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price per mW comparison table

M

marianne

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Jul 5, 2007
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while trying to figure out which high powered green laser i should go for when i can afford it, i wrote a C++ program to work out the price per mW of various lasers, to compare prices. obviously, price isn't the only thing to consider when buying a laser, but i felt it may be informative so here are the results :)

prices are all in US dollars, and i try to update them every so often. these are power levels as specified on the webpages, where possible i'm counting the lowest expected/guarunteed output, for example the Spyder II GX's specs say 200-300mW so i'm counting it as 200. these prices do not take discounts into account, for example the discounts offered by some companies to members of LPF.

also, these are just the portable laser companies i know of - if there's any others you'd like to see, please tell me, and i'll try add them :) i'm restricting this to a minimum of 10mW lasers for red/green, and 5mW for orange/yellow/violet/blue, i don't really feel it's worth adding anything below that.

IMPORTANT: laser models with a * besides them have a disputed output. this means they have been tested and shown to output less than 90% of the stated power level of their lasers. obviously, this doesn't include broken lasers, or the *occasional* under powered laser - only consistently below-spec lasers from a company. Company names with this mark against them may have disputed output on all their models, or really poor quality, or really poor customer service, or a combination of all 3. they may also lose their link, i don't like people being scammed :)



Green Lasers (532nm)

BFG Lasers *
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|BFG (90mW) + shipping (always $25)|$224.00|$2.49

DealExtreme
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|True Green 10mW|$21.72|$2.17
|True Green 20mW|$22.90|$1.15
|True Green 30mW|$24.57|$0.82
|True Green 50mW|$54.00|$1.08
|True Green 100mW *|$99.95|$1.00
---
|150mW Green *|$110.76|$0.74
|200mW Green *|$120.00|$0.60

Destructive Gear
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|40mW Advanced|$160.00|$4.00
|55mW Extreme|$205.00|$3.73
|75mW Sirius|$250.00|$3.33
|100mW Pyro|$370.00|$3.70

Dragon Lasers
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Viper 15|$99.99|$6.67
|Viper 35|$129.99|$3.71
|Viper 55|$139.99|$2.55
|Viper 75|$159.99|$2.13
|Viper 95|$229.99|$2.42
|Viper 125|$399.99|$3.20
---
|Hulk 75-99|$299.99|$4.00
|Hulk 100-150|$379.99|$3.80
|Hulk 160-199|$569.99|$3.56
|Hulk 200-300|$849.99|$4.25

Laserglow
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Aries-20|$199.00|$9.95
|Aries-35|$239.00|$6.83
|Aries-50|$289.00|$5.78
|Aries-75|$379.00|$5.05
|Aries-100|$489.00|$4.89
|Aries-125|$589.00|$4.71
|Aries-150|$689.00|$4.59
|Aries-175|$789.00|$4.51
|Aries-200|$889.00|$4.45
|Aries-225|$989.00|$4.40
---
|Hercules-250|$989.00|$3.96
|Hercules-275|$1189.00|$4.32
|Hercules-300|$1389.00|$4.63
|Hercules-325|$1789.00|$5.50
|Hercules-350|$2189.00|$6.25
|Hercules-375|$2589.00|$6.90
|Hercules-400|$2989.00|$7.47

LucentOptics
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|NV-80|$200.00|$2.50
|NV-100|$250.00|$2.50

Nova Lasers
(for X series extras, as in the box, nova membership, and reward points, add $20 to the price)
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|X-15 only|$79.00|$5.27
|X-25 only|$99.00|$3.96
|X-45 only|$109.00|$2.42
|X-65 only|$129.00|$1.98
|X-85 only|$159.00|$1.87
|X-105 only|$209.00|$1.99
|X-125 only|$329.00|$2.63
---
|Alpha15|$139.00|$9.27
|Alpha25|$159.00|$6.36
|Alpha45|$179.00|$3.98
|Alpha65|$199.00|$3.06
|Alpha85|$239.00|$2.81
|Alpha105|$289.00|$2.75
|Alpha125|$389.00|$3.11
---
|NOVA200|$799.00|$4.00
|NOVA250|$999.99|$4.00
|NOVA300|$1299.00|$4.33
|NOVA325|$1599.00|$4.92
|NOVA350|$1899.00|$5.43

