Wanting to buy a laser for my friend.

[iJoris]

Hello,

I want to buy a laser for a friend i know.
Its his first laser do it does not be too special just a regulair laser.
You have to be able to see the beam.
And i want to spend around 50$.

Anyone got suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[hwang21]

It's not safe to buy a laser above 5mW without knowing a bit about lasers. DO NOT buy lasers from eBay or Amazon, they are poor quality lasers.

 

[iJoris]

It's not safe to buy a laser above 5mW without knowing a bit about lasers. DO NOT buy lasers from eBay or Amazon, they are poor quality lasers.

What can be not save about it?
Because he is not that stupid to point it in eyes etc.

 

[NightExplorer96]

What can be not save about it?
Because he is not that stupid to point it in eyes etc.

Hey iJoris,

Most lasers from eBay and Amazon are, even thought listed as "5mW" not 5mW. They are only listed as such since eBay and Amazon will not permit the sale of any lasers over 5mW on their site.

Most lasers from both of these retails are greatly over-spec. How much are they over-spec? Immpossible to tell without having it LPM'ed. As im sure you know, both these retails sell the famous 3-pack of lasers which contain the wavelengths: 405nm(violet)/532nm(green) and 650nm(red). Not only are simple diode lasers which are over-spec dangerous but the 532nm version uses IR light which is invisible to the human eye to create the desired wavelength. Since IR light is used, quality lasers will have an IR filter which will block out any leaking IR since these can damage our eyes without us noticing. Unfortunately, many cheap, over-spec pens DO NOT have any sort of IR protection which combined with the green causes even more damage.

Hope I shed some light on the issue!

-Alex

 

[iJoris]

Hey iJoris,

Most lasers from eBay and Amazon are, even thought listed as "5mW" not 5mW. They are only listed as such since eBay and Amazon will not permit the sale of any lasers over 5mW on their site.

Most lasers from both of these retails are greatly over-spec. How much are they over-spec? Immpossible to tell without having it LPM'ed. As im sure you know, both these retails sell the famous 3-pack of lasers which contain the wavelengths: 405nm(violet)/532nm(green) and 650nm(red). Not only are simple diode lasers which are over-spec dangerous but the 532nm version uses IR light which is invisible to the human eye to create the desired wavelength. Since IR light is used, quality lasers will have an IR filter which will block out any leaking IR since these can damage our eyes without us noticing. Unfortunately, many cheap, over-spec pens DO NOT have any sort of IR protection which combined with the green causes even more damage.

Hope I shed some light on the issue!

-Alex

Wow thanks for that very nice answer!
One question: do you have ir light problem with all of them or only the green one?
Because the color is not a problem.
Do you know any good lasers with a cool beam around the 25$?

/iJoris

 

[NightExplorer96]

Wow thanks for that very nice answer!
One question: do you have ir light problem with all of them or only the green one?
Because the color is not a problem.
Do you know any good lasers with a cool beam around the 25$?

/iJoris

Yes out of the 3 lasers only the green one will emit IR light.

Since this is your friend's first laser I recommend buying a true 5mW green pointer. Those will be eye safe and the beam will be visible at nighttime(if one looks close enough). One your friends gets more used to lasers and their safety/handling he can proceed to more powerful pointers.

LG has some nice true 5mW pointers to get him started(the lowest pointer starts at $40). It's a little more than your $25 price range but if you can dish out a few more dollars he won't be disappointed

Link:
Laserglow Technologies

 

[IsaacT]

iJoris you need to only make one thread for each thing. Spamming with multiple threads will only get you booted around here. Patience is the key here.

 

[iJoris]

iJoris you need to only make one thread for each thing. Spamming with multiple threads will only get you booted around here. Patience is the key here.

Sorry abou that

 

[iJoris]

Yes out of the 3 lasers only the green one will emit IR light.

Since this is your friend's first laser I recommend buying a true 5mW green pointer. Those will be eye safe and the beam will be visible at nighttime(if one looks close enough). One your friends gets more used to lasers and their safety/handling he can proceed to more powerful pointers.

LG has some nice true 5mW pointers to get him started(the lowest pointer starts at $40). It's a little more than your $25 price range but if you can dish out a few more dollars he won't be disappointed

Link:
Laserglow Technologies

Isnt just better then to buy a other color?

 

[IsaacT]

Note: For a true 5mW 532nm pointer you could also go to Fry's. Should be a good bit less than 40 dollars. I also have LPM'd one I purchased for my mother and it was truly 5mW.

That said. I am not as convinced that one must begin with a 5mW pointer. Yes, observe safety when handling the laser. But, as long as you do not point the laser at anyone's face and are careful around mirrors/windows, even the IR light that is let through will not cause you harm as it travels in or around the 532nm beam itself. IR worries me very little because I know how to be smart and not point the laser at my face.

 

[NightExplorer96]

Isnt just better then to buy a other color?

Of course you could buy another wavelength, but you mentioned your friend wanted to be able to see the beam. A green laser will have a more visible beam then red or violet.
Also, I forgot about Fry's, thanks for mentioning it WBS. Maybe try and buy a pointer there? As he also mentioned, it most likely will be much cheaper than $40.

-Alex

 

[hakzaw1]

How old?? (both of them)did we get an answer?? double threads double posts- no intro thread- where is this new member? choices change with country-

PM sent

 

[iJoris]

How old?? (both of them)did we get an answer?? double threads double posts- no intro thread- where is this new member? choices change with country-

PM sent

Updated everything
And we are both 19.

And i upgraded my budget to 50$

 

[NightExplorer96]

Updated everything
And we are both 19.

And i upgraded my budget to 50$

If I were you I would just go ahead and buy LG's cheapest 532nm pointer which is the Anser. I own one myself and it's a good starting pointer and it's quality is exceptional, good laser to get into the hobby

-Alex

 

[iJoris]

If I were you I would just go ahead and buy LG's cheapest 532nm pointer which is the Anser. I own one myself and it's a good starting pointer and it's quality is exceptional, good laser to get into the hobby

-Alex

And you are sure you can see a good beam at night?
And wow they charge 35$ for shipping with the cheapest method :O

/iJoris

 

[NightExplorer96]

And you are sure you can see a good beam at night?

/iJoris

The beam won't be extremely visible but you will notice it yes.

-Alex