New to the hobby

[Hybridkitty]

Hey,

I'm new to the hobby. I just wanted to know what sort of thing I should be looking to explore having just acquired interest in this area.

I've just bought my second ever laser pointer, but it's the first serious one. Before I had a cheap green 5mw laser pointer and it was pretty cool, could see the beam just about at night and I had fun with it. But it got lost somehow.

Here is the one I've just bought (got a battery too, almost fell into that trap )

Brand New 50mW 532nm Green Laser Pointer

Could anyone tell me if that was a moderate/good buy or not? I was looking for something with a bit more power than the average 5mw laser so I decided that a 50mw laser with a battery for £20 was a very good price. I'm aware that the power is subject to a bit of fluctuation with cheaper pointers. It looks like a real 50mw laser though, in the chunky case etc.

Thanks for any input, by the way I've read all the stickied threads so please don't direct me to them .

~~ Kieran

 

[TimeGnome]

Dont forget to buy a pair of safety goggles with these they are capable of doing eye damage. Safety first! And seems okay to me but im not the best judge yet

 

[Tech_Junkie]

How can you tell by looking at it that it is 50mW? You cant. I'd say by looking at the price, thats its probably an overspec 5mW unit.

Go to O-Like.com. They have good prices, and decent lasers.

 

[Flaminpyro]

Howdy and welcome to the forum :wave: be sure to check the search button for info.
Have fun and be safe !

 

[Hybridkitty]

Thanks for the info, I'll wait and see how this one looks. I was weary of the price, I can always send it back I suppose and get one from o-link, those prices do look a lot more realistic.

Again, thanks.

 

[Hybridkitty]

Oh and I read the laser injury link on your sig. Enlightening, I will get some, however you have to be some kind of idiot to reflect 150mw lasers off mirrors randomly and expect to come out of it fine.

 

[Hybridkitty]

Sorry about leaving this post, it was pretty stupid. I thought I'd read up all the information, but I hadn't. Seriously the internet has EVERYTHING.

I've just repurchased a new 50mw green laser (the one from LEDShoppe),
Next week I'm going to get the BudgetGadgets 200mw red laser.

Thanks for quick reply anyway TJ

 

[Arayan]

please don't make multiple posts you can modify your previous post with the "edit" button!
BTW... Welcome to LPF :beer: