Exerd
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Two 50mW pen size 2xAAA 532nm pointers were ordered on the same day for a comparison. I was looking for a new 50mW pen source, and decided to try two of the more popular store names, Rayfoss and O-Like.
Links and pricing to the respective lasers:
O-Like 50mW Silver Chrome, $33 shipped
Rayfoss RF532-50mW-LBP, $29 shipped
The O-like showed up in a timely Hong Kong shipped manner after about 10 business days, with the Rayfoss arriving the day after it.
Exterior Looks: Rayfoss left, O-like right
My personal take on the look and feel of the lasers is that the overall feel given by the body of the O-Like is of higher quality than the run-of-the-mill Rayfoss body. I realize that both are generic, but I believe that O-Like has done a better job of selecting a quality host to use for their pointers. O-Like is using a body from another laser, and placing their modules in the body. The Rayfoss uses the same module assembly that actually arrives in these split-body type lasers, the same which can be had for about $6 shipped from eBay. I know this fact, because I previously ordered a batch of the exact same 5mW lasers from eBay. They seem to be slightly "tuned up" versions when purchased from Rayfoss. Also, be aware that only one laser arrived with a warning sticker, the O-Like.
Output Power: Rayfoss left, O-Like right
The output power difference was immediately noticeable. The photo above shows the dots about 1 second after power on (the line in each dot was lens glare in the camera only). The O-Like clearly took the lead here against Rayfoss, with a maximum measured output of 61mW on the Laserbee meter, and holding at ~54mW steady as the button was held longer. The Rayfoss was a let down, not even reaching the 50mW specification. It peaked at only 41mW, and took close to 10 seconds to reach full output. The Rayfoss only wanted to hold at 38mW steady after warmup.
Beam Visibility: Rayfoss left, O-Like right
Of course, more power gets you a brighter beam!
Beam Shape and Divergence: Labeled photos
Above is the beam shapes pictured at 50.0 yards. The O-Like shows that not only is it king in the output department, but it has a perfectly circular beam profile. The Rayfoss has an odd shape which couldn't be described any better than looking like a turd. The squares in the photo have 50mm sides. The O-Like shows a ~60mm beam at this range, which gives a divergence right on at 1.2mRad. The Rayfoss could be said to have better divergence, but then again it really depends which way you decide to measure that dot.
Lens Construction: Rayfoss
The Rayfoss pen uses a glued-on front cap. When removed, the stock plastic lens holder is visible. It is not of very great quality, and there is no way to easily grab onto this for focus adjustment. The other disadvantage of this assembly is that there is no easy way to grab the module in the front to extract it from the body.
Lens Construction: O-Like
O-Like uses full brass threaded parts in their module. The lens ring has a slot for easy focus adjustment with a tool. The front protective cap is threaded on instead of glued, and these protruding threads also give an easy method for grabbing and extracting the module from the laser body.
Anyone can probably see by now without much thought that the winner here by a good margin is the O-Like Silver Chrome 532nm pen. The Rayfoss wasn't up to specification, had a poor beam profile, and low quality construction, while the O-Like managed the opposite in each of those criteria. The conclusion here is that your $33 can get you a pen from O-Like that surely beats the price range competition, and possibly compares fully to more expensive pens from name brand sellers. You end up with a perfect beam profile, low divergence, power above spec, and a quality host and module in a bargain deal. Does it get any better?
Up next, the O-Like 100mW Silver Chrome 532nm pen will be arriving in the mail shortly. Stay tuned for a short briefing to describe whether or not the same is to be expected from a higher power range offering from O-Like.
Links and pricing to the respective lasers:
O-Like 50mW Silver Chrome, $33 shipped
Rayfoss RF532-50mW-LBP, $29 shipped
The O-like showed up in a timely Hong Kong shipped manner after about 10 business days, with the Rayfoss arriving the day after it.
Exterior Looks: Rayfoss left, O-like right
My personal take on the look and feel of the lasers is that the overall feel given by the body of the O-Like is of higher quality than the run-of-the-mill Rayfoss body. I realize that both are generic, but I believe that O-Like has done a better job of selecting a quality host to use for their pointers. O-Like is using a body from another laser, and placing their modules in the body. The Rayfoss uses the same module assembly that actually arrives in these split-body type lasers, the same which can be had for about $6 shipped from eBay. I know this fact, because I previously ordered a batch of the exact same 5mW lasers from eBay. They seem to be slightly "tuned up" versions when purchased from Rayfoss. Also, be aware that only one laser arrived with a warning sticker, the O-Like.
Output Power: Rayfoss left, O-Like right
The output power difference was immediately noticeable. The photo above shows the dots about 1 second after power on (the line in each dot was lens glare in the camera only). The O-Like clearly took the lead here against Rayfoss, with a maximum measured output of 61mW on the Laserbee meter, and holding at ~54mW steady as the button was held longer. The Rayfoss was a let down, not even reaching the 50mW specification. It peaked at only 41mW, and took close to 10 seconds to reach full output. The Rayfoss only wanted to hold at 38mW steady after warmup.
Beam Visibility: Rayfoss left, O-Like right
Of course, more power gets you a brighter beam!
Beam Shape and Divergence: Labeled photos
Above is the beam shapes pictured at 50.0 yards. The O-Like shows that not only is it king in the output department, but it has a perfectly circular beam profile. The Rayfoss has an odd shape which couldn't be described any better than looking like a turd. The squares in the photo have 50mm sides. The O-Like shows a ~60mm beam at this range, which gives a divergence right on at 1.2mRad. The Rayfoss could be said to have better divergence, but then again it really depends which way you decide to measure that dot.
Lens Construction: Rayfoss
The Rayfoss pen uses a glued-on front cap. When removed, the stock plastic lens holder is visible. It is not of very great quality, and there is no way to easily grab onto this for focus adjustment. The other disadvantage of this assembly is that there is no easy way to grab the module in the front to extract it from the body.
Lens Construction: O-Like
O-Like uses full brass threaded parts in their module. The lens ring has a slot for easy focus adjustment with a tool. The front protective cap is threaded on instead of glued, and these protruding threads also give an easy method for grabbing and extracting the module from the laser body.
Anyone can probably see by now without much thought that the winner here by a good margin is the O-Like Silver Chrome 532nm pen. The Rayfoss wasn't up to specification, had a poor beam profile, and low quality construction, while the O-Like managed the opposite in each of those criteria. The conclusion here is that your $33 can get you a pen from O-Like that surely beats the price range competition, and possibly compares fully to more expensive pens from name brand sellers. You end up with a perfect beam profile, low divergence, power above spec, and a quality host and module in a bargain deal. Does it get any better?
Up next, the O-Like 100mW Silver Chrome 532nm pen will be arriving in the mail shortly. Stay tuned for a short briefing to describe whether or not the same is to be expected from a higher power range offering from O-Like.
