Adapted laser beam and intensity shapes realized by fiber design offer many opportunities, especially for laser beam welding. An adjustable ring mode laser beam source was used for the investigations presented. Continuous and pulsed mode are possible, so many combinations and temporal overlays of inner and outer ring power are feasible with a maximum laser beam power of 6 kW. This work shows investigations for several metallic materials and combinations. For laser beam welding of similar lap joints made of aluminum-silicon coated hot forming manganese-boron steel the influence of different intensity profiles is analyzed with regard to weld geometries. Dissimilar lap joints made of aluminum and copper are tested regarding the mixing ratio and the homogeneity of the mixing in the weld metal as well as the formation of intermetallic phases. Furthermore, a short digression is made regarding the removal of zinc layers on micro-alloyed, fine-grain structural steel sheets for subsequent reliable wetting for laser beam brazing or for the prevention of spatters for laser beam welding.