Is this 400mW 532nm Green laser legit?

[532nmPeter]

Hello everyone!

First, I'd just like to thank everyone on the forums for doing what they do; I've been super into lasers for a few years now, but unfortunately only stumbled upon the forums about a year ago, and in that time have been a bit of a "ghost reader"--but I've learned more in that time than I could have ever have hoped to have otherwise. I have a very small collection of three lasers that I've acquired over the past 8-ish months, all chosen based on your incredibly helpful reviews (along with the appropriate safety gear, of course ), and am looking for another piece to add to my set. I recently came across this laser at O-Like:

400mW 532nm Green laser

and was wondering if there was any way that this could be the "real deal"--for less than $150 it seems too good to be true, but it's currently the best-looking/brightest laser that fits in my relatively low budget (yes, I'm a sucker for bright beams). I won't be using this laser too much if I do end up buying it--maybe once a week for about 10 minutes--but would like it to hold up for at least a few years. Any advice/thoughts/alternatives regarding this laser would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Peter

 

[BobMc]

For some reason your links not working?? Or is it just me?

 

[Encap]

Hello everyone!

First, I'd just like to thank everyone on the forums for doing what they do; I've been super into lasers for a few years now, but unfortunately only stumbled upon the forums about a year ago, and in that time have been a bit of a "ghost reader"--but I've learned more in that time than I could have ever have hoped to have otherwise. I have a very small collection of three lasers that I've acquired over the past 8-ish months, all chosen based on your incredibly helpful reviews (along with the appropriate safety gear, of course ), and am looking for another piece to add to my set. I recently came across this laser at O-Like:

400mW 532nm Green laser

and was wondering if there was any way that this could be the "real deal"--for less than $150 it seems too good to be true, but it's currently the best-looking/brightest laser that fits in my relatively low budget (yes, I'm a sucker for bright beams). I won't be using this laser too much if I do end up buying it--maybe once a week for about 10 minutes--but would like it to hold up for at least a few years. Any advice/thoughts/alternatives regarding this laser would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Peter

O-like is a good company--has been around a long time--excellent for entry and mostly lower cost items--they are honest and give good service once again--there was a time when service faultered but is OK in last year.

The details say 532nm >350mW --O-Like reports output fairly accurately--run time --duty cycle will be short bt is a good price even if it is a 300mW.

If you want a peofessional level excellent quality collar adjustibale focus and many other features 532nm laser see: PL-E Mini series lasers are available now. - JETLASERS.ORG

 

[532nmPeter]

Sorry about the link-- here's the address: http://www.o-like.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=440
Hopefully that works; I've noticed that O-Like webpages rarely work for me when I'm on mobile, so perhaps that could have been a problem.

And thanks for the quick replies! I certainly hope to be able to buy some JetLasers in the near future--but as of now they are a little out of my price range.

 

[BobMc]

Sorry about the link-- here's the address: 5in1 Special 400mW 532nm Green laser star torch /focusable [OL-G5IN] - $143.00 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce
Hopefully that works; I've noticed that O-Like webpages rarely work for me when I'm on mobile, so perhaps that could have been a problem.

And thanks for the quick replies! I certainly hope to be able to buy some JetLasers in the near future--but as of now they are a little out of my price range.

Yes I'm on a mobile, the second links doesn't work either. But it looks like Encap answered. Best wishes.

 

[Dutch67]

Just letting you know... On the specs below, it says ">350lm." Not >350mw. That's sketchy to me as they have decided to meter this laser in lumens when it should be done in miliwatts.

 

[paul1598419]

Also for that price it wouldn't be very stable. I wouldn't be surprised to see it mode hop like it was Easter. You do get what you pay for.

 

[Razako]

If possible, I'd recommend holding off on buying until you can get something from Jetlasers. Even a lower end 532nm PL-E mini from JL will probably be superior to the other laser.

PL-E mini 520nm Green Laser
This is roughly $100 more for the 300mw model which will probably be overspec, and it also has an IR filter. The O-like laser likely has no IR filter which means the power could be overrated and it can also harm your eyes.

As far as I'm concerned, JL are the very best you can get in the laser hobby.

 

[Encap]

Just letting you know... On the specs below, it says ">350lm." Not >350mw. That's sketchy to me as they have decided to meter this laser in lumens when it should be done in miliwatts.

Yes and down below in the specs is says Output power: >350MW --both have to be typos and they mean >350mW.