Optotronics
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|PPL-100|$359.00|$3.59
|PPL-125|$419.00|$3.35
|PPL-165|$569.00|$3.45
|PPL-225|$779.00|$3.46
---
|RPL-165|$619.00|$3.75
|RPL-200|$759.00|$3.80
|RPL-225|$829.00|$3.68
|RPL-260|$999.00|$3.84
|RPL-300|$1199.00|$4.00
|RPL-325|$1379.00|$4.24
|RPL-350|$1499.00|$4.28

ThinkGeek
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|High-powered Green Laser - 10mW|$149.99|$15.00

Ultra Lasers
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Green 50mW (no gift box)|$80.00|$1.60
|Green 75mW (no gift box)|$140.00|$1.87
|Green 100mW (no gift box)|$185.00|$1.85

Wicked Lasers *
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Executive 15|$99.99|$6.67
|Executive 35|$159.99|$4.57
|Executive 55|$209.99|$3.82
|Executive 75|$259.99|$3.47
|Executive 95|$369.99|$3.89
|Executive 125|$499.99|$4.00
---
|Evolution 15|$149.99|$10.00
|Evolution 35|$199.99|$5.71
|Evolution 55|$249.99|$4.55
|Evolution 75|$299.99|$4.00
|Evolution 95|$399.99|$4.21
|Evolution 125|$549.99|$4.40
---
|Spyder II GX (200-300)|$1699.99|$8.50

Red Lasers (635-670nm)

Laserglow
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Orion 200|$589.00|$2.95

Wicked Lasers *
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Pulsar P75|$179.99|$2.40
|Pulsar P100|$199.99|$2.00
|Pulsar P125|$249.99|$2.00

NOTE: far cheaper than both these options ($15-20 for the diode - or use one from an old dvd burner - then some cheap extra parts) is to build a laser from a DVD diode, using instructions found on LPF, or asking around to see if someone will build one for you, for cheaper than one of the above lasers.

Blue Lasers (473nm)

Dragon Lasers
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Aurora 5-9mW|$829.99|$166.00

Laserglow
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Aquarius-8 (5-8mW)|$889.00|$177.80
|Aquarius-10 (8-10mW)|$1089.00|$136.13
|Aquarius-15 (10-15mW)|$1389.00|$138.90
|Aquarius-20 (15-20mW)|$1689.00|$112.60
|Aquarius-25 (20-25mW)|$1989.00|$99.45

Nova Lasers
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|NOVA Blue >5mW|$699.00|$139.80
|NOVA Blue >10mW|$799.00|$79.90
|NOVA Blue >15mW|$899.00|$59.93
|NOVA Blue >20mW|$999.00|$49.95

Optotronics
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|RPL-Blue-10|$739.00|$73.90
|RPL-Blue-15|$859.00|$57.27
|RPL-Blue-20|$949.00|$47.45
|RPL-Blue-25|$1129.00|$45.16
|RPL-Blue-30|$1229.00|$40.97

Wicked Lasers *
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Spyder II BX (15-30mW)|$1699.99|$113.33

Violet Lasers (405nm)

Wicked Lasers *
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Sonar Blu-ray (20mW)|$1999.99|$100.00

NOTE: FAR far cheaper than the Sonar ($30-40 for the diode, then some cheap extra parts) is to build a laser from a bluray diode, using instructions found on LPF, or asking around to see if someone will build one for you, for cheaper than the sonar (people on ebay sell 405nm lasers for $150-300).

