AtlasNova vs. DealExtreme

[Ballz2TheWallz]

What kind of "high precision" laser pointers does atlasnova carry that are not listed on their site? How will the prices compare to the low power New-Wish lasers from DE?

Are the lasers sold at atlasnova already modded leadlights that are maxed out/close to being maxed out?


I'm looking for my first green laser, I was going to buy one from dealextreme(knowing that modding this pointer would mean destroying the case so I won't do it) specifically the 30mW model since it is cheap and the performance won't be far off from the 50mW despite being half the cost.

 

[jbviau]

I have an astronomy-grade greenie from Atlasnova that I've been happy with. It's ~36mw. This isn't one of the "high-spec" ones that they sell by invitation only. I paid $79, but they've gone up to $99 now.

Arnold has posted many times that these are *not* Leadlights and are *not* modded, and I have no reason to doubt him. I've never tried to mod mine, as it's powerful enough already.

No experience with the Newwish lasers, so I can't speak to that. If you care about getting your laser fast and/or good customer service, you should probably just pay more for the Atlasnova.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

I'm pretty sure through all my reading on other forums that atlasnova has special made leadlights specifically for his company, they use a higher power rated diode( standard is 200mW, his are 350mW) and higher quality PCB construction compared to normal leadlights. His pointers also have glass optics while the New Wish lasers use plastic.

I have read that he has sold 50mW for $79 to members of other forums, but he seems so strict on talking about what he carries that he wont even tell you what he has in stock.

Here is a review of one of his 55mW modules http://www.greenlasers.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1116954981

 

[lazerlover]

I would stay away from new sellers such as Dealextreme who carry NewWish products. NewWish products are sold generally without an IR filter, and the power ratings are totally inaccurate. For example, I purchased a 150mW Dealextreme, and it only registered as 30mW on my Coherent meter that does not pick up the IR. On my lasercheck it will say around ---, because due to the IR the total power is over the maximum limit of 200mW.

Atlasnova is one of the earliest sellers of green lasers, even before Wicked Lasers, and is a one man company that runs itself quite honorably in my personal opinion. I have had multiple dealings with him, and his prices as well as the lasers he stocks are above average quality. One issue I do not like is that he lies about how his lasers come "premodified" from Leadlight. Not only would this be risking the entire company of Leadlight's import license into the USA, but I verified from the lead engineer of Leadlight that they do not ship anything over 5mW to USA for anyone. By law, Arnold would be admitting he was breaking more laws than just selling overpowered laser pointers to the public.

Leadlight lasers have recently declined in quality, I purchased a total of 10 lasers for my friends and family over the past 6 months, some from Arnold, Vital and Wicked (LC). 3 of them failed within one hour, and when I tried to call Leadlight and ask them why, I found out that most of the technicians in charge had left the company to start their own company. I hope that either Leadlight gets their shape back in gear or we will have to start looking elsewhere for high quality 5mWs.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

I would stay away from new sellers such as Dealextreme who carry NewWish products. NewWish products are sold generally without an IR filter, and the power ratings are totally inaccurate. For example, I purchased a 150mW Dealextreme, and it only registered as 30mW on my Coherent meter that does not pick up the IR. On my lasercheck it will say around ---, because due to the IR the total power is over the maximum limit of 200mW.

Atlasnova is one of the earliest sellers of green lasers, even before Wicked Lasers, and is a one man company that runs itself quite honorably in my personal opinion. I have had multiple dealings with him, and his prices as well as the lasers he stocks are above average quality. One issue I do not like is that he lies about how his lasers come "premodified" from Leadlight. Not only would this be risking the entire company of Leadlight's import license into the USA, but I verified from the lead engineer of Leadlight that they do not ship anything over 5mW to USA for anyone. By law, Arnold would be admitting he was breaking more laws than just selling overpowered laser pointers to the public.

Leadlight lasers have recently declined in quality, I purchased a total of 10 lasers for my friends and family over the past 6 months, some from Arnold, Vital and Wicked (LC). 3 of them failed within one hour, and when I tried to call Leadlight and ask them why, I found out that most of the technicians in charge had left the company to start their own company. I hope that either Leadlight gets their shape back in gear or we will have to start looking elsewhere for high quality 5mWs.

All New Wish lasers carried by DealExtreme that are 50mW and weaker have minimal IR leakage(less than a remote control) I would order from them if shipping wasn't known to be as ridiculously long as it is(some people didn't get their modules for up to 4 months!) I know it is a company that means good and provides decent customer service, but they are still based in China making things difficult.

I would still like to purchase a module from AtlasNova, but he seems really skeptic about selling anything to anybody over the normal power rating.

 

[barkingmad]

All New Wish lasers carried by DealExtreme that are 50mW and weaker have minimal IR leakage(less than a remote control) I would order from them if shipping wasn't known to be as ridiculously long as it is(some people didn't get their modules for up to 4 months!) I know it is a company that means good and provides decent customer service, but they are still based in China making things difficult.

I would still like to purchase a module from AtlasNova, but he seems really skeptic about selling anything to anybody over the normal power rating.

I have ordered 3 green lasers from DX over the last few months - all have arrived within 2 weeks. IMHO for the money they are a bargain!

