Moptsp
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RPL-260 Review
As some may know, I ordered an RPL-260 back on Tuesday 7/13/10 from Optotronics.
Before I ordered it, I had been talking with Jack (the owner of Optotronics). This was probably 3 days worth. He was very nice and honest. Wasn’t there just to “get a sell” on me. After talking with him I decided on the 260. Again, this was on Tuesday. Soon after ordering it, Jack got back to me and said he will ship it soon, but not on Wednesday as he had a lot of orders ahead of me, but that he would ship it on Thursday and said I would have it by Saturday or Monday. Once Thursday hit, I checked my mail and there was no tracking number as he said there would be. Not to panic, he had sent me another email. He laid out honest and told me some personal things that had held him back a bit. So then he said if it didn’t ship today like he said (Thursday) he would send it Friday by Express Mail. This would guarantee delivery on Saturday before 3:00PM. I had only paid for priority mail shipping (like half the price of express.) So that was totally awesome of him to do.
However, USPS didn’t make them selves obvious while delivering on Saturday as I got a note in the mail saying they attempted to deliver it, but I wasn’t there to sign. Either NO one in my house heard it or it came very early while we all were sleeping. By the time the note was read, the PO had closed. So I had to end up waiting till Monday to get it anyway.
I feel quite bad for that. Though Jack still did awesome on his part, so you can’t take that away, even though I screwed up.
Well the other day I picked it up at my nearest USPS office. It was in a box about the shape and scale of a shoe box. Once I got past all that tape to open the box I found recycled paper (maybe?) as protection for shipment. Once I removed it, I saw the black case. J
I opened that and found it was all packaged nicely. Much nicer than I thought it would be. Everything had it’s own little plastic bag (charger, charger cord, key tail cap+key*2.) The laser it self, however; had a very nicely sealed “anti static” plastic like bag over it. Of course I took that out first. Once I got it out, I noticed the nice weight to it, not to heavy, but solid. And it was shiny! (You know Jack polishes these things before shipping them?
)
It had the adjustable tail cap on it as I ordered both caps. The 18650 battery was in the laser during shipment, however; the tail cap was at “0” in off position with also the aperture closed.
I just messed around with it, just looking over it’s beauty. Then I finally read over the paper work, (was in the anti static bag with laser unit.) I wanted to make sure I read them before operating the laser *MUST DO!* When I unfolded the paper work, I saw a little key taped to it. This was the key you use with the adjustable tail cap. Though not used with the key tail cap, it has it’s own keys. After reading most of the paper, I saw what this lasers average output is 294mw over a 1 minute period! That’s awesome for an RPL-260! That’s average, not peak! It was also tested at level 8 of the adjustable tail cap!
After finished reading, I instantly put my safety glasses on. Turned the adjustable tail cap to 1, yes 1! The LED indicator glowed green. I then opened the aperture and turned the laser on. The LED indicator then went red. Man was this bright and powerful at only level 1. I got some electrical tape and attempted to burn though it. No problem at all…. I was amazed at only being at level 1. I then just went max with the tail cap… Wow, this thing will burn about anything! Burns right through a black CD case in just a few seconds. It can even do that on level 1, it just takes a bit longer. I lit a match at about 2 ½ -3 ft in less than a second last night.
The beam. Wooo. I would firmly fix both hands to the laser, aim it straight up at my sealing to prevent any eye hazard, and with my safety glasses on, I would turn it on. After I had turned it on to see exactly where the beam was going to go, I would tilt my head back to expose my eyes under the glasses to view the beam. It’s got a wider beam than my CNI pen (being about 1mm diameter.) I believe the RPL is around <1.5mm. The beam is definitely visible in the daylight. And the divergence seems very good also.
This is definitely a high quality laser, and I would definitely recommend it if you got the money. Everything on it is metal but the button, I believe. Other than of course, circuitry.
Pros on Unit
1) Very high quality and solid laser.
2) No IR, pure green output, of course with this thing!
3) Exposed (silver/reflective) aluminum body is a nice option, I like it more than the black.
4) Aperture slide seems to be given friction by a spring pushing it against the cap. So wear should be virtually eliminated.
5) On/Off button has a nice solid click function.
6) Battery compartment is of high quality. Battery fits well with really no rattling. And 7) also, no driver is exposed where the spring contacts the batter. It’s got a metal wall.
7) LED indicator stays green when on and red when beam is activated.
8) Aperture cap screws off so you can access the lens assembly, I believe. (not done it to prevent dust from getting in)
9) The key switch tail adapter is of high quality. The click and feel you get from turning off to on, and vice versa is very nice feeling and VERY satisfying.
9) And more… lol
Cons on Unit
1) It’s not really on the unit “it self”, but the adjustable tail cap can be annoying. You have to basically remove your safety glasses to see it or have a bright light to allow you to see inside. Also, it can be a slight pain to align the key with the slit. I believe someone on the forums here has made a fix for this though.
2) That’s really it honestly, currently anyway!
Anyway, what you were waiting to see (if you even read my massive review, if not I don‘t blame you. ;P PICS!)
