Sanwu, Spiker or Challenger II?

[Skittles]

Hello gents, I want to buy a 635nm 1 watt laser pointer from Sanwu and I'm not sure whether I should get the Challenger II or the Spiker Saber host.
Since Spiker is much bigger it will probably have a better duty cycle, but is there any other difference between the two in terms of power, if they are both about the same price and specs?

I honestly like the challenger better because of the size and looks for this color, but if there is a power difference I want to know!

 

[diachi]

both about the same price and specs?

Answered your own question there, no?

:thinking:

 

[Skittles]

Answered your own question there, no?

:thinking:

So there is no difference in power? Are the diodes and everything inside the same?

 

[Razako]

The diode and power level should be the same. The main functional difference is simply the duty cycle. The 638nm spiker will give you a nearly unlimited duty cycle.

 

[Skittles]

The diode and power level should be the same. The main functional difference is simply the duty cycle. The 638nm spiker will give you a nearly unlimited duty cycle.

Alright, thank you for clearing that up for me.
Which lens would be the best choice for 1 watt of 635nm? I was thinking G7, but I imagine the divergence is going to be ugly anyway.

 

[Razako]

Realistically it's gonna be ugly no matter what you do. You'll want a beam expander to get any kind of decent beam.

 

[RedCowboy]

You really want one of each.

p.s. And you definitely want to get the 3X Beam Expander, they are practically magic.

 

[Expand]

You really want on of each.

p.s. And you definitely want to get the 3X Beam Expander, they are practically magic.

I want to jump in here very quick and say i just got my first one and i couldn't agree more with the 3X Beam Expander being magic, I really should have listened to you and tried one much sooner than i did !

First thing is how small they really are, Much smaller than i expected, And how well built they are which is kind of hard to believe with them only costing $55 dollars !

Just one word and you said it RC, MAGIC !

 

[Encap]

I want to jump in here very quick and say i just got my first one and i couldn't agree more with the 3X Beam Expander being magic, I really should have listened to you and tried one much sooner than i did !

First thing is how small they really are, Much smaller than i expected, And how well built they are which is kind of hard to believe with them only costing $55 dollars !
Just one word and you said it RC, MAGIC !

Please make a Welcome post about yourself in the Welcome sub-forum and indicate you location in your profile

" I really should have listened to you and tried one much sooner than i did !"
What are you referring to? This is your 1st post unless you have multiple accounts or are a returning banned member or some such?

Anyway--you really need to do a Welcome post to get along here on LPF

 

[Expand]

Please make a Welcome post about yourself in the Welcome sub-forum and indicate you location in your profile

" I really should have listened to you and tried one much sooner than i did !"
What are you referring to? This is your 1st post unless you have multiple accounts or are a returning banned member or some such?

Anyway--you really need to do a Welcome post to get along here on LPF

It would be the third one "returning banned member" but of course not returning to try and stay, I just got my first Sanwu 3X Beam Expander and i was just blown away by how good they really are ! Sooooo much better than the jetlasers 10X in use and design not to mention a very large input aperture that doesn't clip a 44's beam !

 

[BowtieGuy]

Let me be the first to say goodbye!

 

[BobMc]

Everything pretty much has already been said. Only question I can add is, do you want a laser you can carry in your pocket?

I can suggest you might like the 520nm better. But that's a call to your flavor. Let us know what you decide.

And beam shots.

 

[Skittles]

Realistically it's gonna be ugly no matter what you do. You'll want a beam expander to get any kind of decent beam.

You really want on of each.

p.s. And you definitely want to get the 3X Beam Expander, they are practically magic.

Alright I never had a beam expander so its time to try one.

Everything pretty much has already been said. Only question I can add is, do you want a laser you can carry in your pocket?

I can suggest you might like the 520nm better. But that's a call to your flavor. Let us know what you decide.

And beam shots.

Both of them look cool, but yeah I want to be able to fit it in my pocket. I decided on the red, the relative brightness calculator says that 1 watt 635nm is brighter than 1 watt 445nm, is it really that bright?
I will try to post some beam shots, I still haven't posted any of my PL-E Mini 520nm. :tired:

 

[BobMc]

Brightness calculator says one watt 635 is as brighter than a one watt 445? That's a interesting call. I have both and it seems to me that the 445 is easier to see. Brightness wise, maybe??? I'm thinking the diameter of the beam of the 635 looks wider, which might count for the difference?

 

[RedCowboy]

The 635nm is a lot brighter to our eye per mw than the 650nm but unless it's one of the single mode diodes the divergence is very aggressive, however with the beam expander you can improve the look of your beam so it's not a long line in the far field but more of a spot.

 

[Encap]

Alright I never had a beam expander so its time to try one.


Both of them look cool, but yeah I want to be able to fit it in my pocket. I decided on the red, the relative brightness calculator says that 1 watt 635nm is brighter than 1 watt 445nm, is it really that bright?
I will try to post some beam shots, I still haven't posted any of my PL-E Mini 520nm. :tired:

Yoy already have bright with the 1W 520nm---beam is about 8X brighter than 1W 635---445nm and 635nm compared to 520nm are almost equally less bright so....