Review: >50mW 532nm Lazerer Mini [Pic Heavy]

[Fretwrecker94]

Hi LPF! When I was looking around for a new laser to get on the web about two months ago, I saw this laser and fell in love with it. I then scoured the forum for a review and couldn't find one on this laser!

Fast forward to now, I have had the laser for a while and finally dug up my old fog-machine so I am now able to take nice beamshots and do a proper review for others

Now for the Review!

Laser

Lazerer Mini 532nm >50mW <Click for Link>

This laser cost me roughly $40. It uses one RCR123a Li-ion battery as well as a 16340 Li-ion battery.I would estimate that the runtime for this laser is about 30-45 minutes. I haven't clocked it, but all in all under normal usage it will last a while!

However today, like an idiot, I accidentally managed to turn it on in my pocket. It was on for about 15 minutes. When I pulled it out it was pretty warm, what with the nature of lasers and my body heat, but worked fine! So I guess that means it has decent heatsinking, right?

Shipping

I had a little trouble with my tracking number. I was supplied the wrong number, but after contacting their customer service rep, who responded very quickly, I was given the correct number

The laser got to me (China to Maine, US) in about 2 and a half weeks I believe. Which was very acceptable for me!:takeit:

In short:
Shipping = Good!
Customer Service = Great!

Host

(Host compared to my <100mW 532nm Greenie Pen)

The host is basically the "Cute" host. It is advertised as focusable, but mine does not focus! This isn't a big deal as i know 50mW of green isn't great for burning, but I just figured i'd let people know in case they had hopes of getting thrills from smoking up some black tape with this.

But I love the host, it feels great in my hand and the tail switch is very nice. The only complaint I have is that when the laser is on, even if the switch is pressed very lightly it will turn off until you release your finger/thumb/whatever you are using to press it. Again, a small detail that I am not too concerned with.

Overall

My reason for buying this laser was to have well built green laser that isn't too overpowered, but packs more of a punch than a 5mW or for that matter a 30mW! Because hey, everyone likes to see a nice laser beam at night, right? :beer:

After having this laser for about a month and a half, I can say I recommend it! I understand my rep is low and all, but I'm trying to start building it up on here. But take my (hopefully soon to be reputable) word, this is a well built laser

Now the fun part...

BEAMSHOTS! :eg:

I know the quality of these isn't the best, but its the best an iPod camera can deliver!

 

[blakegriffin]

Good review. The cute style host is focusable I think you might be trying to turn the very top of the laser the focuser is a little further down. I have a cute style laser that focuses like that.

 

[Fretwrecker94]

Good review. The cute style host is focusable I think you might be trying to turn the very top of the laser the focuser is a little further down. I have a cute style laser that focuses like that.

I think you were one of the people who commented on my other thread asking about the focusing of this laser. Anyway I have spent the last month and a half trying to get this thing to focus, exhausting every possible twist, turn, tightening, or loosening. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this host of mine does not focus. It is probably just a fluke host. I'm happy with it either way

 

[SKeijmel]

Could you makea video and post it on youtube ? i just ordere a blue and a green one of these
will these work on normal cr123a ? battery's too or do you need rechargeable's

these are the first better lasers i bought i always had 1 and 5 mw lasers how dangerous is this 50mw ? and is this one really 50mw?

 

[Fretwrecker94]

Could you makea video and post it on youtube ? i just ordere a blue and a green one of these
will these work on normal cr123a ? battery's too or do you need rechargeable's

these are the first better lasers i bought i always had 1 and 5 mw lasers how dangerous is this 50mw ? and is this one really 50mw?

Hey! I will try to make a video about this, I'm just a little bogged down with work for school right now.

To answer your questions:

1.) Yes, it will work with a normal cr123a battery, but I'd invest in some rechargeable batteries if i were you, you'll find that you use these lasers a lot and batteries are expensive when they arent rechargeable.

2.) 50mW is powerful enough to cause eye damage even if its in your eye for a moment. I'd recommend some good goggles for these. The violet colored one you ordered will not appear bright, but I assure you... it will hurt you worse than the green laser if they are the same power. 405nm has more energy in it than a green (532nm) laser

3.) YES! if you ordered from Lazerer, they are guaranteed to be on spec, and most of the time they are overspec!

