Apparatus include a plurality of laser diodes configured to emit respective laser diode beams having perpendicular fast and slow beam divergence axes mutually perpendicular to respective beam axes, and beam shaping optics configured to receive the laser diode beams and to circularize an ensemble image space and NA space of the laser diode beams at an ensemble coupling plane. In selected examples, beam shaping optics include variable fast axis telescopes configured to provide variable fast axis magnification and beam displacement.