 

[senecaripple]

i've ordered a couple from one, and found it overpriced, underpowered, and now just flickers like a weak led light.
I also ordered 3 from the other you have on you list.
for the money you cant beat it. but it seemed it took for ever to get it, but, as they say, good things come to those who wait. but I think the wait is not as bad now. growing pains.
I would definately order from one again, as I have been, but not from the other.
prices for laser have come down alot since when I first ordered 2.5 years ago.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

Does anyone else have the astronomy grade laser from atlas? Has anyone modded it and measured the output?

I'm going to order a 50mW from DX when they come back in stock, can anyone link me to reviews of this model or opinions on it?

 

[nerdgineer]

i've ordered a couple from one, and found it overpriced, underpowered, and now just flickers like a weak led light.
I also ordered 3 from the other you have on you list.
for the money you cant beat it...

Huh...can clarify which was the good one and which was the bad one?

BTW, I really like my DX 30 mw laser. Works great and was a steal at $32. Now less than $28...

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

Huh...can clarify which was the good one and which was the bad one?

BTW, I really like my DX 30 mw laser. Works great and was a steal at $32. Now less than $28...

Considering DX is the cheapest place on the web for these lasers, we can assume atlasnova is the overpriced one which means the bad one in his eyes.

 

[senecaripple]

Does anyone else have the astronomy grade laser from atlas? Has anyone modded it and measured the output?

I'm going to order a 50mW from DX when they come back in stock, can anyone link me to reviews of this model or opinions on it?

try kaidomain's he has 2 different 50mw lasers, I got the cheaper one for $31.75. havent tried it out yet, live in the city. have to wait til i'm out in the country.
I should however test to see if it works.
i'll do that now.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

try kaidomain's he has 2 different 50mw lasers, I got the cheaper one for $31.75. havent tried it out yet, live in the city. have to wait til i'm out in the country.
I should however test to see if it works.
i'll do that now.

Can you take pictures of it in action indoors? The cheaper one is the same New-Wish laser sold by DX, the more expensive seems to have better focus/less flare(Its the same as the one DX use to sell with higher quality parts check here)

How long did it take to ship to you? Do they still sell the more expensive laser even though it says discontinued? You can add it to your cart.

 

[senecaripple]

Does anyone else have the astronomy grade laser from atlas? Has anyone modded it and measured the output?

I'm going to order a 50mW from DX when they come back in stock, can anyone link me to reviews of this model or opinions on it?

check out kaidomain's 50mw lasers.he has 2 different 50mw lasers I got the cheaper one for $31.75.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

check out kaidomain's 50mw lasers.he has 2 different 50mw lasers I got the cheaper one for $31.75.

You already told me this :thinking:

And I replied

Can you take pictures of it in action indoors? The cheaper one is the same New-Wish laser sold by DX, the more expensive seems to have better focus/less flare(Its the same as the one DX use to sell with higher quality parts check here)

How long did it take to ship to you? Do they still sell the more expensive laser even though it says discontinued? You can add it to your cart.

 

[senecaripple]

You already told me this :thinking:

And I replied

sorry about that, I didnt see it so I reposted again.
my lappy is not working anymore. ordered another one but that wont til when ever dell gets around to producing it.
so it's been awhile.
i'm just using my t-mobile internet phone and that wont allow me to put pix on these threads.

it took about 3 weeks for kaidomain's 50mw lasers to get to my house.
I didnt know he discontinued the more expensive one.
I went for the cheaper one because I didnt think they could tell the difference.

 

[Daedal]

Well... they have both of them pictured there and they correspond to the explanation linked to above. The one with the smaller aperture is the better one, and about $4 difference, why wouldn't anyone pay for that?

GL;
DDL

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

Well... they have both of them pictured there and they correspond to the explanation linked to above. The one with the smaller aperture is the better one, and about $4 difference, why wouldn't anyone pay for that?

GL;
DDL

Because from what I've seen kaidomain isn't a reliable site at all, where as dealextreme may take a long time to ship they have great customer service.

 

[not2bright]

I ordered the "Laselly" 50mW SKU1363 on 7/8/2007 for $35.30. My order status is "shipped".

I'll let you know if it is indeed the "higher quality" model as compared to my DX 2nd gen 30mW.

 

[LightForce]

I ordered the "Laselly" 50mW SKU1363 on 7/8/2007 for $35.30. My order status is "shipped".

I'll let you know if it is indeed the "higher quality" model as compared to my DX 2nd gen 30mW.

Hi not2bright!

I'm also interested if "Laselly" is better than 30 mW from DX! I want to buy SKU1363 from KD.

Please take some detailed photos of label and front lens of SKU1363 and tell if it's brighter than "true 30 mW" from DX.

Damian

 

[dirtbikepilot]

I have both, but I seem to have extraordinarily bad luck with lasers lately. The tweaked 5 mw leadlight I got from atlasnova over two years ago is still working perfectly. The 30 mw from dealextreme is a pos. It isn't even as bright as the leadlight and I can't see the beam in the dark at all. Yes, I put new batteries in the dx and no change. :thumbsdow