They offer one as a 500mW for $37 more that has pretty decent looking specs, TEM00,
>450mW, Duty cycle: 100 seconds on/60 sec off
See: High Power 500mW 532nm green laser torch /crystal isolation stab [OL-SH-500] - $179.99 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

If possible, I'd recommend holding off on buying until you can get something from Jetlasers. Even a lower end 532nm PL-E mini from JL will probably be superior to the other laser.
PL-E mini 520nm Green Laser
This is roughly $100 more for the 300mw model which will probably be overspec, and it also has an IR filter. The O-like laser likely has no IR filter which means the power could be overrated and it can also harm your eyes.

As far as I'm concerned, JL are the very best you can get in the laser hobby.

You meant to put link to the 532nm mini link, not the 520nm.

Yeah, If you want true power I recommend buying one from Sanwu.

Sanwu does not offer any high output 532nm DPSS lasers except the very low end 304 at 100mW 532nm for $18

 

[532nmPeter]

I certainly wouldn't want a mode-hopping, low quality laser--but if Encap thinks the other High Power 500mW 532nm green laser torch /crystal isolation stab [OL-SH-500] - $179.99 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce looks like it could be good, I may end up trying that out--and though I WILL eventually go for a quality JetLaser, at this point I just don't have the necessary money. Another quick question: would this laser possibly be of higher quality than O-Like? It has a few decent reviews and I've heard (mostly) good things about Lazerer. Thoughts?

 

[GSS]

I don't know about the lazerer but the 500mw O-Like is showing a 27mm width unit.
I'm limited on knowledge but its not using the typical over run and pushed 12mm module. Its a quite beefie module, but I don't know if that alone leads to stableness and good beam spec's? The $179 is tempting..Let the vets chime in..

 

[Encap]

I certainly wouldn't want a mode-hopping, low quality laser--but if Encap thinks the other High Power 500mW 532nm green laser torch /crystal isolation stab [OL-SH-500] - $179.99 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce looks like it could be good, I may end up trying that out--and though I WILL eventually go for a quality JetLaser, at this point I just don't have the necessary money. Another quick question: would this laser possibly be of higher quality than O-Like? It has a few decent reviews and I've heard (mostly) good things about Lazerer. Thoughts?

I strongly think that if you can wait and save up a little more money, the JetLasers Pl-E mini is a whole different level of laser and also whole different class of customer service as well--both much better in several ways than any of the others and worth the wait and evey penny spent. JetLasers is the manufcaturer of it's products and rightly proud of what they make, that ensures ability to and control of quality standards + excellent value also no money need be added on for a middleman reseller is needed.

If don't want to wait and/or you want lower cost + don't mind a safe duty cycle of 1.5 minute on/one minute off, the O-life 500mW at $179,99 with a well heat sinked crystal and 2W 808 pump diode is value for the money and you will be happy with it.

The Laserer Stick 500 and Rifle 500 are also OK but higher priced at 500mW so much closer to the very reasonable JetLaser Mini price that you might as well wait an get that. Neither Laserer nor O-like are manufacturers --they just resell makers products at additional cost/higher prices.

 

[diachi]

The JetLasers PL-E mini is definitely a much better laser (take a look at some recent reviews on here!), although for the price the O-like unit should be OK. If you can live with the lower quality then go for it, just don't expect a whole lot from it.

 

[Razako]

One thing to keep in mind is resell value. JL units tend to keep their value and can fetch around 70% of their original price if you ever need to sell them. Less known brands are much harder to move unless you practically give them away. With this said, that 500mw O-like doesn't look like a bad unit. Just know you can get something which is much higher quality for slightly more $.

 

[532nmPeter]

Wow, thanks! You guys are great! I think I probably will end up buying the 500mW O-Like for now, but in a few months time I'll hopefully have enough saved up for a JetLaser . I'm not too concerned about the potential un-resellabiliy of the unit as I do plan to keep this until it dies--by which time I hope to have a larger collection of higher quality lasers. Right now I'm just looking for a well-enough built laser that won't crap out on me right away. Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[steve001]

Wow, thanks! You guys are great! I think I probably will end up buying the 500mW O-Like for now, but in a few months time I'll hopefully have enough saved up for a JetLaser . I'm not too concerned about the potential un-resellabiliy of the unit as I do plan to keep this until it dies--by which time I hope to have a larger collection of higher quality lasers. Right now I'm just looking for a well-enough built laser that won't crap out on me right away. Thanks again for all the feedback!

Be patient grasshopper and smart. Put that $179 towards a better laser. That $179 could also be used to order some accessories namely a beam expander and a dc power supply.