LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

I was looking at getting a WL, but found that it really wouldn't fit my needs. I am now looking at Laserglow and Optotronics.. Specifically the LG Aries 200 or the Opto PPL 225.

I am jusy curious if anyone has had experience with them and specifically who has a better product. I see opto advertises a lower divergence, but other than that the units are quite similar. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thx

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

Try Dragon lasers mate. welcome to the forum too.

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

Try laserglow - they do stand by their price match - My Aries 225 (232 stable and 268 max in shipping now...)

Don't know about the others yet...

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

Timelord said:

Try Dragon lasers mate. welcome to the forum too.  

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I would highly disagree with that, but eh, I don't feel like getting into another one of these arguments .

The Laserglow Aries is an amazing price on them, and they lack a duty cycle. Those are their main pluses to me.

The PPL on the other hand doesn't have as many bothersome useless "saftey" features, and has far superior beam specs. Disadvantages are the price, and I'm not sure at this power, but I know on the higher power ones you can't leave them on for more than a few minutes before the auto power off shuts them down due to the duty cycle.

Overall, its your choice as to what is more important to you though. Lower price, duty cycle, better laser beam... With most companies there are trade offs, and though I own both RPL and Aries lasers, I would still have trouble making this decision between the two.

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

I do not own an optotronics unit yet - but I do own a Laserglow Aries 175. It peaks at 217mw, and runs steady at 193mw....MUCH more than the 175 advertised. It is by far the best green laser I own - and I wouldn't trade it for anything !

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

pseudonomen137 said:

[quote author=Timelord link=1170986222/0#1 date=1170988380]Try Dragon lasers mate. welcome to the forum too.  

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I would highly disagree with that, but eh, I don't feel like getting into another one of these arguments  .

The Laserglow Aries is an amazing price on them, and they lack a duty cycle. Those are their main pluses to me.

The PPL on the other hand doesn't have as many bothersome useless "saftey" features, and has far superior beam specs. Disadvantages are the price, and I'm not sure at this power, but I know on the higher power ones you can't leave them on for more than a few minutes before the auto power off shuts them down due to the duty cycle.

Overall, its your choice as to what is more important to you though. Lower price, duty cycle, better laser beam... With most companies there are trade offs, and though I own both RPL and Aries lasers, I would still have trouble making this decision between the two.[/quote]


I would have to agree with you about pen lasers from DL or WL. You really can't compare them to the RPL or PPL lasers. Totally two different animals.

Thanks for your opinions.. My main concern is beam quality and $$ is really not a concern. I will be using it for pointing type scenarios.. but I assume either one of them that are 200mw+/- have decent burning capabilities..

thx

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

I saved $200 from Laserglow with a price match (Aries 225 and the Optotronics PPL 225).  I should get it today or monday.  It specs out at 268mW peak and 232mW stable.

I may be wrong about this, but the Aires you can leave on until the batteries run out - The PPL shuts off after 1-1.5 minutes. Not 100% Sure about that though...

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

stevetexas said:

I saved $200 from Laserglow with a price match (Aries 225 and the Optotronics PPL 225).  I should get it today or monday.  It specs out at 268mW peak and 232mW stable.

I may be wrong about this, but the Aires you can leave on until the batteries run out - The PPL shuts off after 1-1.5 minutes.  Not 100% Sure about that though...

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That is 100% correct...that is one of the main attractions for LaserGlow vs. some others - the 100% duty cycle. Other than the fact that you can club someone if that batteries run out ! (KIDDING !!!)

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

SenKat said:

[quote author=stevetexas link=1170986222/0#6 date=1171034511]I saved $200 from Laserglow with a price match (Aries 225 and the Optotronics PPL 225).  I should get it today or monday.  It specs out at 268mW peak and 232mW stable.

I may be wrong about this, but the Aires you can leave on until the batteries run out - The PPL shuts off after 1-1.5 minutes.  Not 100% Sure about that though...

Click to expand...

That is 100% correct...that is one of the main attractions for LaserGlow vs. some others - the 100% duty cycle.  Other than the fact that you can club someone if that batteries run out ! (KIDDING !!!)[/quote]


How does the divergence seem on the aries? Hold a pretty good beam at night?

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

SteveinTexa,

Why did you pick the Laserglow vs. the Optotronics. Without the price match, the Optotronics PPL is a better deal, and the beam divergence is 1.2 .

Apparantly there is something that you didnt like about the optotronics?

Neo

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

I can't answer that yet - mine should arrive today or tomorrow. (With Any luck it will be 0.9 mrad)

Laserglow reports divergence of ~0.9-1.4 mrad for the Aries.

Optotronics PPL is <1.2mrad, and their RPL is <1.2mrad (typical divergence ~1.05mrad).

NO real way I know of to test individual units without some pricey equipment or a tripod and calipers at 100 feet away (along with a calculator and higher math skills)... :

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

neocacher said:

SteveinTexa,

Why did you pick the Laserglow vs. the Optotronics.  Without the price match, the Optotronics PPL is a better deal, and the beam divergence is 1.2 .

Apparantly there is something that you didnt like about the optotronics?

Neo

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Optotronics seems like an excellent unit - for my purposes though I wanted something that wouldn't turn off after 1-1.5 minutes... Fortunately for me there was a price match ;D

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

This may seem silly question, but why would anyone need a laser to stay on more than 1.5 minutes at a time? Obviously you valued this more than a lower divergence?

Did you check out the Hercules with the cooling fan and the new improved divergence of .8-1.2r? Why did you pick the Aries over the Hercules. I think the 225 Aries and 200 Hercules are the same price. Maybe because Laserglow wouldnt price match a Hercules vs. the Optotronics you were looking at?

Neo

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

neocacher said:

This may seem silly question, but why would anyone need a laser to stay on more than 1.5 minutes at a time?  Obviously you valued this more than a lower divergence?

Did you check out the Hercules with the cooling fan and the new improved divergence of .8-1.2r?  Why did you pick the Aries over the Hercules. I think the 225 Aries and 200 Hercules are the same price.  Maybe because Laserglow wouldnt price match a Hercules vs. the Optotronics you were looking at?

Neo

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Size of the Hercules was a show stopper for me. That is why I ruled that out as a option at this point.

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

AH! The size issue! Kinda like a Mag 2D vs. Fenix L2T flashlight. Well that is a factor for many people!

Neo

Re: LaserGlow or Optotronics??   Going to drop so

Yep - too big for real portability in my opinion.  An AWESOME laser though - I'd love to have one.

I didn't price match a Hercules - I think it's a different animal and suspect they won't do it.

No true reason whay I need it on for >1.5 min, but if I turn on a laser, I should turn it off. I don't want a restriction imposed by a circuit board - not at these prices anyway!!! ;D