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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Deal Extreme 500mw "Firepoint" green

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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
 

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Great review :beer:

I think you did well, considering we're talking DX here...! As a matter of fact, it was quite daring of you to shell out that kind of money with that kind of company but in the end I guess it turned out well (the 50-100mW is not as bad as say, a terrible spot or divegence, right!)

Cheers + rep!
 
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Nice detailed review...
I would consider your Laser labeled as 450mW 532nm IR Filtered...;)

For an IR filtered 532nm laser you got a good deal...IMO
I think the >500mw stated on the data sheet should read <500mw
O-Like is at least honest with their Power Specs...
Output Power 500+/-50mw (no IR filter) .Your Laser has an IR filter and
puts out the O-Like specs... BYW.. Olike has a Deluxe LaserBee I...

Did you know that the LaserBee I Data Logging PC Interface Software
allows you to Graph the Data collected and Print it out right from the
Software... :cool:

Jerry
 
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D

Deleted member 8382

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Have you tried removing the filter? I guess O-like can sell it as a 500mW laser because they have no filter and so the total power is for sure 500mW xD
 
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Nice detailed review...
I would consider your Laser labeled as 450mW 532nm IR Filtered...;)

For an IR filtered 532nm laser you got a good deal...IMO
I think the >500mw stated on the data sheet should read <500mw
O-Like is at least honest with their Power Specs...
Output Power 500+/-50mw (no IR filter) .Your Laser has an IR filter and
puts out the O-Like specs... BYW.. Olike has a Deluxe LaserBee I...

Did you know that the LaserBee I Data Logging PC Interface Software
allows you to Graph the Data collected and Print it out right from the
Software... :cool:

Jerry

Hi Jerry

Yes I was able to graph the output but couldn't figure out how to save the graphed output so I just put the text into excel, made a graph that way and then saved the resulting graph to a jpeg.

Personally I think using "<" is no better. It is a meaningless figure since anything > zero would qualify.

Re. O-Like, I will be posting a separate review on their "80" mw blue module, but let's just say I am not happy ...Interested to hear they have a laserbee. Then they have no excuses ....
 
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@Hal........

Why would you remove a safety feature like an IR filter from a
$600.00 Laser that is VERY near specs..:thinking::thinking:

At $600.00 I wouldn't play with the guts... Maybe that's just me..:whistle:

@davidgdg...
All you need to do is graph it on the screen... Max Size it on screen..
Hit the Print Screen button on your Keyboard...
Go to the Paint program in Windows Program Accessories and Paste
it to Paint... Then save it in .JPG..
You can even edit the .JPG to add the name of the Laser you tested..;)

That's what I did on this review....

http://laserpointerforums.com/f45/new-pocket-sized-200mw-532nm-laser-mni-review-43840.html


Jerry
 
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Benm

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Seems like a pretty good deal really... sure, its under spec, but on the other hand its probably the most powerful green you can get for $600. I dont think its all that unstable either - power fluctates here and there but stays within 10% of 450 mW troughout the first minutes you measured.

I do wonder how that curve continues though, how much remains after 10 or 20 minutes - it looks bulky enough to be operated continously.

Might be good news on the lower powered models such as DealExtreme: $331.00 FirePoint Green Laser Pointer Complete Kit (250mW) * EMS Express - which is a pretty reasonable $331 provided it performs similar to 500 mW version (i.e. relatively stable and 80-90% of rated power).

Btw, rayfoss seems to be carrying them too: http://wd8006test.169.888501.com/pro_info.asp?id=1565 - you think those are the exact same models?
 
Last edited:
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@Hal........

Why would you remove a safety feature like an IR filter from a
$600.00 Laser that is VERY near specs..:thinking::thinking:

At $600.00 I wouldn't play with the guts... Maybe that's just me..:whistle:

@davidgdg...
All you need to do is graph it on the screen... Max Size it on screen..
Hit the Print Screen button on your Keyboard...
Go to the Paint program in Windows Program Accessories and Paste
it to Paint... Then save it in .JPG..
You can even edit the .JPG to add the name of the Laser you tested..;)

That's what I did on this review....

http://laserpointerforums.com/f45/new-pocket-sized-200mw-532nm-laser-mni-review-43840.html


Jerry

Good idea. Cuts out the Excel step.
 
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Seems like a pretty good deal really... sure, its under spec, but on the other hand its probably the most powerful green you can get for $600. I dont think its all that unstable either - power fluctates here and there but stays within 10% of 450 mW troughout the first minutes you measured.

I do wonder how that curve continues though, how much remains after 10 or 20 minutes - it looks bulky enough to be operated continously.

Might be good news on the lower powered models such as DealExtreme: $331.00 FirePoint Green Laser Pointer Complete Kit (250mW) * EMS Express - which is a pretty reasonable $331 provided it performs similar to 500 mW version (i.e. relatively stable and 80-90% of rated power).

Btw, rayfoss seems to be carrying them too: Rayfoss - you think those are the exact same models?

The rayfoss 500mw IR filtered @ US$ 600 certainly looks like the same unit as does the <500 mw at US$ 540. The "military style 650 mw" is a different unit - fantastic value if it is all green - but no mention of an IR filter so I suspect not. Might be worth asking though. 650mw of pure green at US$ 625 would be amazing.

I'lll give mine a longer run and see what comes out of my laserbee

David
 

Benm

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Seems pretty amazing indeed, powers up to 650 mW at affordable prices.

I'm not willing to spend that much right now, but the lower powered 'firepoint' models seem sensible, at least if the are comparable to what you got there. I'd love to see the long time power results for it, that big form factor looks good enough for continous operation... though i'd keep a finger on it to see if it doesnt still heat up badly.
 
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...
I'lll give mine a longer run and see what comes out of my laserbee

David

Ok just did a five minute run. See below. It peaks early at 460 and then falls off to 380-420 with various wobbles. I think it is best regarded as a 400mw unit.

David
 

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Benm

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Looks pretty good... use tapers off a bit but not dramatically. Did it get noticably warm after 5 minutes?
 
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...Interested to hear they have a laserbee. Then they have no excuses ....
I don't think that will help out much, David, because while Susie heads the business-end, the products are most likely shipped directly to the customer from the source (factory or Wholesale company).

I figured this out when I had to send her back an item for replacment and the addresses were from completely different areas of CN...
 
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I don't think that will help out much, David, because while Susie heads the business-end, the products are most likely shipped directly to the customer from the source (factory or Wholesale company).

I figured this out when I had to send her back an item for replacment and the addresses were from completely different areas of CN...


Thanks for the heads-up. I'll defer judgment until I hear back - "80 mw" blue giving 60mw ;(
 




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