-Dave

 

[SKeijmel]

i ordered from chinese ebay. for about 36 dollar. 50mw is the lowest they make in that model so i geuss it wont be to far off !? and anyway i didnt buy the lasers for its power but more the from factor and the big button at the back. rather then a cheap pen with a hard to push button on the side.

another questions do these lasers have a uv filter. the 405nm one does it put out alot uv?

so the "50mw" has more power then green so this one can pop balloons ? cut black tape ? so it would cutmy eyes too

 

[Fretwrecker94]

i ordered from chinese ebay. for about 36 dollar. 50mw is the lowest they make in that model so i geuss it wont be to far off !? and anyway i didnt buy the lasers for its power but more the from factor and the big button at the back. rather then a cheap pen with a hard to push button on the side.

another questions do these lasers have a uv filter. the 405nm one does it put out alot uv?

so the "50mw" has more power then green so this one can pop balloons ? cut black tape ? so it would cutmy eyes too

I like your style, I agree this host is more, I guess I would say, satisfying than a pen host.

well 405nm is pure 405nm light. it is UV light, well almost. since your eye can see it I guess its technically violet instead of ultra violet.

However the Green Laser I got was IR Filtered. That's the kind of light you want filtered. Any DPSS Laser will put out IR light if it is not properly filtered. Any laser that is designed to out put a visible wavelength that is not DPSS will only emit its designed output. AKA a 405nm laser will only put out 405nm light.

 

[SKeijmel]

Hey i have been reading, does this laser have an ir Filter ? even if u wear protective glasses ir still gets true i read. does it have an irfilter or could you add one easely to this model?

 

[Fretwrecker94]

Hey i have been reading, does this laser have an ir Filter ? even if u wear protective glasses ir still gets true i read. does it have an irfilter or could you add one easely to this model?

Unfortunately if you bought it from eBay the chances of it having an IR filter are slim. BUT I have heard that IR Filter installation is not very difficult. Look around on the forum, Im sure you'll find a tutorial or guide

 

[jeffreythe00]

Hey i have been reading, does this laser have an ir Filter ? even if u wear protective glasses ir still gets through i read. does it have an irfilter or could you add one easely to this model?

That is true for the most part. Most safety glasses that block 532 do NOT block IR! However there are glasses that DO block both. It is usually easier to add a filter and wear 532 blocking glasses. Also, 532/808 blocking glasses are also very expensive 100$<.

As for adding an IR filter. You can easily glue a IR filter over the laser aperture (do NOT use super glue! The vapors will coat your optics permanently destroying your laser!). I must mention though that no IR filter is perfect and you WILL lose some 532 light. Depending on the filter you could lose around 10%. I'd like to mention as well that a 50mw laser shouldnt be producing any dangerous amount of IR considering IR diverges much quicker than 532 and you would only get a dangerous amount of IR through your glasses if you were intentionally looking into the laser or reflecting it off a mirror into your eyes... :tsk:

To the OP NICE laser and review!

 

[SKeijmel]

i have two of them from lazerer green and red do they have ir @ lazerer ??
the blue/purple i have from ebay.

 

[jeffreythe00]

i have two of them from lazerer green and red do they have ir @ lazerer ??
the blue/purple i have from ebay.

532/green lasers are pretty much the only lasers that need IR filters. 660/red, 445/blue, 405/purple do not need IR filters as they are diode lasers. Green lasers are all DPSS (Diode pumped solid state). Meaning, green lasers need a 808nm IR diode to pump the crystals. So if you are concerned that you may need a filter then just buy a 808nm blocking IR filter :beer:

 

[SKeijmel]

any quick video on it ^^. also showing the housing tking the cap off if possible
how is the quality of the switch/knob ?

 

[SKeijmel]

what kinda 16340's do you use in the laser 3.0 or 3.6 recharageable's?

how tall are your battery's do a little bit oversized regargeable's fit with protected pcb
TrustFire Protected 16340 880mAh 3.7V Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries (2-Pack) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme ( will these fit)
or should i go for
Ultrafire 3.6V 880mAh LC 16340 Protected CR123A Battery 2-Pack - Free Shipping - DealExtreme


anyone got experiences with these battery's ?

ow and which whay you insert the battery which side go's in first ?

when i recieve my stuff i will do a review with HD video's

 

[Fretwrecker94]

what kinda 16340's do you use in the laser 3.0 or 3.6 recharageable's?

how tall are your battery's do a little bit oversized regargeable's fit with protected pcb
TrustFire Protected 16340 880mAh 3.7V Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries (2-Pack) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme ( will these fit)
or should i go for
Ultrafire 3.6V 880mAh LC 16340 Protected CR123A Battery 2-Pack - Free Shipping - DealExtreme


anyone got experiences with these battery's ?

ow and which whay you insert the battery which side go's in first ?

when i recieve my stuff i will do a review with HD video's

I'd suggest the 3 volt ones. Or a 3.2 volt RCR123a. The battery goes in with the negative terminal going in first. Aka "case positive"

I'm not sure about the red one, you should check the site you got the lasers from for information on the battery set up

 

[SKeijmel]

it says 16340 what i get is those are 3.6 v
and rcr123a = 3.0 the site i bought it from lazerer says 16340's