Sorry for blury ones, stupid camera…
As some may know, I ordered an RPL-260 back on Tuesday 7/13/10 from Optotronics.
Before I ordered it, I had been talking with Jack (the owner of Optotronics). This was probably 3 days worth. He was very nice and honest. Wasn’t there just to “get a sell” on me. After talking with him I decided on the 260. Again, this was on Tuesday. Soon after ordering it, Jack got back to me and said he will ship it soon, but not on Wednesday as he had a lot of orders ahead of me, but that he would ship it on Thursday and said I would have it by Saturday or Monday. Once Thursday hit, I checked my mail and there was no tracking number as he said there would be. Not to panic, he had sent me another email. He laid out honest and told me some personal things that had held him back a bit. So then he said if it didn’t ship today like he said (Thursday) he would send it Friday by Express Mail. This would guarantee delivery on Saturday before 3:00PM. I had only paid for priority mail shipping (like half the price of express.) So that was totally awesome of him to do.
However, USPS didn’t make them selves obvious while delivering on Saturday as I got a note in the mail saying they attempted to deliver it, but I wasn’t there to sign. Either NO one in my house heard it or it came very early while we all were sleeping. By the time the note was read, the PO had closed. So I had to end up waiting till Monday to get it anyway.
I feel quite bad for that. Though Jack still did awesome on his part, so you can’t take that away, even though I screwed up.
Well the other day I picked it up at my nearest USPS office. It was in a box about the shape and scale of a shoe box. Once I got past all that tape to open the box I found recycled paper (maybe?) as protection for shipment. Once I removed it, I saw the black case. J
I opened that and found it was all packaged nicely. Much nicer than I thought it would be. Everything had it’s own little plastic bag (charger, charger cord, key tail cap+key*2.) The laser it self, however; had a very nicely sealed “anti static” plastic like bag over it. Of course I took that out first. Once I got it out, I noticed the nice weight to it, not to heavy, but solid. And it was shiny! (You know Jack polishes these things before shipping them?
)It had the adjustable tail cap on it as I ordered both caps. The 18650 battery was in the laser during shipment, however; the tail cap was at “0” in off position with also the aperture closed.
I just messed around with it, just looking over it’s beauty.
Then I finally read over the paper work, (was in the anti static bag with laser unit.) I wanted to make sure I read them before operating the laser *MUST DO!* When I unfolded the paper work, I saw a little key taped to it. This was the key you use with the adjustable tail cap. Though not used with the key tail cap, it has it’s own keys. After reading most of the paper, I saw what this lasers average output is 294mw over a 1 minute period! That’s awesome for an RPL-260! That’s average, not peak! It was also tested at level 8 of the adjustable tail cap!After finished reading, I instantly put my safety glasses on. Turned the adjustable tail cap to 1, yes 1! The LED indicator glowed green. I then opened the aperture and turned the laser on. The LED indicator then went red. Man was this bright and powerful at only level 1. I got some electrical tape and attempted to burn though it. No problem at all…. I was amazed at only being at level 1. I then just went max with the tail cap… Wow, this thing will burn about anything! Burns right through a black CD case in just a few seconds. It can even do that on level 1, it just takes a bit longer. I lit a match at about 2 ½ -3 ft in less than a second last night.
The beam. Wooo.
I would firmly fix both hands to the laser, aim it straight up at my sealing to prevent any eye hazard, and with my safety glasses on, I would turn it on. After I had turned it on to see exactly where the beam was going to go, I would tilt my head back to expose my eyes under the glasses to view the beam. It’s got a wider beam than my CNI pen (being about 1mm diameter.) I believe the RPL is around <1.5mm. The beam is definitely visible in the daylight. And the divergence seems very good also.This is definitely a high quality laser, and I would definitely recommend it if you got the money. Everything on it is metal but the button, I believe. Other than of course, circuitry.
Pros on Unit
1) Very high quality and solid laser.
2) No IR, pure green output, of course with this thing!
3) Exposed (silver/reflective) aluminum body is a nice option, I like it more than the black.
4) Aperture slide seems to be given friction by a spring pushing it against the cap. So wear should be virtually eliminated.
5) On/Off button has a nice solid click function.
6) Battery compartment is of high quality. Battery fits well with really no rattling. And 7) also, no driver is exposed where the spring contacts the batter. It’s got a metal wall.
7) LED indicator stays green when on and red when beam is activated.
8) Aperture cap screws off so you can access the lens assembly, I believe. (not done it to prevent dust from getting in)
9) The key switch tail adapter is of high quality. The click and feel you get from turning off to on, and vice versa is very nice feeling and VERY satisfying.
9) And more… lol
Cons on Unit
1) It’s not really on the unit “it self”, but the adjustable tail cap can be annoying. You have to basically remove your safety glasses to see it or have a bright light to allow you to see inside. Also, it can be a slight pain to align the key with the slit. I believe someone on the forums here has made a fix for this though.
2) That’s really it honestly, currently anyway!
Anyway, what you were waiting to see (if you even read my massive review, if not I don‘t blame you. ;P PICS!)
Sorry for blury ones, stupid camera…
