Help me decide? (first greenie)

[MrMurse]

So i have been nerding out about lasers on and off for the last few years and thinking this is the time to buy an actual quality high powered pen. A while back i ordered a (claimed) 100mw green pointer with a kaleidoscope attachment from Dino Direct. I loved it, but it quickly got burnt out from over use. The selling point for me is the beam. Burning second, then host. I am torn between three different lasers at the moment, probably the reason i havent bought one yet haha.

Optotronics Product Details -- Premium 55mw. safe option for me at the moment.

Optotronics Product Details -- Premium 100mw w/ special effects. The i am going to splurge on this laser and get the one i really want.

Green Laser Pointers : Dragon Lasers -- Viper series 55mw. the quality beats all option.

Any personal experiences with said lasers?? please let me know!
Thanks!
-Joe

 

[NightExplorer96]

Personally, money wise, the 100mW pointer w/ star caps effect seems like the best value. Here's why I think so:

-For only $30 more(when compared to the Viper) you get 45mW more power, which is pretty good!
-For for $50 more(when compared to the Optotronics 55mW unit) you get 45mW more power, which even though this time you are paying more per mW then the Viper it's still pretty good!

You also mentioned you wanted first off to see a beam, then be able to burn. A 100mW pointer will easily perform better on both criteria then a 55mW version. It's up to you if you have the extra cash to spend for more power really. All the lasers are quality, just pick & chose!

-Alex

 

[hakzaw1]

Hey Joe

How about a proper introduction thread in the WELCOME section BEFORE you ask for free help-

we like to hear a bit about you and its important that you fnish your personal profile so we know whereabouts you are located.
I suggest you drop the nic 'Greenie' those are special dog bones tht help clean their teeth & their breath..
*******************
Also it kinda makes green handhelds sound like some kind of toy which they ARE NOT.
No laser is actually eye-safe.--I don't think we should ever consider any laser we own 'eye-safe'
as our eye's own lens can multiply the power as much as 100,000 times (some say 200,000)



Look for vet members selling some of their collection (place a WTB in the BS&T section) after that choose a company that is good but not as expensive as Opto
Prices on green diode lasers are dropping..
I got three green pen pointers for ~$4 each all between 60 and 70 mW.

you CANT run these and /or most green handhelds for long periods w/o a rest.
good luck==I will be watching for your intro thread and have a +6 green rep bump for you then.

 

[mortuus]

wow those opto pens are sure overpriced, i mean 89$ for a 55mW laser? thats just crazy..

 

[NightExplorer96]

wow those opto pens are sure overpriced, i mean 89$ for a 55mW laser? thats just crazy..

Sure it's expensive but your paying for a quality laser, which costs more per mW. Optotronics also has amazing customer service, so by purchasing it you have the confidence if anything goes wrong you won't be left out to dry

-Alex

 

[LaserBeams]

Over priced is just one thing...

I hate those type of hosts, horrible.

Most Chinese lasers I.R bleeders use them...

Not saying that's the case, it's just my opinion on the host used.

 

[mortuus]

sorry Tha Greenlander but no, a 532nm in a pen doesnt matter, you cant have a big heatsink in there anyway i dont see how they justify the price just for those not like the crystals are expensive exactly, those prices u payed like in 2007 when i bought my first wicked lasers pen at that time not today and for sure not that crappy ebay host pen type either.. They should have for that price a little more unique hosts like laserglow then i could understand their prices.

 

[NightExplorer96]

sorry Tha Greenlander but no, a 532nm in a pen doesnt matter, you cant have a big heatsink in there anyway i dont see how they justify the price just for those not like the crystals are expensive exactly, those prices u payed like in 2007 when i bought my first wicked lasers pen at that time not today and for sure not that crappy ebay host pen type either.. They should have for that price a little more unique hosts like laserglow then i could understand their prices.

True, I see where you are coming from. I also have to admit I don't really find the host appealing :evil:

-Alex

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Don't waste your money on those. Either
get one of these, or try eBay.