Orange Lasers (594nm)

Laserglow
|Laser model|Price|$ per mW
|Vega-10 (5-10mW)|$789.00|$157.80

​
 





M

marianne

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Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
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also, here's the C++ code i used. i'm releasing it under a BSD licence, which basically means "don't claim you wrote it, don't sue me if it breaks, but otherwise do what you want with it" :)

Code: 
#include <iostream.h>

double ppmw (double price, double mw)
{
   return (price / mw);   
}

int main ()
{
   double exchange, price, mw;
   cout << "Marianne Ibbotson's laser price per milliwatt calculator, press Ctrl-C to exit." << endl;
   // comment out the next 2 lines if you don't want output in a second currency.
   cout << "Please enter the current value of (US) $1.00 in your local currency:" << endl;
   cin >> exchange;
   while (1)
   {
      cout << "Please enter the OUTPUT of the laser (in mW):" << endl;
      cin >> mw;
      cout << "Please enter the PRICE of the laser (in US $):" << endl;
      cin >> price;
      double value = ppmw (price, mw);
      cout << "The laser's price per mW is: US $" << value << endl;
   // comment out the next line if you commented out the 2 lines above.
      cout << "In your local currency, that is: " << ( value * exchange ) << endl;
      cout << "------------------------------------------------------" << endl;
   }
   return 0;
}

// * Copyright (c) 2007, Marianne Ibbotson
// * All rights reserved.
// *
// * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
// * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
// *   * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
// *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
// *   * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
// *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
// *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
// *   * Neither the name of Marianne Ibbotson nor the
// *    names of her contributors (if any) may be used to endorse or promote products
// *    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
// *
// * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY MARIANNE IBBOTSON ``AS IS'' AND ANY
// * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
// * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
// * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL MARIANNE IBBOTSON BE LIABLE FOR ANY
// * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
// * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
// * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
// * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
// * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
// * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
K

kingzilla

Guest
Wow, that is really cool :), I don't understand any of the computer code  :-[ , but I have learned about laser comapnies I didn't even know existed!? :eek: And I don't think I'll be buying the Evolution-15mw any time soon! ;)
 
M

marianne

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steve, sure, another few mins..hehe..
moderator, thanks, glad it's appreciated :)
 
styropyro

styropyro

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Jun 13, 2007
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Thanks for making this, it is a GREAT reference table we can just look at instead of trying to use a calculator!
 
M

marianne

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Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
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you're welcome!! i do...geeky things like this when i get bored...hehehe...if it's really that useful, maybe one of the moderators would like to sticky it?
 
S

SenKat

Guest
I am gonna pop this up as a sticky, if you do not mind - great work ! :)

***EDIT****

Hahahahaha ! I see you thought of it being a sticky, too :p Thanks - this is great stuff !
 
M

marianne

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Jul 5, 2007
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hehe, thanks, really glad it's appreciated :) i'll probably add extra sections for different coloured lasers later, ie

GREEN
company 1
company 2
company 3

RED
company 1
company 2

etc... oh, and i'm not gonna call orange yellow :p
 
Justin

Justin

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Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
496
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Hey Marianne, thanks for the effort, this will make a very useful resource for people trying to decide on a laser. One thing that may be noted, though, is that some of the lasers and companies noted here are known to have lower output power than stated, so I'm not sure that this table is entirely fair or accurate. For example, as far as I know the DealExtreme 200mW laser has never been tested at anything close to 200mW of green. This makes their $/mW figure quite skewed when compared to say, the Aries-200 which is ALWAYS over 200mW.

Perhaps lasers which are known to ship below spec could get an asterisk or something to denote that the figure is based on stated output and not actual output? The tests posted on this forum clearly indicate that for some companies the stated output power can be quite misleading when it comes to the ACTUAL output power of a laser. I just feel that the companies that actually test their products are not getting a fair shake here because our 200mW lasers are actually tested at or above 200mW and are priced accordingly.
 
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