Review (video): DX SD Laser 301 & Rayfoss RF532-200mW-B03

[Mik]

PLEASE READ POST 17

This is a sort of double review that will contain the Rayfoss RF532-200mW-B03 as well as the DX SD Laser 301. I wanted to review them both, and since they are so similar, I decided to just put them both together on one page.

Rayfoss: RF532-200mW-B03
Price: $153
Claimed output: 200mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(Failed to include battery or charger)


DX: SD Laser 301
Price: $31.90
Claimed output: 50mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(included battery)



I specially requested that an IR filter be added to the Rayfoss unit before shipping. I was told that prior to the IR filter, the laser made 210mW and after the filter it “should” make 170mW. After a very long wait, the Rayfoss laser finally showed up. To my disappointment, there was no battery or charger included with the laser (the Rayfoss website advertises them as included). Inside of a bubble wrap envelope was the laser, boxed in the typical white “gift box”. Also included was the tailcap and a new sticker to put over the 1mW label currently adhered to the laser body. Luckily for me, I already have a charger and some 18650’s. If I had not already owned those items, I would be sitting here with a useless chunk of aluminum thanks to the oversight of Rayfoss forgetting to include a battery and charger. :wtf:

Since I planned to compare the RF532-200mW-B03 to the DX SD Laser 301, I figured that I had better set the DX provided 18650 cell aside and use two cells that I know are both high quality and perform equally. I reached for two of my best performing no-name, non-protected ICR’s, and put them both on the same charger to make sure they were both up to full voltage and capacity. I wanted to get the highest possible readings on the LPM, so I decided to run them on the meter before I did anything else. Following the LPM, I went to burning, and then finally beam shots.

The bodies are almost identical, but they use different modules. They both do an OK job of focusing, although neither of them get as tight as the Dilda. I think the SD Laser is a superb value and the Rayfoss is a fair value. It is obvious that the Rayfoss is more powerful, but I am not sure if I am convinced that it’s worth nearly 5x what DX charges for the SD Laser 301. Further comparison outside in complete darkness will be required.

I will save the results for the video. I hope you enjoy it and find some useful information within. I’m sorry if you guys feel that it drags on for too long. I was not sure if I should show all the long parts or just skip to the results. I welcome your constructive criticism.

I am new to measuring divergence, and I believe that I got something wrong - but here is what I measured. (I screwed the focusing heads all the way down to the body).

Rayfoss: .3mm measuring the dot against a white box with the laser as close as possible, just enough room to get the caliper in between the laser and the box. At 22'9" (rounded to 23') I got 5.12mm in the longest direction. (the rayfoss has a slightly oval shaped beam when looking at it with safety glasses on). Using the calculator linked below, this gives me .3mrad, which seems like an incorrect/unrealistic figure. Should I be focusing the laser at the target distance before taking any measurement?

SD Laser: 1.76mm (same as above) and 7.32mm at the same 22'9" distance. (SD laser has a nice and round/clean dot) giving .8mrad.

YouTube - rfsdl

 

[brando132]

Nice review.

 

[moneyLeu]

You need check if it's rly ir filtered, coz the experiences told me these models on sales are never ir filtered.
I recommend you to add an ir filter to the LPM to see the difference made by the ir filter.

BTW, i don't know if this LPM supports the adding of an ir filter. Sorry.:yh:

 

[souljasai]

is the choclate edible after you burn it with a laser? lol curious.

 

[brando132]

You need check if it's rly ir filtered, coz the experiences told me these models on sales are never ir filtered.
I recommend you to add an ir filter to the LPM to see the difference made by the ir filter.

BTW, i don't know if this LPM supports the adding of an ir filter. Sorry.:yh:

He requested one, and Rayfoss are good at listening to requests.

If he wanted he could just hold a IR filter infront of the laser, no need for compatibility.

 

[Mik]

is the choclate edible after you burn it with a laser? lol curious.

Yeah, it tasted normal to me. It made the room smell like brownies for about an hour too. I was just trying to come up with something different to do for burning.

 

[siqueirah]

The review couldn't arrive in a better timming.
I ordered one from DX last week.
I had already seen some good reviews about this laser, but this is definitely the best. =)
Now I'm sure that this is the laser I want. Excellent value and a good burning performance.
wow, I'm hungry now. Give-me that chocolate !
Well, I couldn't see very well, what are the readings of the SD301 ?

Thanks for the review !

BTW: The price is $31,90 , isn't it?

 

[Mik]

Yup, I made a mistake in the price! D'oh!

That day it peaked at 84mW and usually rolls down 2-3mW very slowly from there.

I don't really consider burning as a important factor when I buy a green. I like the brightness of the beam. I use BR and red to burn stuff for the most part. This laser will focus down some, but it's not really a high enough power level to burn good. It makes smoke come off of red matches (like my green CNI does) but will not ignite the match unless it's colored black. Just needs more power to burn.

For a person who wants a bright, good looking laser at a low cost, this is great - but if burning is a high priority to you, just get a dilda variant. My red V1 dilda from DX does 202!

 

[siqueirah]

Well, some units tested can burn pretty well, by the videos I watched.
I'm not expecting it to be a DAMN GOOD burner, but I wanted a bright laser that could at least give me a little taste of the burning power. Well, since I wanted to buy just ONE laser, spending the less money possible, this is the most suitable for me.
I could have bought a dilda and another green one, but I wanted something that combines both bright and burning ability. If it can't burn well, I won't be disppointed.

Once more, thank you for the review, and forgive me for the english mistakes.

Edit: The price is still wrong, haha

 

[brando132]

Did you measure the divergance on the lasers?

 

[jander6442]

First, how did you get past the paypal restrictions for NO lasers over 5mW on Dx..:thinking:

Now second, I'm betting Rayfoss omitted the batt. in effort to pass thru customs
or should I say better your chances of getting thru customs... In any event both
units are IMHO "great for the money".

 

[siqueirah]

Yeah ! Divergence would be interesting.

 

[Mik]

Did you measure the divergance on the lasers?

Honestly, I don't know exactly how to do it. I am still a noob and just need to go read about it. I will update the original post with that information when I have it.

First, how did you get past the paypal restrictions for NO lasers over 5mW on Dx..:thinking:

Ancient Canadian secret... 2007rev

Now second, I'm betting Rayfoss omitted the batt. in effort to pass thru customs
or should I say better your chances of getting thru customs... In any event both
units are IMHO "great for the money".

 

[brando132]

It's really easy. just measure the dot size at the aperture(while wearing safety glasses to make it accurate) and again at any distance, the farther the more accurate. Then when you have those two measurements plug them in here -> pseudonomen137's JScript mRad Calculator

Ex:
Dot at aperture=1mm
Dot at 28 feet=13mm
Divergence in mRad=1.4060733140971013

This was the divergence of my last DX pointer before it died.

P.S. I love living in Canada, no restrictions...:na:

 

[Mik]

Are you supposed to actually place the caliper against the laser face and just close it down until you see the beam getting cropped (then back it off until no cropping)??

Or, get the face of the laser as close as possible to a light colored surface and measure the dot that you see? Obviously my figures are incorrect.. well, for the sure the Rayfoss figure cannot be right.

 

[jbtm]

Sometimes if you ask they evens end you a pic of laser on a meter saying the ratings..Mine read 210mW, so i knew i was getting a good laser (no IR filter). Also, Maybe you got a different model, but Rayfoss does include a blue UltraFire 2400mAh battery. They ship it 1-2 days after the laser, so you get the battery last, but the laser first