200mw and no beam?

[InfinitusEquitas]

To me personally 445nm is extremely visible at even relatively low powers. I can see the beam of even a <50mW 445nm, with relatively clear, clean air.

In the same conditions, I have a hard time seeing the beam of a 300mW 638 or 660nm. Less so with the 638nm, but still, only if it's dark, and humid is a clear red beam visible.

Part of the reason I really need a 1W 638nm asap

 

[TacoHerder]

My new 660nm needs a bit of smoke or dirty air in order to see a beam. I noticed before I upgraded it to sell to a client, my 445nm was the same way at 230mW. With a bit of fog or dirty air I can see a nice beam.

I really want to try out the new 500mW 635nm diode, bet that sucker looks amazing.

 

[Crossfire]

I have several red 660nm lasers. I can see the beam faintly even with moderate artificial lighting if I look from behind the laser even on my smallest red (~220mW).

Outdoors I can see very clear red beams - an advantage of living in nice humid South Florida.

I am not familiar with the lasers from Laserer. I wonder what type of lens it has. All my reds have the Meredith Red lens (the predecessor to the 650-G-1) so the beams are thin and tight. Acrylic lenses feature a rounder, broader dot and beam.

With reds, it's all about the power density. Thinner beam = more visibility at a given power level.