 but I hear great things about the RPLs. Will Ototronics ship to the U.S.? If you could help me decide that would be great.

please add your location in your personal profile- getting a good reply depends upon you doing that-& you need to also add your date of birth.
I know in your OP you ask about importing to USA but you really still need to finish your profile.

I understand and I will update my profile. Any help with the OP? thanks for heads up BTW.

Both are top of the line and will do well. Personally I like Opt's RPL host design bit better but that's just personal preference.

There never was a bad review for either of those two companies so I guess personal preference is really what you go by, then.

How hard is it to operate the adjustable tail cap? And the rpls have 100% duty cycle when set to the recommended level and 5 on 2 off when on the max level right? Also are the outputs rated on high mode or when it is in the optimal mode for 100% duty cycle?

I will be purchasing dimitri's RPL and should have it ina week dependi g on shipping and can give you first hand info. I will be conparing it to my LaserGlow Herc. The output I imagine is max capapble. Not the 100% duty cycle output. Thst will be far less.

If that's the case then I will go for laser glow. I want 100% duty cycle at 175-200 mW .

Pros and cons of each one?

I do not understand many times why some are so interested in a no-rest-needed Laser.
Are they expection to be in need of rescue? I fail to understand the reasons.. maybe its just me.

I own a few handhelds that were sold as 100% duty cycle-

BUT why should I ake that risk?? What exactly does this prove??
These are never cheap lasers-- and in most cases he owner pays for both shippings if repair is needed and you also may be without your laser for some time..

personally I have never felt a need to avoid a rest cycle and as I really want my lasers to run well for as long as possible-so I NEVER run them hot.. I , for sure, do not want to find out the hard way that- they indeed do need a rest to not only work well ATM, but also to have a long lifetime.

I feel this is especially true if the ambient temp is already high. It just stands to reason that a device that puts out such a high level of energy while having a very limited amount of heatsinking AND NO active cooling could hardly be expected to run like a lab laser is a huge HS and has a fan..

ps to the OP... try to avoid double posting- just use the 'edit' button at the bottom and add whatever you like to your last post..


You have gotten some good advice here- I might add that in many cases
..the best deal going may from another LPF Member( vets are safer) especailly for DIY builds- and another company with a spotless track record is JETLASERS.. see my sig I own many-- also if you see one you like I may sell it to you--
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY LASING!---Hak

I have to agree with hakzaw1. unlimited duty cycle is not so cool. many nice lasers have a respectable duty cycle of three or even five minutes. Some may even go longer, but why risk damaging your diode? IMHO, the only lasers that should be treated as if they have unlimited duty cycle are really really low powered ones, and ones with TEC cooling. not many handhelds have TEC, the only one I can think of is the hercules from laserglow. this thing is huge and muy muy expensive.

optotronics has the best advertised divergence rating I have seen short of using a beam expander

Ok let me clarify. I would like it to run at around 10 minutes at a time with a few minutes rest.

I would invest in a lab style laser. Unless you absolutely need the handheld/portable type. The Hercules is a fantastic 100% duty cycle portable laser. But you're going to pay for it. Whats your price range?

Price range is 600 700 dollars. I'm liking the optotronics rpl 225. Seems to be a very nice product.

Currently out of stock as listed on their website .

Yes I know but I don't have the funds yet so hopefully when I get them jack will have it in stock

Would you like to know more about JETLASERS Pl-E I have several here in Tx ready to ship- you would be able to do your 10 min on and 3 off- but I stiil never do that with my peresonal lasers-- ha ha that why god gave me two hands and I own lasers for each hand-

How about 500mW 532 Pl_E- makes more than 600mW and will NEVER be below spec- one year waranty- IR filtered- Rev Polarity protection- runs off wall wart or many combinations of three sizes of batts.
INIQUE look like no other. Suiper customer sup[port form a guy with better english skillz than me.
Quick replies to all questions- VERY cool internal focus( no other laser has this)

FYI to 'double' the 'brightness' of/form a 500 mW its NOT 1000mW its 2000mW- the factor is 4X not 2X- what I am saying is..except for bragging rights and only seen on LPM- 500 is every bit as 'bright' as 800mW..see all the reviews- check my rep and that of Gray( JETLASERS)-- AFAIK in 8 GBs doing more than 75 lasers not one truly unhappy camper- these are about as good as you will find and still have a little $$ left in your pocket.


have a good one!!

hak