davidgdg
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See DealExtreme: $599.00 FirePoint Green Laser Pointer Complete Kit (500mW) * EMS Express
I bought this laser from DX earlier this year but have only just got round to reviewing it. The price is US$ 599 (inc. shipping) which includes various bits and pieces: batteries, charger, goggles. Alternatively what looks like the same laser can be bought without the accessories from O-Like for US$ 531 (inc. shipping) in their “bargain zone”:
http://www.o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=993
This laser is a bit of mystery. Neither DX nor O-Like say who the manufacturer is. “Firepoint” seems to be just a model name . However, the DX page shows a Viasho spec sheet. And Viasho do indeed sell a laser that looks identical:
Viasho 1-500mw
However their price is significantly higher (I think I was quoted closer to US$ 1,000). It may be that they are disposing of their under-powered units via DX and O-Like. Who knows.
DX also say that they can only source one of these lasers per month. Why they do not say.
The O-like version is described as lacking an IR filter. But my DX product is filtered (see below). The LED on-off light is shown as red, but mine is blue.
The warranty position is unclear. DX state it is shown on the spec. The Viasho sheet shows three months, although Viasho’s own website says they warrant their products for a year:
http://www.viasho.com/e_cq.htm
However, when I contacted Viasho they said their warranty did not apply as the product was not bought from them. Understandable I suppose .
Ok, preliminaries over. At less than US$ 600, this would be an absolute steal for 500mw of true green. Does it deliver?
The unit arrived well packed (albeit contained within a lady's toiletry bag!!) The photos on DX's website are accurate. It is a robust unit with good safety features – a built-in slider lens cap, key operated and with an on-off button and bright blue LED safety indicator. Internally there is a 500mw sticker.
Power is unfortunately below spec. Checked with a laserbee. There is an early peak at ~ 450-470 mw, but then a decline, with a low of about 380mw. Output (as you can see) is a bit shaky and does not seem to stabilise. The highest I have recorded is 473mw. So the laser is probably best regarded as a 400mw unit. I contacted DX and after a bit of confusion, they agreed to take it back, but I decided in the end not to bother. Whether any replacement would have been up to spec I do not know.
The good news is that this is all green (checked with RG610 Omega filter – no IR leakage), but it does not reach 500mw even momentarily.
The beam spot is good – fairly round at the aperture and about 2mm, with divergence measured at about 1.5mrad. It is not focusable which is a bit of a shame, but the raw power and small beam spot at the aperture mean that it nevertheless a good burner.
Overall therefore, rather disappointing that it is under-spec. But on the other hand, even for a 400mw unit, it is good value.
David
p.s. To my knowledge this is the first review of this laser anywhere
I bought this laser from DX earlier this year but have only just got round to reviewing it. The price is US$ 599 (inc. shipping) which includes various bits and pieces: batteries, charger, goggles. Alternatively what looks like the same laser can be bought without the accessories from O-Like for US$ 531 (inc. shipping) in their “bargain zone”:
http://www.o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=993
This laser is a bit of mystery. Neither DX nor O-Like say who the manufacturer is. “Firepoint” seems to be just a model name . However, the DX page shows a Viasho spec sheet. And Viasho do indeed sell a laser that looks identical:
Viasho 1-500mw
However their price is significantly higher (I think I was quoted closer to US$ 1,000). It may be that they are disposing of their under-powered units via DX and O-Like. Who knows.
DX also say that they can only source one of these lasers per month. Why they do not say.
The O-like version is described as lacking an IR filter. But my DX product is filtered (see below). The LED on-off light is shown as red, but mine is blue.
The warranty position is unclear. DX state it is shown on the spec. The Viasho sheet shows three months, although Viasho’s own website says they warrant their products for a year:
http://www.viasho.com/e_cq.htm
However, when I contacted Viasho they said their warranty did not apply as the product was not bought from them. Understandable I suppose .
Ok, preliminaries over. At less than US$ 600, this would be an absolute steal for 500mw of true green. Does it deliver?
The unit arrived well packed (albeit contained within a lady's toiletry bag!!) The photos on DX's website are accurate. It is a robust unit with good safety features – a built-in slider lens cap, key operated and with an on-off button and bright blue LED safety indicator. Internally there is a 500mw sticker.
Power is unfortunately below spec. Checked with a laserbee. There is an early peak at ~ 450-470 mw, but then a decline, with a low of about 380mw. Output (as you can see) is a bit shaky and does not seem to stabilise. The highest I have recorded is 473mw. So the laser is probably best regarded as a 400mw unit. I contacted DX and after a bit of confusion, they agreed to take it back, but I decided in the end not to bother. Whether any replacement would have been up to spec I do not know.
The good news is that this is all green (checked with RG610 Omega filter – no IR leakage), but it does not reach 500mw even momentarily.
The beam spot is good – fairly round at the aperture and about 2mm, with divergence measured at about 1.5mrad. It is not focusable which is a bit of a shame, but the raw power and small beam spot at the aperture mean that it nevertheless a good burner.
Overall therefore, rather disappointing that it is under-spec. But on the other hand, even for a 400mw unit, it is good value.
David
p.s. To my knowledge this is the first review of this laser anywhere
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