I have a Nikon AZ-1 automatic level I purchased it 1991. It is in perfect condition, but is only 22x magnification so I keep my BS and FS lengths on the shorter side when doing Elevation Certificates.
I was looking at a used Topcon AT G-3 level which has a 30x magnification (for my aging eye sight). It appears that Topcon has produced this particular model for at least 15 years. Is there much difference in the older versus the newer models. The pictures look identical. The new in box ones listed on eBay go for $995. However there are some older models listed for considerably less.
I would appreciate any thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.
You can have my Wild when you pry it from my cold dead hands.
In other words, don't skimp.
I have bought several ATG2 and ATG2a levels in the past. One has the flip-up mirror, the other has the prism and two speed focus. If you are used to using a level with the prism over the bubble, that flip-up mirror will drive you nuts. Other than that, they are good levels.
However, I still prefer my Lietz/Sokkisha/Sokkia B1.
James
Dennis,
Have you considered just ordering a higher-power eyepiece? Many equipment manufacturers offer such as options. Some of my personal geodetic gear came with several eyepieces ...
The only drawback is that the diopter scale likely would need to be re-calibrated if you rely on such. Most people, however, ignore the graduations and just twist the eyepiece for best visual accommodation. Some repair shops have a diopter calibration sight; it's a mickey-mouse adjustment if you happen to own a $1,500 doo-hickey. Common for Optical Tooling equipment, rare for most other types of shops.
> I have a Nikon AZ-1 automatic level I purchased it 1991. It is in perfect condition, but is only 22x magnification so I keep my BS and FS lengths on the shorter side when doing Elevation Certificates.
>
> I was looking at a used Topcon AT G-3 level which has a 30x magnification (for my aging eye sight). It appears that Topcon has produced this particular model for at least 15 years. Is there much difference in the older versus the newer models. The pictures look identical. The new in box ones listed on eBay go for $995. However there are some older models listed for considerably less.
>
> I would appreciate any thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.
I have a very old banged and beated up Topcon AF3 which is 22x and it is a very good level.
I had a new Topcon AT G-3 (30x) and it was OK. Even other people who used it said the older AF3 was better. I could not tell much of the difference but there was a difference.
I let the ATG3 go and got a Lietz-Sokkia B1 which I use and the old Topcon is the back-up.
I always liked the B-1
15 Years ago my favorite level was a Leitz B-1, then I got my hands on a Leica NA 2000 digital leval and that became my new favorite. Now my favorite level is a Leica DNA-10 digital level. If I were looking for a budget level for elevation certificates, I would look at the Leica Sprinter 250M digital level. The beauty of a digital level is that it always records the correct rod reading, it will not read if the instrument is not level, and it will not read the rod, if it is too far out of plumb. About the only mistake you can make is not having the rod on the turn.
There is no finer automatic level than the Wild NA-2 series. You can still buy these new rebranded as Leica. We have had one for over 30 years and is still to this day as accurate as when we bought it.
But yes, the sprinter is also excellent as we have two and one dna03.
Thelonious - - allllright!
Levels who uses those today not to rub anyone the wrong way
i gave away free $1200.00 a sokkia B20 32X had a good damping system
more or less was new in box and threw in the rods "two"
this was 6 years ago and have never found that in error
nobody uses levels except some small situations in construction
yikes hardly use the robot that much other then industrial bolts
bridge work
Peter K
I have a 17-year-old Topcon AT-G2 that's still going strong. For engineering levels it's hard to beat. I use a Leica DNA-03 for long runs, but for taking a bunch of shots within a limited area the Topcon is way faster, and lighter, too.
we have a 1990s vintage topcon digital level we inherited from Caltrans. Personally I'd rather just use an optical level but it works. I can't figure out how to download it and suspect it doesn't communicate so I have to write down the output. I guess it's a little more blunder free than a regular look through the telescope level (although you can actually use it that way if you want).
We have an old Ni2 also inherited from Highways but many eons ago. It is designed to be used with a yard rod if you want to use the stadia hairs. Kind of weird. I think you can get more precision with a yard rod (although not necessarily more accuracy). It's a wonderful instrument to use, wooden box, high quality everything, no plastic, etc.
Can't beat a Zeiss Ni-2. This is the Cadillac of the self-leveling levels. Fast level up and very good if not superior optics. Never had a problem with the compensator sticking or hanging up in any of the many I have used. I've used these since the 1950's and still use mine that I purchased in 1975. In the 1960's when I worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, I ran seven miles of levels in one day checking the profile of a 230kv power line route and checked in 0.02 feet from bench mark to bench mark. You'd never do that with the Wild, too slow on leveling it up.
Not sure which Wild you've used, and would not question your opinion on that particular one.
As was said above, you will get my Wild out of my cold, dead hands.
Having said that, the Zeiss Ni 2 is extremely accurate, but always hated the flat optics. The Wild is much easier on the eyes for day in, day out use.
Back 26yrs ago I remember getting raked over the coals for buying a 30+x Topcon level that was on sale to replace the old dumpy style and after a week of use being thanked to no end. Never had any problem with.
All we used a level for was route work on sewer and roads and a rare building form.
22x is for close work. Better optics and smaller scale reading is for tight work.
You will not regret the move up.
I have used all the above mentioned automatic levels (not to be confused with electronic levels). I found them all to be very accurate when properly pegged and then operated with proper techniques. The operator is much more a significant factor than the instrument is itself. I did however deliberately purchase an old Zeiss Ni 2 over 10 years ago as it is my personal fav.
CV
> ....The beauty of a digital level is that it always records the correct rod reading, it will not read if the instrument is not level, and it will not read the rod, if it is too far out of plumb. About the only mistake you can make is not having the rod on the turn....
This is good advise. I just can't see buying a level that isn't digital. The advantages are many, and obvious. Faster, you have to be trying to hard to screw up to screw up at all, unbelievably accurate, and not all that expensive. If the battery goes dead then it's still an automatic level. Why not digital?
I just recently purchased a used 32X AT-G1 on eBay which is pretty much identical to the G2 which had seen very little use and peg tested perfectly out of the case. Instruction manual in case and no signs of abuse. However I have discovered that the compensator sticks often enough to make me skeptical to use it. Have you ever had this issue with your G2? Constantly having to tap the side of it before use is a little unnerving.
> However I have discovered that the compensator sticks often enough to make me skeptical to use it. Have you ever had this issue with your G2? Constantly having to tap the side of it before use is a little unnerving.
I always tap mine out of habit (developed using a Hilger Watts in the '70s), but to my knowledge my G2's compensator has never hung up.
Topcons are very prone to sticking compensators, especially their low end units, but using one did get me into the very good habit of smacking the leg to check. The Leica/Wild auto levels have that wonderful button to check the compensator.
My favorite is the Sokkia B1. The B2 is a close second--good optics and very easy to adjust.
The Topcon AT-G1 was their flagship level in the 90s. 32X magnification and a magnetic compensator and sold for over $2000 new, hardly low end. I know of another surveyor who has one and speaks very highly of these instruments which is why I bought it. I was told over the phone by an Instrument Tech. in Vancouver B.C. that has a highly recommended repair shop that it probably just needs cleaning so hopefully it is a cheap fix. It is in pristine shape (unlike it's operator) with the plumb bob, rain hood and instruction manual still in their sealed plastic bags. My other level is a Wild NA28 which I bought new in '88 and has never let me down however it does go out of adjustment a bit on a regular basis. Easy to adjust. I'll agree with you that it is hard to beat Wild/Leica in my books but they're pricey.
