DX Lasers - Is the truth out there?

[Crossfire]

From what I've read, the lower powered DX's (<50mW) have good IR filtering, while the higher powered stuff does not.  I've also heard that none of these lasers have IR filtering, hence their lower prices.  Has anyone tested a few different models of the DX Newwish laser lineup?  Are these things any good at all?

 

[SenKat]

The lasers are worth the money, for sure.

All the dx 50's and below are decently IR filtered - the higher ones HAVE a filter - it just is not of a decent neough quality to really work all that well. The reason why the DX site says that there are no IR filters, is to cover their butts, basically. And, honestly - these things have been torn apart all over the place to verify the filter issue. Now, if you do not MIND some IR - then the DX200 would be a great choice. It fits a LOT of peeps budgets, and it works well - but DOES have a lot of IR. Now, I am not concerned about IR from pointers, unless I am TOLD that they are completley IR filtered (well, not completely, but you know what I mean !) and the IR does affect the beam a little bit - cause a 200mw laser is gonna be bright - no doubt about it !

 

[Crossfire]

I was wondering if someone actually put up some numbers.  I guess I am a purist - if I bought a 50mW greenie, I want 50mW of green.

 

[SenKat]

I was wondering if someone actually put up some numbers.  I guess I am a purist - if I bought a 50mW greenie, I want 50mW of green.

There is absolutely no problem with your expectations ! The DX 50mw is a GREAT laser for just Green output. All the 50's I have tested (at least 15-20 of them) have had minimal IR output, and only one that I have ever tested was actually below 50mw....all the rest were 50 and higher !

 

[Crossfire]

Interesting.  This may be an option if I ever need another mid-powered laser.  Now if they could get their 100mW+ lasers together...

 

[SenKat]

Very true - I wish they would as well ! Then I can buy CHEEEEP high powered lasers ! It just really goes to show you that some things can be made inexpensively, and wstill work fine...I have no idea what their profit margin is on those - it really cannot be that much, but you never know !

 

[kingzilla]

Just out of curiosity, what is the expected amount of green from the 100mw and 200mw DXs? Is it more than 20mw of IR?

 

[SenKat]

Just out of curiosity, what is the expected amount of green from the 100mw and 200mw DXs? Is it more than 20mw of IR?

Gotta hang out and wait for Stevetexas, or HemlockMike...they've measured it, and the thread is out here somewhere.....

 

[andy71600]

I've got a 200 mW that is in transit right now. Hopefully there isnt too much IR.

 

[SenKat]

I've got a 200 mW that is in transit right now. Hopefully there isnt too much IR.

Well, if it turns out to be too much IR for your tastes, lemme know

 

[kingzilla]

Have people been able to light matches unaided with the 200mw?

 

[Things]

when i pulled my DX 20 apart, i didn't see any ir filter, only a beamsplitter and some crystals and lenses.

 

[Aseras]

on a spectrometer, i get 120mw of green and ~ 15 mw of IR. That's on nimh for a dx200. Reading it with a lasercheck type meter reads 184mw.

with lithiums, I get 180mw of green and 24mw of IR, and 240 mw on a lasercheck.

 

[Aseras]

when i pulled my DX 20 apart, i didn't see any ir filter, only a beamsplitter and some crystals and lenses.

the IR filter is in there, a leadlight has a better one though, it looks like a lense, but if you flip it over it does have a tiny dichroric ir filter in there.

 

[Aseras]

Have people been able to light matches unaided with the 200mw?

yeah in fact, it has some awesome beam specs, rivaling my rpl. that says a lot.

the bad news that i didn't recieve mine like that, i had a fingerpint inside the optics, and other have had similar problems like a fingerprint or herringbone patterns, probably due to cheap labor assembly.

i had to clean mine under a microscope, but now it's sweet.

 

[andy71600]

[quote author=Moderator link=1183051761/0#10 date=1183059831]Have people been able to light matches unaided with the 200mw?

yeah in fact, it has some awesome beam specs, rivaling my rpl. that says a lot.

the bad news that i didn't recieve mine like that, i had a fingerpint inside the optics, and other have had similar problems like a fingerprint or herringbone patterns, probably due to cheap labor assembly.

i had to clean mine under a microscope, but now it's sweet. [/quote]
What was involved in cleaning the optics? (just in case i have to do some cleaning of my own)