We are looking...well I am looking at getting our firm a digital level and really have no experience with them at all. We aren't looking to break the bank.
Most of our linear level runs are not more than 1 mile in length while the rest of our work would be construction site related.
> I am looking at getting our firm a digital level..
Leica DNA03 is a nice unit. Once you have one you will find yourself doing more levelling.
As with all equipment purchases, I favor forming a working relationship with a vendor you can trust rather than shopping around every time you need something.
We bought a Sokkia SDL30 about a year ago. The instrument itself is fine but the software is awful.
Have used both Leica and Sokkia. Ended up buying a Sokkia SDL30 for half the money as Leica.
Agree with John, level is great but software is practically useless. Had it for at least 5 years and going strong.
We have both the SDL30 and DNA03 levels mentioned above. Both produce fine results. Started with the SDL30 and moved to the DNA03. Our SDL30 has no internal memory while the DNA03 has a memory card. Whatever you get, get memory that can be downloaded. You can always book levels if you want in addition to the memory, just reduces instances where you could make a mistake. ProLink software came with the SDL30, take it, or leave it. Best to leave it. We bought the LGO level module with the DNA03, easy to use. If you use StarNet they have a DNA convert to produce .dat files. Have not used either with Invar rods. We have conventional rods (metal). See Jim Frames comments on the DNA03 at http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=20086#p148572. We are careful how we store the instrument.
I have had a DNA since 2002, never an issue and it rides a lot of miles in the truck per usage, I do store it with the level in normal operating position in the truck (case lying as if you were going to open it) and have never had an issue.
If a loop doesn't close within a very few mm something went wrong in your procedure, very nice loop closures since moving to digital.
IMO, if you are doing any leveling at all a digital level is the best bang for the buck in the equipment fleet!
SHG
Trimble DiNi
[msg=156858]Trimble DiNi 22 and LD23[/msg]
Sokkia SDL 30
Keep in mind that the SDL30 has no way to save to memory the names of your benchmarks.
Not sure of other digital levels. But this feature (or no feature) means that our fieldmen had to manually record the FS reading or sideside number for each benchmark. We then had to locate this reading when we download the data to csv format.
Once in a while though you would get same FS reading in a single job & if you had no backward run on the same benchmark then you will say WTF!:-@
Sokkia SDL 30
Not that I would recommend one but my HP48 will operate our Topcon DL 102C.
I have been using Leica digital levels since the mid 90's. The 'new' DNA series was a great improvement over the original system. I have DNA03 which is capable of 1st order work but the DNA10 more than capable for anything less than that. The only trouble I have had with the levels operation was in a tunnel when looking into the light. The data can be downloaded into LGO or other software packages. You can also load design elevations and stake them out. This is great for airport type work. As Shelby mentioned, if you close more than a couple of mm then YOU are doing something wrong.
Any way you go, go digital.
Leica DNA 03 with the NEDI illuminated level rod is a good setup.
The only other digital level I have used was a old Wild level so I guess I do not have much to go on but the DNA worked well for me and was pretty easy and straightforward to learn which is a touch rare for Leica products.
