Quick Question about a 405NM.

[FF11]

Is it worth it to buy a 500mW 405nm for $120?
I like the fact that a 405nm can change it's dot color depending on the surface you shoot it at, for example: BLUE on copy paper..
But I do not want to be disappointed with its beam brightness, I would mainly be using it in the nigh (of course)
Lately I have heard they don't get much brighter the higher in output power you go.

Which is why I am asking, would I be disappointed with this buy? What do you guys think?

My other option is a 1W 445nm.

P.S. I am experienced with lasers, specifically the 405nm wavelength.
Thanks for any input. :tinfoil:

 

[Alaskan]

I have a 950mw 405nm and it isn't very bright at all, fairly dim but it will burn like a hornets stinger.

 

[NightExplorer96]

You are going to need a lot of power being 405nm to make the beam look bright. As Alaskan said, even 1W of it wont look extremely bright!

1W of 445nm is the better alternative for night viewing.

-Alex

 

[FF11]

Allright. Thanks for the input. I might just settle for a 300mW 405nm since it wont be any brighter than a 500mW and it would cost me much less. What do you guys think?

 

[Pman]

Buy the strongest 405nm you can for the least beam disappointment. Wondering who you are thinking about purchasing from. Not seeing the point of buying a 300mW one over a 500mW one. What exactly is the purpose of the unit?

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi DTR sells 12x and16x blue ray 405nm diodes check him out before you buy that 300 or 500. I have a 16x 405nm in a C-6 host that diode will fry just about anything it touches. There cool diodes get the 16x or the 12x pioneer diode there awesome. Like said already if you want color get a 445nm / 1.8W or 2W M140 diode there worth the money buy far and a very good output 2w's+ always with the 2W M140
That would be running it at 1.8ma xdrive