Green Laser Pointers - Which One Should I Choose?

Just by typing in the word "laser pointer" into google's search engine, you will find hundreds of laser pointer companies out there. Some have very attractive websites with very high prices. Some laser pointers offer the same functions and power but are much cheaper. It's all very confusing especially when you don't understand what all the terms mean. You're about to spend a good amount of money on a laser pointer, the least you should is do some research before choosing the right laser and right company for your needs.

The first thing you will notice about high powered green laser pointers is they are always categorized by power. This is the number with "mW" at the end. mW stands for milli-watts and is 1/1000 of a watt, that is, 1000mW is 1W. You will also see another number associated with green laser pointers. This number has "nm" at the end. This stands for nano-meters and is used to measure wavelength. You really don't have to look into this number too much as all green laser pointers have a wavelength of 532nm. Pretty much, when you see 532nm, you should automatically think of the color green.

Now, lets focus on power. This is probably the most important factor because the more power you buy, the more money you spend. Yes, power is expensive! You need to ask yourself, what are you buying this laser pointer for? I think I can categories this into 3 types of lasers.

The first type, you're looking to buy something for everyday use. You're a teacher, professor, or someone always doing presentations in large groups. You are looking to use the green laser pointer as a "pointer". Good, I can make the decision for you now. Get a 5mw green laser pointer. While you could buy something more powerful, I wouldn't suggest getting anything over 20mW if pointing is all you will be doing. 5mW is for small classroom pointing, 20mw is for longer distance pointing as in an auditorium.  Now, I'm talking about real laser pointers, that is, don't buy from ebay or any auction sites. Their advertised output is usually fake. If you buy a 5mW, you'll probably end up with a 1-2mW green laser. You can search the term "Skylasers" in google, they are a good reputable company.

Now, the second type is looking for a visible beam green laser pointer. First question, are you looking to burn or melt anything with it? If you answer is no, stick with a green laser pointer between 20mW to 80mW. During the day, these lasers have a very bright end dot (the laser beam is not visible). Realize that you will not find a laser pointer with a visible beam during the day. At night, however, a 20-80mw green laser is very bright! Yes, amazingly bright! This is where I ask, how much do you plan on spending? The more power you buy, the brighter the laser pointer. On a personal note, I would recommend a 40 - 60mW green laser pointer if all you want is a bright beam. The 20mW is still slightly dim for me. 40mW to 60mW green laser pointers go for around $100-$150. If you have the money, go for the 80mW, you will notice the difference in brightness. I just think 40mW - 60mW is plenty bright though.

If you are looking to burn and melt with this laser, you need something above 100mW. Want to see laser pointers in action? Simple, go to youtube and search for "lasers". You will find green laser pointers from various companies lighting cigarettes, popping balloons, etc. There are some very cool videos out there. The question now is, what do you want to burn? Again, the more power you have, the faster your laser will burn and melt. You can buy green laser pointers with more then 500mw these days that could cost you a pretty penny. It's really up to you as to how much you want to spend. If burning is your thing, look around for reliable companies and compare prices. Buy something you are comfortable with spending.

There are several laser pointer forums out there that can be very resourceful to you. Stick with www.laserpointerforums.com, www.photonlexicon, and www.candlepoweredforums.com. These forums have a good following and members are generally very eager to answer your questions. I suggest staying away from www.lasercommunity.com, this forum is very tightly monitored and is run by a laser company. They do not allow members talking about other laser companies...