Hello! I've had my PL-E Mini 465nm 1.4W laser for over a week now and I thought I would write down my impressions. It's my first "serious" laser beyond a red <5mW pointer.
If you followed my last post, you know that I ordered a PL-E mini from JetLasers about a month ago. Unfortunately, that laser was a lemon and would only power on to a very low wattage without any of the functionality of the coded switch. Fortunately, however, I bought from a reputable company that stands behind their product and JetLasers was very supportive from the start and quickly decided to send me a replacement laser. My replacement laser shipped very quickly and arrived about a week ago, this time with a mechanical switch which works great and has superior functionality over the coded switch in my opinion.
So, here are a few categories I'll mention in this short review. Keep in mind I don't have anything to compare it to! So take it with a grain of salt.
Build Quality: 9/10
Both the host and the beam extender are large, solid, and well made. All the threads that hold things together are deeply cut and fit without any wiggle whatsoever Putting the beam extender on feels like screwing on a silencer to a pistol... its a lot of thread but it makes it feel well made and substantial. The black finish looks great but will come off if you accidentally scratch the laser with something sharp.
The buttons on the side and the tailpiece especially all click strongly, helping to prevent accidental firings and they feel like they will last a long time. I did find it strange that the momentary on button (the small button on the side) hangs loose when held upside down. Not sure why they would do that beyond maybe giving it a different tactile feel to the other button in case you are operating it in the dark.
Focus Ring: 8/10
I love the functionality of the focus ring. It helps a lot to pinpoint that strong 1.4W beam at distances up to 75 feet or just make the beam wider without the extender. It does turn quite easily, something that I am still getting used to. The slightest push and it will lose focus. Strangely, the lemon laser that I first received had more resistance (way too much) and was impractical to use because you couldn't turn it without moving the beam all over the place.... SO, I understand why they made it so light on the replacement (I believe most of them come light) but still will need to get used to how light it is. Ideally just a little more resistance would be great.
Beam Expander: 10/10
Great accessory. It widens the beam considerably and has a secondary focus ring. The focus ring on the beam expander rotates more than 10 times, so I am guessing it will increase the reach of the beam with an acceptable divergence considerably (its a 10X) Well made.
First shot outdoors w/o beam expander (backstop are big maple trees)
Second shot outdoors with the beam expander
465nm and 1.4W: 10/10
465nm is a very pleasant blue. It's what I think of when I think of the color blue... pure sky blue. Different from an ocean blue (unless you're in parts of the Mediterranean or tropics) Great color. The power output at 1.4W is PLENTY for my use. Lights matches instantly, burns cardboard from 5 feet away, burns hair off my arm, and is very visible. Here's a shot of the beam indoors with the lights off. The camera makes it more purple than it is in real life.
JetLasers Customer Service: 10/10
I had problems with this order. I received a lemon, shipped all the way from China. The seller easily could have ignored me and I could have done nothing about it besides write a bad review that maybe a few people would read. Thankfully, Gray over at Jetlasers offers really great support. It may take a little back and forth because of the time difference, but he will work with you to resolve issues you may have and delivers what he promises. I was very pleased with my replacement laser being shipped so quickly, and the fact that I didn't have to ask for one. He just went ahead and put the order in when he saw a video I sent of the lemon. So I appreciate that. He also offered to pay for the extra batteries I bought to trouble shoot the lemon. The best part of this experience is that I ended up with a mechanical switch instead of the code switch. The functionality of the mechanical switch is superb. Tailpiece to power on. Dedicated button to activate.. and dedicated button for momentary on. It's everything you need without the headaches of a code switch which is where I think the problem was in the first laser. Overall very pleased with the company I bought from.
That's it! thanks for reading. Happy to get into this hobby, been enjoying my first 'real' laser a lot.
If you followed my last post, you know that I ordered a PL-E mini from JetLasers about a month ago. Unfortunately, that laser was a lemon and would only power on to a very low wattage without any of the functionality of the coded switch. Fortunately, however, I bought from a reputable company that stands behind their product and JetLasers was very supportive from the start and quickly decided to send me a replacement laser. My replacement laser shipped very quickly and arrived about a week ago, this time with a mechanical switch which works great and has superior functionality over the coded switch in my opinion.
So, here are a few categories I'll mention in this short review. Keep in mind I don't have anything to compare it to! So take it with a grain of salt.
Build Quality: 9/10
Both the host and the beam extender are large, solid, and well made. All the threads that hold things together are deeply cut and fit without any wiggle whatsoever Putting the beam extender on feels like screwing on a silencer to a pistol... its a lot of thread but it makes it feel well made and substantial. The black finish looks great but will come off if you accidentally scratch the laser with something sharp.
The buttons on the side and the tailpiece especially all click strongly, helping to prevent accidental firings and they feel like they will last a long time. I did find it strange that the momentary on button (the small button on the side) hangs loose when held upside down. Not sure why they would do that beyond maybe giving it a different tactile feel to the other button in case you are operating it in the dark.
Focus Ring: 8/10
I love the functionality of the focus ring. It helps a lot to pinpoint that strong 1.4W beam at distances up to 75 feet or just make the beam wider without the extender. It does turn quite easily, something that I am still getting used to. The slightest push and it will lose focus. Strangely, the lemon laser that I first received had more resistance (way too much) and was impractical to use because you couldn't turn it without moving the beam all over the place.... SO, I understand why they made it so light on the replacement (I believe most of them come light) but still will need to get used to how light it is. Ideally just a little more resistance would be great.
Beam Expander: 10/10
Great accessory. It widens the beam considerably and has a secondary focus ring. The focus ring on the beam expander rotates more than 10 times, so I am guessing it will increase the reach of the beam with an acceptable divergence considerably (its a 10X) Well made.
First shot outdoors w/o beam expander (backstop are big maple trees)
Second shot outdoors with the beam expander
465nm and 1.4W: 10/10
465nm is a very pleasant blue. It's what I think of when I think of the color blue... pure sky blue. Different from an ocean blue (unless you're in parts of the Mediterranean or tropics) Great color. The power output at 1.4W is PLENTY for my use. Lights matches instantly, burns cardboard from 5 feet away, burns hair off my arm, and is very visible. Here's a shot of the beam indoors with the lights off. The camera makes it more purple than it is in real life.
JetLasers Customer Service: 10/10
I had problems with this order. I received a lemon, shipped all the way from China. The seller easily could have ignored me and I could have done nothing about it besides write a bad review that maybe a few people would read. Thankfully, Gray over at Jetlasers offers really great support. It may take a little back and forth because of the time difference, but he will work with you to resolve issues you may have and delivers what he promises. I was very pleased with my replacement laser being shipped so quickly, and the fact that I didn't have to ask for one. He just went ahead and put the order in when he saw a video I sent of the lemon. So I appreciate that. He also offered to pay for the extra batteries I bought to trouble shoot the lemon. The best part of this experience is that I ended up with a mechanical switch instead of the code switch. The functionality of the mechanical switch is superb. Tailpiece to power on. Dedicated button to activate.. and dedicated button for momentary on. It's everything you need without the headaches of a code switch which is where I think the problem was in the first laser. Overall very pleased with the company I bought from.
That's it! thanks for reading. Happy to get into this hobby, been enjoying my first 'real' laser a lot.
) Have a question for you.. what's the runtime on a fresh set of batteries at full power? i.e if I put fully charged batteries in, do I get the full 1.4W until their dead? or is there a drop off after say 5 minutes of use? I don't have a power meter... but I bet you do! 
