Construction Staking - SX10 or S9

The S6 is an absolute beast for construction work.

Why spend the $$$ ?

I don't think you will see a benefit - in my experience an S8 is not a plus

SX12 has the laser pointer, but not the SX10.

You are correct that they do not work with active track prisms, which for me is great for construction staking. That being said, their passive tracking is pretty darn close to what the active tracks can do - helps when you have a huge honkin' camera to help resolve the target.

As much as I love the SX series, I agree with @jimcox that you wouldn't see much of a benefit unless you made use of the scanning for topos and/or monitoring tasks.

I think a 1" S7 with Vision rather than the S9 would be better too, unless you really want or need that 0.5" and DR HP option. Probably a better value overall if you are looking to upgrade - S9 gets pricey.

Posted by: @rover83

S9 gets pricey.

Hell yeah they do....I was sent to pick up our shiny new 0.5" S9 back in 2016 with all the options, it was like 85k.?ÿ we never had any suits for the steel we set nor the work people didn't want to pay us for either.

The reason I was looking at the 9 was the 7 only had the Vision option I believe and Id prefer the track light. Appreciate all the feedback

I was basically in your same situation last year at this time, had a 2 second S6 and loved it, asked my dealer about all the fancy new stuff coming out etc etc including the SX as well as the machines with Vision. One thing you did not say is the software you use in your controller but I use Survey Pro. If you use Survey Pro you cannot even use the Vision anyway so for that reason he recommended the S5 1 second gun. It does have the laser pointer as well. So I spent a little extra $ for the 1 second instead of the S7 which is the same as the S5 except with Vision that I'd never be able to use. Been super happy with the S5! Good luck!?ÿ

Hated the SX-10 for layout. Stick with the S series.

The S6 I use has vision. For solo work, that plus active tracking are the best thing since sliced bread

I've tried our sx12 briefly one day for layout and it seemed to lose lock much easier than my 2010 Leica 1203+

Another crew got the S5 and seem happy enough with it but they rarely use it robotically. I tried it robotically one day when I got that party chiefs instrument man for the day and it seemed to work well other than us not knowing how to do a lot of things with access yet. It locks fast and seems to keep a lock.?ÿ

Posted by: @350rocketmike

they rarely use it robotically.

Out of curiosity, why wouldn't they run it robotic?

@rover83?ÿ

I think it's because he had a Sokkia robot for a long time and he doesn't realize how much different a good brand robotic works. They used the Sokkia robot manually because it's faster that way. He seems to have gotten in a rut where he doesn't want to change the way he does anything.?ÿ

@t-ray?ÿ

I am also running Survey Pro. Sounds like the S5 might be the ticket. Basically the same robot I have now that I have been very happy with.?ÿ

@rover83 my thoughts exactly! SMH

Posted by: @350rocketmike

He seems to have gotten in a rut where he doesn't want to change the way he does anything.

Oof, I know how that goes. If I had a nickel for every time I saw that attitude in my career, I'd have been retired at before I hit 30.

Some days I'd rather train a brand-new hire who has never seen an instrument than a 20-year veteran.

@rover83 I tend to agree, but the irony is not lost on me.?ÿ After all, we want the 20-year veteran to do things?ÿour way.

@frozennorth?ÿ

Yeah, if I'm working under another license, they get to call the shots, because it's their license...and it's no skin off my back...so I would kind of expect a veteran to understand how that works. Strange.