Re: 1-1.2 watt 445nm lasers CHEAP $180 ****OUT OF STOCK****
Why is a 405 AixiZ or G-1 sometimes preferable to a 445 AixiZ/G-1 on a 445nm diode?
I don't mean the "because it has a few mW more power" answer I mean WHY does it have a few mW more power. Why isn't the lens that says it is made specifically for 445nm diodes always ideal?
Here is an excellent comparison by DTR....
Again, when you say "preferable"..... its assumed you are stating so because the power meter shows more power meaning the laser is passing more light through the 405 lens, whereas the G-1 goes a considerable step further.
The 405 is a compromise between most power and best divergence.
But as you see by looking at the length of the lines of the beam in that post... the 405 is wider or "longer" than the 445.
So every person will have to decide which they prefer.
As you look at all three lenses, the wider the beam and divergence, the more power is demonstrated on the meter..... not because wider is better, but thats just the characteristics.
Possibly because more glass and steeper cuts on the glass thus bending the rays to bring a tighter divergence involves either more lenses or efficiency losses in the process.
If you really want the "most" power.. and its all about power..... just take the lens completely off!!!... but forget trying to burn anything past point zero!.... and watch out for back splatter towards the diode!
I've played with the 405 also and didn't feel the hassle of being half threaded was worth if for me.
Again, I prefer the tighter divergence for my purposes.
I love burning a leaf on the ground while I'm standing fully upright!.... or other similiar feats from a distance.
If you want the best of both worlds (more power than the 445 and better divergence than the G-1) and the "worst" of both worlds (lowerer power than the G-1 and poorer divergence than the 445), then.. pick the 405.
The 405 is a good performer, but a little extra power when you are already above 1 W does little and actually does worse if the divergence is worse.
IMO, in both cases (ie: G-1 and 405 lens) I feel the extra power is more than offset by worst divergence making the cheaper 445 glass a better choice for me.... .and in my case... money was not a consideration since the lens affects the whole.
At a given distance, if the divergence demonstrated a line that was 50% longer than another lens but the power was only 15% more, that would mean the extra power did nothing to help since it was overpowered by 50% worse divergence "power spread over 50% more area".
On the other hand the game changes with distance.... if you bring the target closer and the beam is only 15% longer, then the 15% extra power would demonstrate a "wash".
Bring it closer yet, and the beam was only 5% longer and the power was still 15% more, now the extra power shines!
This is a poor example, but I have little use for a rifle or pistol that has more power if its less accurate. But somewhere in between there is always an acceptable compromise based on whether I am a sniper marksman, a hunter, or a plunker.