If You've Actually Received Your Spyder III Arctic - Post Here

[laser_freak]

Re: Arctic: Spyder III: Review

The Arctics optical assembly contains two lenses, from what I have heard (not first hand experience) the aixiz 445nm lens is a triple element assembly. So, while similar in construction, they are not the same.

Can anyone confirm whether the Aixiz is a triple element assembly?

Yes, AixiZ's 445nm glass lens has 3 elements. How do you know the Arctic's lens has 2 elements? Or do you mean it has 2 lenses: the main one, and the user-changeable one?

 

[daguin]

Re: Arctic: Spyder III: Review

Although I have not removed the lens, I have just been told that it is NOT the AixiZ. My comparison was visual only. Hopefully someone can pull one of them apart next to an AixiZ

Peace,
dave

 

[brtaman]

Re: Arctic: Spyder III: Review

Yes, AixiZ's 445nm glass lens has 3 elements. How do you know the Arctic's lens has 2 elements? Or do you mean it has 2 lenses: the main one, and the user-changeable one?

Thanks for the info. I remember reading they are triple element, but haven't seen one opened up. I know for a fact the reds were triple element, but I thought perhaps aixiz changed to a dual element set-up.

I know, because I took it apart.

I posted some pictures in the "Arctic producing rectangular beam" arctic thread. It has two lenses in the optical nut, which is brass and looks like the aixiz nut. The outer "lens" is there for dust only imo. It does not do anything but "rob" power.

 

[swimminsurfer256]

Arctic Spyder S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Review *LOTS OF PICS*

Hey guys, so I just got my Arctic today! (finally). I ran some quick tests and snapped a few shots of it. It's pretty good (I just really, really like the host).

****My main review is going to be a comparison between the Arctic, Spartan (hasn't arrived yet), and the custom build that I have.****

First things to say..

Arctic Spyder S3 and Expanded Lens Kit:
Price: (Then) $197.97 + ~$30 shipping ----- (Now) $299.95 + ~$30 shipping

Ordered: 7/19 (order number 60xxx)
Shipped: 7/30
Arrived: 8/3


Obviously not very accurate, as my first order was ordered 6/14 and I had to cancel it after it hadn't arrived a month later.

Packaging: Good packaging. Bubble wrapped and everything Two separate boxes, one for the glasses and battery/charger, other for the laser and lenses.

Host: Yes, I love the host. Everyone likes that host. How could you not. It's actually a little bigger than I thought (~9 inches long), but it feels really solid.

Power output: With the regular lens, my Arctic is holding pretty steady at 700-702mW. Not quite the 1W they claim nor the 1.25W that the sticker says but still slightly solid. With the training lens, the power holds at 175mW... not exactly the drastic reduction they claimed..


Beam shape: It is a little bit rounded--definitely not completely rounded and definitely IS more of a line/rectangle shape than a pure dot *grrrr*.


Beam size: at 1 foot, the beam is just under 1/4 of an inch, or probably around 6mm. At 20 feet, the beam is right about 1/2 an inch, or 12.7mm. Yes, I burned my ruler on accident getting the measurement for the 1ft I seem to be horrible at calculating mRad so you guys can do that for me if you wish.
1ft:

20ft:

Lens Kit:

The lenses that came with my lasers + the expanded lens kit are as follows:

Regular Lens:

Training Lens:

Galaxy Lens:

Cross Lens:

Line Lens:

Floodlight Lens:

Flashlight Lens:

And (not pictured) "focusing" lens which focuses the beam to about an inch or two in front of the laser.

Burning shots and night shots will come with the expanded comparison review.

If you guys have questions feel free to ask!

 

[brando132]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

1.0964907886359114 mRad. NICE!

 

[swimminsurfer256]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

Can you also post images of the flashlight, and spotlight lens. I take it the lenses have no identification on them, to tell which ones they are? Nice images btw. I'm eager to see how all these compare, especially compared to the diy version.

Yes I can get those up later tonight (I have to go to a dinner right now). The "floodlight" is basically a very large rectangle and the "flashlight" is just a large rectangle.

The lenses do not have any identification, but the package came with a piece of paper that had the order that the lenses were in the box. It's also pretty easy to tell by looking at the lens itself (except that the floodlight/spotlight look basically the same). I'll see if I can get some close-ups of the lenses themselves later tonight too so you can see!


I'm pretty sure the DIY will blow all of them away except for maybe the Arctic in looks

 

[StardustSprinkles]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

Hmm... this one looks like a fine unit compared to the other ones i've seen.

 

[Mickey]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

yeah, lucky you! You seem to have a fine unit!

 

[DjHeadie]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

yeah, lucky you! You seem to have a fine unit!

bwahahahahahahaha.

you like his unit.

 

[matrix961]

I received my Arctic today and was kind of worried with some of the issues that have been popping up. So far I have not noticed any problems with it's construction or it's operation. I took some pictures with the training lens on then with the normal lens on. I have the files named accordingly so you know which ones you're looking at. The dot shots were taken at 24 feet.

I also noticed that WL really likes using thermal grease because there was a crap load on it.

matrix961

 

[TheTeslaWarrior]

yea first come first serve is a load of bull mine shipped out 10 days after ordering...

 

[swimminsurfer256]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

Can you also post images of the flashlight, and spotlight lens. I take it the lenses have no identification on them, to tell which ones they are? Nice images btw. I'm eager to see how all these compare, especially compared to the diy version.

Floodlight and flashlight lenses added!

bwahahahahahahaha.

you like his unit.

Everyone likes my unit

 

[dereileak]

Re: Arctic Spyder S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Review *LOTS OF PICS*

Nice review, I am excited to get mine, G2 will be here in , well idk really, XD

 

[swimminsurfer256]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

Thanks for the additional images. The floodlight kind of looks like a microscope slide projection. I like the flashlight beam, should be fun to use outside. One question, do you think the duty cycle is continuous like they advertise?

Yeah I think that's just dust and other sh*t on the diode or lens. The flashlight is the same thing but you couldn't really tell via the picture.

And I don't know but I think it would be pretty close to continuous. I mean the host is big and aluminum (I think) so it should have really good heatsinking. I'm not willing to risk frying my diode to find out though


A half-assed unscripted video review will be up soon!

 

[dereileak]

Re: Arctic S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Preliminary Review

Yeah I think that's just dust and other sh*t on the diode or lens. The flashlight is the same thing but you couldn't really tell via the picture.

And I don't know but I think it would be pretty close to continuous. I mean the host is big and aluminum (I think) so it should have really good heatsinking. I'm not willing to risk frying my diode to find out though


A half-assed unscripted video review will be up soon!

Sweet, I can't wait

 

[swimminsurfer256]

Re: Arctic Spyder S3 (WL) + Exp. Lens Kit Review *LOTS OF PICS*

Video is currently being uploaded.


And hooooooly butterflumping dumpwinkles and hooperburneys galaxy lens at night is sooooooooooooooooo awesome!!!!!!!