Newb alert: few questions

Sup guys. I bought my first laser pointer while visiting myrtle beach in south carolina. The label on it says "< 5 mw 532nm" which i guess means its power is less then 5 miliwatts and its green, lol.

So, I have a few questions.
I am wanting to buy a more powerful laser. I thought blue ones were cool, but people say you cant see them as well, although they can burn matches, light fireworks, and pop balloons.

1)Is my < 5 mw green laser going to be more visible than a 200mw 405nm blue laser? I was looking at this: 200mW 405nm Mid-open Focus Blue-violet Laser Pointer Pen (2*AAA) - Tmart.com

2)I want a portable laser (pocketsized) that you can very vividly see the whole beam, but can also light firework fuses and matches. what do you guys recommend, and what is the difference between colors and being able to burn / light things?

3)my current laser is very random. sometimes it comes on strong, but other times it is very dull and weak looking. I find sometimes that shaking it or taking the batteries out then putting them back in helps. i heard somewhere that i should always take out the batteries after use, is this true and why?

Thanks guys I really appreciate the time and help. Again, I am new to all this, and it highly fascinates me. I would love to learn more

Look you cant always have maximum visibility and maximum burning ! So here how it goes !

First of all you have to buy safety goggles !!

Next 405nm is for the best burning and 532 gives you maximum visibility ! It depends on you ! What to do you want, and what is your budget then i will find you a very good laser !

First Welcome to the Forum.
Second If you are leaving the realm of <5 mW make sure you get some decent laser glasses as you can cause eye damage instantly with higher powers.


1) Brightness Calculator
2) Green probably in the 100-200 mW range will give you a nice beam and good burning (Make sure it's focusable)
3) Cheap greenies can be like that, they can sometimes take a while to warm up too

jimdt7 said:

Next 405nm is for the best burning and 532 gives you maximum visibility

Click to expand...

Human eyes are most sensitive to green light that's why green appears brighter. The wavelength has basically nothing to do with how well something burns... All that matters is power (total output in mW) and density (focus to a point)


jimdt7: Do you know Kostas?

Hmm good point, i need some goggles I didnt think of that.
Thanks for the insight. next question: now that I know that green is brighter than blue, will the 200mw blue be more / less visible than a 5mw green in the night sky?

another question, i watched some youtube videos and people suggest that blue lasers look rectangular from far away, is this true?

my price range is 20$ - $50, preferably around 30.
wow this is a great forum, such helpful people here

@Guyfromhe

Whos is Kostas ? Kostas is a greek name ! Also the wavelenght has to do with how well something burns ! Can you light a match with a 90mW 532nm ? No but you can witha 405nm 90mW !

oh sorry ignore that question about visibility, i didnt see the conversion link, thanks

It will be a bit less visible but ...... i dont think it matters a lot !

Here is a very good laser website !

Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products


Also never trust Deal Extreme, tmart etc. The laser that they laser are always a lot underspec ! Also where do you live ? I can build a 150mW 405nm laser for 50$ if you want !

jimdt7 said:

@Guyfromhe

Whos is Kostas ? Kostas is a greek name ! Also the wavelenght has to do with how well something burns ! Can you light a match with a 90mW 532nm ? No but you can witha 405nm 90mW !

Click to expand...

I noticed you were from Greece, we had like 30 Kostas' working for us in our Greek office..
I also have a buddy that moved back to Greece about a year ago.

I can't see how wavelength would effect it... I don't have a 532 I can focus so I can't tell you for sure, I also don't have a power meter to confirm they are both putting out the same actual power...
Many senior members have said that the wavelength has nothing to do with burning and it does make sense... can you explain how the heat would be different with the same power (and then how could you possibly get a reading with an LPM??) ? ALSO I think the blue is direct drive diode where as the green is DPSS and probably greatly underspec unless you have a really really expensive laser.

As far as laser shapes I think that has more to do with what mode it's running in... If you have a cheap laser you will likely get more of a square beam than a round one...

You won't get a good laser for $50 but I can recommend some bad ones for you...

I own both of these and like them.. (THE ARE DEFIANTLY UNDER SPEC probably closer to 50-90 mW) The green one can't be focused so it sucks at burning...
Green Laser ~$30

This one is purple but you can focus it to a very tight dot and it burns very well.... This one also runs on CR2 batteries which you will need to buy along with a charger (which is probably the other reason it's more powerful)
Purple Laser ~30

USA. well the cheapo 5mw laser i got at the beach seems to be fine, anything in the burning range sits well for me. Therefore i might just stick with tmart.

my last debate is that I really want a green one because theyre breathtaking at night, but i dont have a blue one so I also want one... ranting to myself lol.

I think you are wrong about the wavelength ! But you can ask DTR,lazeerer, etc. They know for sure ! Where do you work ?

Just buy one of each!
Also you have to worry about customs taking your package because anything over 5mW is illegal to import to the US.

jimdt7 said:

I think you are wrong about the wavelength ! But you can ask DTR,lazeerer, etc. They know for sure ! Where do you work ?

Click to expand...

Ask them, I am curious... I can't understand what physical property would make one wavelength create more heat than another one at the same power...

I used to work at Craig Wireless, they have an office on Kaffisus somewhere in Athens.

I see what you mean about underspec. I read some reviews on tmart for the 200mw green laser, and they said it was probably closer to 50 or 60mw. Still, the price on the 200 (underspec to 50) green laser is amazing, only 25 bucks.

A OK
Sending the pm now ! Which member do you want ?

Also, i saw somewhere that blue lasers are close to UV rays, so they emit more heat.