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- Oct 18, 2013
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Hello all! Just got my HL520 from LaserBTB in the mail yesterday, so here's a review of it after using it for a bit.
Shipping:
I ordered the laser on April 10th, and paid for express shipping, and it arrived on April 21st, for a total of 11 days, 4 of which were the Easter holiday. Well worth the extra $ for express shipping if you can afford it.
Packaging+Contents:
The package was very well wrapped, with the laser's carrying box wrapped inside another box, and then wrapped with an inch of bubble wrap.
The laser itself comes in a very nice, solid, leather wrapped box with hard foam cutouts to hold everything.
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/SuShR5B.jpg
Inside the box, theres the laser itself, as well as two keys for arming/disarming the laser (more on that later), as well as space for batteries. The laser does not come with batteries, just like all LaserBTB lasers.
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/q9bK42A.jpg
The Host:
The HL520 uses LaserBTB's Handheld laser host. It is approximately 6 inches long, and about 1 inch in diameter. It is made of a high quality (aluminum?) metal, and has a black satin finish. The handle is textured, as is the aperture shutter ring. Power is controlled via the large red button, above which is a small power indicator LED, and below is the key lock.
HghRes: http://i.imgur.com/38yqhbf.jpg
Technical Details:
The HL520 uses 2 16340 batteries, and will NOT fit the similar 18350 batteries.
This laser emits green light in the wavelength of 520 nm (+/- 10 nm) using direct diode technology, at a rated power of 150 mW.
This laser does NOT have an adjustable focus. It has a divergence of 3.0 mrad. The dot is the size of a quarter at about 35-40 feet.
The beam is pretty clean, theres a bit of a lens flare effect, but its not very noticeable. The dot has a rectangular shape to it, but not as bad as a 445.
Safety:
One thing LaserBTB's lasers are known for is having plentiful safety features that make the laser safer to operate. This laser features two active safety functions; a key lock, and an aperture shutter.
The key lock prevents the laser from being powered on unless the key has been inserted and turned into the unlock position.
When the arrow on the key lock is pointing to the left, the laser is locked and cannot be powered on:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/MRnmsDW.jpg
To unlock the laser, you insert the key into the lock, and turn it to the right:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/wcwxt8K.jpg
Once the arrow on the key lock is pointing up, the laser is now armed, and can be powered on:
HighRes:http://i.imgur.com/ZdNkzoI.jpg
The aperture shutter prevents and light from being emitted from the aperture of the laser, even if the laser is powered on.
Here is the aperture shutter when its closed:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/ZTJ1x8T.jpg
To open the aperture shutter, simply twist the outer ring on the end of the host:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/CUmJ0VB.jpg
Among these active safety features, there are also large warning decals on the body of the host and the aperture.
Quality:
The first thing I noticed when I first held my HL520 was how solid it felt. Nothing wiggled or felt loose, and when I put batteries in it, it has a nice bit of weight thats well balanced, and not too heavy that it would cause any strain after prolonged use. The aperture shutter ring has a very smooth, lubricated feel to it, the power button feels solid and not flimsy in the slightest, and the key lock is very tight.
The threads on the tailcap look a bit rough, but it still screws on smooth and without a fuss. The machining of the host is top notch, with no nicks or burrs or defects of any kind, and the anodizing and/or paint is even and defect free. Looking at this laser and holding it, it just screams quality.
Final Verdict:
Pros:
-Solid craftsmanship
-Excellent shipping
-Decent power/price for this wavelength
-Excellent packaging
-Good safety features
Cons:
-Lack of adjustable focus is a bit disappointing for a diode laser
-Divergence could be better
EDIT: LASER IS FOCUSABLE. IT WAS JUST ON TIGHT.
For 130$ +Shipping, this is one of the most affordable 100mW+ 520 nm lasers out there, and for the price, you get one finely crafted laser. I would highly recommend the HL520 from LaserBTB!
Glamour/Beam Shots!
