Mik
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PLEASE READ POST 17
This is a sort of double review that will contain the Rayfoss RF532-200mW-B03 as well as the DX SD Laser 301. I wanted to review them both, and since they are so similar, I decided to just put them both together on one page.
Rayfoss: RF532-200mW-B03
Price: $153
Claimed output: 200mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(Failed to include battery or charger)
DX: SD Laser 301
Price: $31.90
Claimed output: 50mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(included battery)
I specially requested that an IR filter be added to the Rayfoss unit before shipping. I was told that prior to the IR filter, the laser made 210mW and after the filter it “should” make 170mW. After a very long wait, the Rayfoss laser finally showed up. To my disappointment, there was no battery or charger included with the laser (the Rayfoss website advertises them as included). Inside of a bubble wrap envelope was the laser, boxed in the typical white “gift box”. Also included was the tailcap and a new sticker to put over the 1mW label currently adhered to the laser body. Luckily for me, I already have a charger and some 18650’s. If I had not already owned those items, I would be sitting here with a useless chunk of aluminum thanks to the oversight of Rayfoss forgetting to include a battery and charger. :wtf:
Since I planned to compare the RF532-200mW-B03 to the DX SD Laser 301, I figured that I had better set the DX provided 18650 cell aside and use two cells that I know are both high quality and perform equally. I reached for two of my best performing no-name, non-protected ICR’s, and put them both on the same charger to make sure they were both up to full voltage and capacity. I wanted to get the highest possible readings on the LPM, so I decided to run them on the meter before I did anything else. Following the LPM, I went to burning, and then finally beam shots.
The bodies are almost identical, but they use different modules. They both do an OK job of focusing, although neither of them get as tight as the Dilda. I think the SD Laser is a superb value and the Rayfoss is a fair value. It is obvious that the Rayfoss is more powerful, but I am not sure if I am convinced that it’s worth nearly 5x what DX charges for the SD Laser 301. Further comparison outside in complete darkness will be required.
I will save the results for the video. I hope you enjoy it and find some useful information within. I’m sorry if you guys feel that it drags on for too long. I was not sure if I should show all the long parts or just skip to the results. I welcome your constructive criticism.
I am new to measuring divergence, and I believe that I got something wrong - but here is what I measured. (I screwed the focusing heads all the way down to the body).
Rayfoss: .3mm measuring the dot against a white box with the laser as close as possible, just enough room to get the caliper in between the laser and the box. At 22'9" (rounded to 23') I got 5.12mm in the longest direction. (the rayfoss has a slightly oval shaped beam when looking at it with safety glasses on). Using the calculator linked below, this gives me .3mrad, which seems like an incorrect/unrealistic figure. Should I be focusing the laser at the target distance before taking any measurement?
SD Laser: 1.76mm (same as above) and 7.32mm at the same 22'9" distance. (SD laser has a nice and round/clean dot) giving .8mrad.
YouTube - rfsdl
This is a sort of double review that will contain the Rayfoss RF532-200mW-B03 as well as the DX SD Laser 301. I wanted to review them both, and since they are so similar, I decided to just put them both together on one page.
Rayfoss: RF532-200mW-B03
Price: $153
Claimed output: 200mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(Failed to include battery or charger)
DX: SD Laser 301
Price: $31.90
Claimed output: 50mW
Power source: 1x18650
Adjustable focus
(included battery)
I specially requested that an IR filter be added to the Rayfoss unit before shipping. I was told that prior to the IR filter, the laser made 210mW and after the filter it “should” make 170mW. After a very long wait, the Rayfoss laser finally showed up. To my disappointment, there was no battery or charger included with the laser (the Rayfoss website advertises them as included). Inside of a bubble wrap envelope was the laser, boxed in the typical white “gift box”. Also included was the tailcap and a new sticker to put over the 1mW label currently adhered to the laser body. Luckily for me, I already have a charger and some 18650’s. If I had not already owned those items, I would be sitting here with a useless chunk of aluminum thanks to the oversight of Rayfoss forgetting to include a battery and charger. :wtf:
Since I planned to compare the RF532-200mW-B03 to the DX SD Laser 301, I figured that I had better set the DX provided 18650 cell aside and use two cells that I know are both high quality and perform equally. I reached for two of my best performing no-name, non-protected ICR’s, and put them both on the same charger to make sure they were both up to full voltage and capacity. I wanted to get the highest possible readings on the LPM, so I decided to run them on the meter before I did anything else. Following the LPM, I went to burning, and then finally beam shots.
The bodies are almost identical, but they use different modules. They both do an OK job of focusing, although neither of them get as tight as the Dilda. I think the SD Laser is a superb value and the Rayfoss is a fair value. It is obvious that the Rayfoss is more powerful, but I am not sure if I am convinced that it’s worth nearly 5x what DX charges for the SD Laser 301. Further comparison outside in complete darkness will be required.
I will save the results for the video. I hope you enjoy it and find some useful information within. I’m sorry if you guys feel that it drags on for too long. I was not sure if I should show all the long parts or just skip to the results. I welcome your constructive criticism.
I am new to measuring divergence, and I believe that I got something wrong - but here is what I measured. (I screwed the focusing heads all the way down to the body).
Rayfoss: .3mm measuring the dot against a white box with the laser as close as possible, just enough room to get the caliper in between the laser and the box. At 22'9" (rounded to 23') I got 5.12mm in the longest direction. (the rayfoss has a slightly oval shaped beam when looking at it with safety glasses on). Using the calculator linked below, this gives me .3mrad, which seems like an incorrect/unrealistic figure. Should I be focusing the laser at the target distance before taking any measurement?
SD Laser: 1.76mm (same as above) and 7.32mm at the same 22'9" distance. (SD laser has a nice and round/clean dot) giving .8mrad.
YouTube - rfsdl
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