Woe! 500mW red.....

Did I say hookers? I meant presents for my girlfriend.

Wicked's specifications are off (not surprising). These are multimode with decent correcting optics. The beam diameter at aperture is undoubtedly incorrect as well. Recently there have been some very cool 640nm lab-style modules around from other manufacturers that have very good beam specs (for diodes) but these are very new and expensive. These could utilize the same diodes and technology, but I very much doubt it. There is no 500mW 650nm diode-based system worth >3000, though, nor are there any 500mW 650nm diodes that are single-mode.

So it's settled then. Wicked is full of shit. This is, as you put it so succinctly, "not surprising"

they really need to clean up their specs. Upon closer inspection, they've got the beam diameters and divergence reversed between the 650nm and 473nm systems. I've circled the specs that belong to the blue laser in blue, likewise for red: (Steve, if you're looking....)

I think the specs ARE correct. Except that their 473nm laser probably has a TEM03 mode, they did put that in the specs before anyway (kinda fishy thar). So if they are honest about its big, oval dot and poor divergence on the 473nm laser, why lie about the specs on their 650nm laser?

Even if it does run TEM03, no DPSS laser should have an oblong beam that is that big at aperture. For a low powered 473nm laser, 1.5mm sounds about right and it should be somewhere near that even if it is TEM03. Also, a DPSS TEM03 beam should not have a divergence of 4mrad. 2-2.5mrad would be more realistic. I don't think the Spyder IIIs are TEM03, based on what I've heard from Steve they are TEM00 while some of Wicked's other blues are TEM03.

4x6mm at 4mrad are multimode diode specs. It is inaccurate to say that multimode red diodes are TEM00, however. It would be more accurate to say "near TEM00".

I get that there is much distaste for Wicked, but I kind of think that this case is nothing more than an error. Personally, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since they have established that they are seeking to turn over a new leaf. Their new line of portables are truly FDA compliant and appoved, and everything I've seen about their 2010 series is very good in terms of power, stability, and craftsmanship. They do come at a hefty price that I am not sure is entirely justified in all cases, especially not >$3000 for a 500mw red multimode portable.

The switching seems most probable to me at this point. But would you really want to buy from someone who can't even list specs correctly?

interesting, that they seem to have changed.. from underspec+overpriced to up-to-spec. we (not me personally) can argue about prices, but if they dont lie any more, thats a notable step forward! ..i remember the postings about WL when i joined here. reason enough for me to not buy their lasers, no matter if the price is fine or not. but then i DIY my lasers anyway.. ;-)

manuel

dont forget those 1 watt reds are multimode. but hell, its even 635nm, so its as bright as 2 watts of 650nm!

manuel