When my old WL pen-laser broke down, I did a lot more research than I'd done back when I bought it. Though out of warranty it had not been used much and the best WL could do was offer me 10% discount off a newer one, well I could get them cheaper than that elsewhere anyway. Discounting eBay immediately I did a fair bit of research checking websites out for potential replacements and narrowed it down to a couple. When I did some more research on these, Optotronics came out as a clear choice. The goods weren't shipped from China, there was no salesperson available 24hrs to help liberate me from my $, and I couldn't find a bad comment about Jack. So I ordered an RPL 225mW and a set of goggles. Along with that came a free 30mW pen-laser and some nice free optics, beam splitter, and two high quality glass optics, a prism and a convex lens.
It was shipped Express to the UK and arrived when Jack said it would, 4 days. He also got it sent so that I didn't get collared with VAT which would have added $130 to the cost.
It came in a good hard plastic case foam-filled to protect it. First things first, there was a good set of instructions on firing it up. So I fired it up. I have to say it's the far and away the tightest beam from a diode that I've seen, and I've owned quite a few. It's certainly comparable to a HeNe lab laser. First test - the flinch reflex - I pointed it at my hand and had to flinch in just over second as it was burning my hand. My WL 95mW never burnt me no matter how long I tried. Second test, shone up into a clear night sky. The beam was still bright and tight, even with air pollution. As Monty Python said, 'like a stream of bat's piss - it shines out like a shaft of gold when all around is dark'. It is solidly built, and the adjuster is smooth with a well-made feel.
The 30mW was also surprisingly good, again a very tight beam and for a pen-laser it is also surprisingly well-made and sturdy. The goggles work well too, they fit over a small pair of glasses and the beams are visible but at about the same degree as a 1mW red laser, so most of the laser light is being absorbed. TV looks a bit funny through them though
Jack's communication was excellent, which for anyone buying online is always confidence-inspiring. First you know who you're actually dealing with and more importantly his messages on the laser forums were factual, concise and devoid of any hard-selling, and he's the only person I've found that to be the case with.
These lasers aren't cheap, you're paying a lot of dollars and if you're buying from another country you need to be able to trust the person you're sending those dollars to. My experience with Jack is that he is someone you can trust.
About the best recommendation for any supplier of laser diodes is that when you buy from them you get what is advertised, the vast majority of people selling on the web sell you substandard goods from behind a veil of anonymity. With Optotronics you certainly get what you hope you will plus a bit more. The goods are top-quality, and level of service is unbeatable. I'll definitely buy from him again.
It was shipped Express to the UK and arrived when Jack said it would, 4 days. He also got it sent so that I didn't get collared with VAT which would have added $130 to the cost.
It came in a good hard plastic case foam-filled to protect it. First things first, there was a good set of instructions on firing it up. So I fired it up. I have to say it's the far and away the tightest beam from a diode that I've seen, and I've owned quite a few. It's certainly comparable to a HeNe lab laser. First test - the flinch reflex - I pointed it at my hand and had to flinch in just over second as it was burning my hand. My WL 95mW never burnt me no matter how long I tried. Second test, shone up into a clear night sky. The beam was still bright and tight, even with air pollution. As Monty Python said, 'like a stream of bat's piss - it shines out like a shaft of gold when all around is dark'. It is solidly built, and the adjuster is smooth with a well-made feel.
The 30mW was also surprisingly good, again a very tight beam and for a pen-laser it is also surprisingly well-made and sturdy. The goggles work well too, they fit over a small pair of glasses and the beams are visible but at about the same degree as a 1mW red laser, so most of the laser light is being absorbed. TV looks a bit funny through them though
Jack's communication was excellent, which for anyone buying online is always confidence-inspiring. First you know who you're actually dealing with and more importantly his messages on the laser forums were factual, concise and devoid of any hard-selling, and he's the only person I've found that to be the case with.
These lasers aren't cheap, you're paying a lot of dollars and if you're buying from another country you need to be able to trust the person you're sending those dollars to. My experience with Jack is that he is someone you can trust.
About the best recommendation for any supplier of laser diodes is that when you buy from them you get what is advertised, the vast majority of people selling on the web sell you substandard goods from behind a veil of anonymity. With Optotronics you certainly get what you hope you will plus a bit more. The goods are top-quality, and level of service is unbeatable. I'll definitely buy from him again.