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/ZSaPZf9.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/UazXc29.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/RGrqLxi.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/FJMhQg3.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/HS69YMg.jpg
Shipping:
I ordered the laser on April 10th, and paid for express shipping, and it arrived on April 21st, for a total of 11 days, 4 of which were the Easter holiday. Well worth the extra $ for express shipping if you can afford it.
Packaging+Contents:
The package was very well wrapped, with the laser's carrying box wrapped inside another box, and then wrapped with an inch of bubble wrap.
The laser itself comes in a very nice, solid, leather wrapped box with hard foam cutouts to hold everything.
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/SuShR5B.jpg
Inside the box, theres the laser itself, as well as two keys for arming/disarming the laser (more on that later), as well as space for batteries. The laser does not come with batteries, just like all LaserBTB lasers.
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/q9bK42A.jpg
The Host:
The HL520 uses LaserBTB's Handheld laser host. It is approximately 6 inches long, and about 1 inch in diameter. It is made of a high quality (aluminum?) metal, and has a black satin finish. The handle is textured, as is the aperture shutter ring. Power is controlled via the large red button, above which is a small power indicator LED, and below is the key lock.
HghRes: http://i.imgur.com/38yqhbf.jpg
Technical Details:
The HL520 uses 2 16340 batteries, and will NOT fit the similar 18350 batteries.
This laser emits green light in the wavelength of 520 nm (+/- 10 nm) using direct diode technology, at a rated power of 150 mW.
This laser does NOT have an adjustable focus. It has a divergence of 3.0 mrad. The dot is the size of a quarter at about 35-40 feet.
The beam is pretty clean, theres a bit of a lens flare effect, but its not very noticeable. The dot has a rectangular shape to it, but not as bad as a 445.
Safety:
One thing LaserBTB's lasers are known for is having plentiful safety features that make the laser safer to operate. This laser features two active safety functions; a key lock, and an aperture shutter.
The key lock prevents the laser from being powered on unless the key has been inserted and turned into the unlock position.
When the arrow on the key lock is pointing to the left, the laser is locked and cannot be powered on:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/MRnmsDW.jpg
To unlock the laser, you insert the key into the lock, and turn it to the right:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/wcwxt8K.jpg
Once the arrow on the key lock is pointing up, the laser is now armed, and can be powered on:
HighRes:http://i.imgur.com/ZdNkzoI.jpg
The aperture shutter prevents and light from being emitted from the aperture of the laser, even if the laser is powered on.
Here is the aperture shutter when its closed:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/ZTJ1x8T.jpg
To open the aperture shutter, simply twist the outer ring on the end of the host:
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/CUmJ0VB.jpg
Among these active safety features, there are also large warning decals on the body of the host and the aperture.
Quality:
The first thing I noticed when I first held my HL520 was how solid it felt. Nothing wiggled or felt loose, and when I put batteries in it, it has a nice bit of weight thats well balanced, and not too heavy that it would cause any strain after prolonged use. The aperture shutter ring has a very smooth, lubricated feel to it, the power button feels solid and not flimsy in the slightest, and the key lock is very tight.
The threads on the tailcap look a bit rough, but it still screws on smooth and without a fuss. The machining of the host is top notch, with no nicks or burrs or defects of any kind, and the anodizing and/or paint is even and defect free. Looking at this laser and holding it, it just screams quality.
Final Verdict:
Pros:
-Solid craftsmanship
-Excellent shipping
-Decent power/price for this wavelength
-Excellent packaging
-Good safety features
Cons:
-Lack of adjustable focus is a bit disappointing for a diode laser
-Divergence could be better
EDIT: LASER IS FOCUSABLE. IT WAS JUST ON TIGHT.
For 130$ +Shipping, this is one of the most affordable 100mW+ 520 nm lasers out there, and for the price, you get one finely crafted laser. I would highly recommend the HL520 from LaserBTB!
Glamour/Beam Shots!
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/ZSaPZf9.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/UazXc29.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/RGrqLxi.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/FJMhQg3.jpg
HighRes: http://i.imgur.com/HS69YMg.jpg
Last edited:
i tryied turning the ring but its hard as rock im afraid of breaking something, is this normal or?