Cheap True Green Laser Pen 5mW

 

[MrMurse]

Personally, money wise, the 100mW pointer w/ star caps effect seems like the best value. Here's why I think so:

-For only $30 more(when compared to the Viper) you get 45mW more power, which is pretty good!
-For for $50 more(when compared to the Optotronics 55mW unit) you get 45mW more power, which even though this time you are paying more per mW then the Viper it's still pretty good!

You also mentioned you wanted first off to see a beam, then be able to burn. A 100mW pointer will easily perform better on both criteria then a 55mW version. It's up to you if you have the extra cash to spend for more power really. All the lasers are quality, just pick & chose!

-Alex

Thanks Alex!
I've been gravitating towards the 100mw since I've posted, with the help of a lighting and sound guy friend. The main reasons i added the 55mw options were because I could buy it now. Where as I'll probably have to save for another week for the 100mw. But the conclusion was to splurge on the laser I really wanted (100mw w/ effects) but i have to wait haha.
Just curious about beam visibility if you have experience with these brands or power levels?
Thanks again!
-Joe

 

[NightExplorer96]

Thanks Alex!
I've been gravitating towards the 100mw since I've posted, with the help of a lighting and sound guy friend. The main reasons i added the 55mw options were because I could buy it now. Where as I'll probably have to save for another week for the 100mw. But the conclusion was to splurge on the laser I really wanted (100mw w/ effects) but i have to wait haha.
Just curious about beam visibility if you have experience with these brands or power levels?
Thanks again!
-Joe

The only 532nm lasers I've owned were either 500mW or 5mW. I used to have a couple "200mW" chinese pens and their beam was pretty visible at nighttime. Hopefully someone who owns 100mW of 532nm will be able to give you a hand

What you need to know is that 50mW will already have a visible beam, 100mW as you can guess will be even brighter, & may even star to kill your night-vision due to how strong it is, so keep that in mind!

-Alex

 

[MrMurse]

Ooh.. See I kind of really like the host Lol I'm definitley in favor of the pen style. I've done a lot of research on both brands as well as many others. Opto sends a specifications sheet, with beam diameter, divergence, output, ect. I owned a 100mw red from O-like shortly after the Dino Direct Laser died. I was almost considering the WL nano (full well knowing about the horror stories) but for the price and power no thank you. The effects caps are kind of getting me as well. I kind of want a more flashy laser haha.. From where I've been looking the 100mw Optotronics has stuck out the most.

 

[MrMurse]

That was another concern, im hoping the 100mw won't be too bright to the point where it's painful to use indoors. That's why i was contemplating the 55mw safer option.
-Joe

 

[mortuus]

yes at 100mW i would say a green laser is starting to be kinda strong indoors so you maybe should pick a lower one.

 

[bdgreenb]

the link that TLS posted for the green pens is a great one, they are usually way over spec(like in the 80mw range), there is a whole thread devoted to this in deals and discounts, might want to check that out. 532nm lasers from ebay are super hit or miss, but you can get a great one for super cheap.

 

[MrMurse]

the link that TLS posted for the green pens is a great one, they are usually way over spec(like in the 80mw range), there is a whole thread devoted to this in deals and discounts, might want to check that out. 532nm lasers from ebay are super hit or miss, but you can get a great one for super cheap.

Thanks for the input, but the ebay laser unsettles me because it reminds me of the Dino Direct laser that i first owned. Ive read that they are never sold as what they are advertised, almost never include an IR filter, and like you said, are a hit or a miss.

Its kind of hard to find a lot of info on Optotronics but from what i have read about them they seem like one of my better options at the moment.

Then there is this guy~~LP 515nm 532nm 1-150
they have an 80mw option that peaked my interest. Any experience with the laserbtb pen style pointers? The <2.0 divergence concerns me because beam visibility is one of my top deciding factors

Thanks!
-Joe