I thought I’d share this.
I don’t know how many of you use laser rangefinders or have tried them out. I’ve been using a cheap Stanley Fat Max from Home Depot (<$100) for the last 5 years or so. It has definitely saved time, but the performance has always been a little iffy. The distances have all been great, but getting the shot has been the sticky issue – too bright, too dark, wet surface, …. It is supposed to be good for 100′,but anything over 50 gets difficult. I’d say that I probably get 70% of my measuring done with it (mostly locating details not shot by surveyors or designing without a survey).
The engineering firm that I have been working for uses Leica rangefinders – very nice, but $500+ is more than I want to spend on something that I might leave behind or run over. A few weeks ago I saw a Bosch rangefinder in a tool store that is rated to 165′. Since I have a lot of trees to locate this week, I thought I’d try it out. It was worth the $150. There was not a shot that did not register (unless it was interfered with by branches – then I just shot it again until I got ot). I took many shots over 90′ – definitely out performs the Fat May. I do have laser viewing glasses which help a lot to see the beam.
Does anyone else use these?
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