Looking for brightest handheld laser under $1500

[MacDaddy]

Hello guys, I recently quit smoking and am being rewarded by my father. In about 6 months time I'm going to be spending up to $1500 on a handheld laser! I'm looking for something amazingly bright. Obviously I'm thinking 532nm but I could be persuaded by a high power orange or yellow build. I've been looking for legit companies on google but there's so many scam websites. So what I'm looking for is a wicked bright beam of 532nm at as high of a power output as possible with an amazing duty cycle (100% if possible). Does anyone know of a company or specific model that would fit the requirements? I'd even be open to commissioning a community member either

Let me hear your thoughts Laser veterans.

Cheers, Josh.

 

[Atomicrox]

Since you're waiting 6 months you might as well get one of the forum's fine builders to make you something with the new 1W 520nm. Probably can be pushed to 1.5W and will most likely be the brightest laser you can get.

 

[Tmack]

Second that. Very bright, beautiful, and you'd be one if the first owners of such a laser.

 

[trencheel303]

Or you could spread the cost over an entire collection of lasers. For $1500 I imagine you could get:-
A 300mW 532
A 2watt 445
A 500mW 405
A 200mW 635
a 200+ mW 650

Some safety glasses

And several left over for an exotic wavelength or two. Ie a lower powered 520, 473 etc.

I know which I'd rather choose - but that's just me. Don't forget that such a high power laser as the big 520 would require a lot of care. You couldn't do a lot of viewing inside without goggles as just the dot would be blinding - I really struggle to shine a 100mW green around the room without safety glasses. I'd rather have a variety of lesser powered wavelengths than one that was in real terms quite limiting.

 

[DJNY]

For this amount you can get a 1.2W CNI PGL-III-532nm.

Or you go with a 2W 520nm built.

Both currently gonna run you between 1-1.2K.

 

[Tmack]

If you want to go with a collection, I have a matching set of custom ms v3s. And you'd still have over $1000 left.
1.4w 445nm
520mw 638nm
510mw 405
120mw 532
$400+shipping

Could spend the rest on a very powerful 532

 

[Blarg King]

Yes I would use 1500$ to get a nice collection of the various colors lasers can offer.

But if your dead set on spending 1500$ on one laser (nothing wrong with that) then I would get to know some of the builders on the forum and see about having a 1 Watt 520 nm (Green) laser built. Not only would it be one of the brightest handheld lasers in existence, but you would be the owner of a very rare laser.

 

[trencheel303]

1-2 watts of 520 would be a sight to behold though. Bet it's fairly visible (beam) during the day too. I know that 445 is when it's cloudy, if you know what to look for (looks kinda transparent).

 

[shokkunlasers]

Man 1500$ is a lot can make 2W 532nm handheld for this!

 

[Zathras]

Or you could spread the cost over an entire collection of lasers. For $1500 I imagine you could get:-
A 300mW 532
A 2watt 445
A 500mW 405
A 200mW 635
A 200+ mW 650

Some safety glasses

And several left over for an exotic wavelength or two. i.e. a lower powered 520, 473 etc.

+1

*mumbles something about not putting all eggs in one basket*

 

[ZRaffleticket]

2W of 532 is a gamble though, there is no handheld out there currently doing that. (But of course it can be done...)

If you're going for brightest... that won't incinerate everything on contact... go with the 2W green, either wavelength. (532, 520)

5W+ 445 is just... too scary to play with if you ask me. You can't really enjoy it since it will burn nearly anything on contact.

 

[Tmack]

Explain what's not fun about incinerating everything it touches lol

 

[ZRaffleticket]

I don't even touch my 3.5W 445 because it does that ._.

Well most metals don't necessarily incinerate as much as spark and melt, so to rephrase, incinerate any combustible material. (magnesium, titanium are some examples that will burn)

 

[shokkunlasers]

2W of 532 is a gamble though, there is no handheld out there currently doing that. (But of course it can be done...)

If you're going for brightest... that won't incinerate everything on contact... go with the 2W green, either wavelength. (532, 520)

5W+ 445 is just... too scary to play with if you ask me. You can't really enjoy it since it will burn nearly anything on contact.

I didn't speak of any company doing that. Except CNI I don't even know one that could do it.
I would build a costum 2W 532nm for 1200$
there are round modules for that and mrcrouse

 

[ZRaffleticket]

I'm well aware that is feasible in the DIY world, but nobody has done it yet is what I meant by that.

CNI maxes out at 1.2W 532 in a handheld I think...

 

[Livinloud]

Remember to get 5W of 445nm we might not have to combine diodes anymore.......there is a 3W 9mm 445nm diode out and 3W is rated specs so Im guessing we can get 5W out of them easily!