Leica Disto

We have the older disto too, and the special sunglasses with the red lenses.

I find it easier and just about as quick to drag out the S6 and use that instead. ("survey basic" mode, visible laser on, reflectorless target).

thanks Jim
Unfortunately I don't have reflectorless.
I've avoided that as a lot of my work in in scrubby areas, tree lined rivers and my Nikon 821 will literally bore through all that claptrap. The faintest glint of a wavering leafy opening and its read and stored.
I've been told reflectorless doesn't perform as well so have steered clear.

But I could surely use it on odd occasions.

Richard

I have a D5 with the viewfinder/cross hairs. Bright sunshine can be a problem when viewing the little screen, especially if you'e looking at a target in the shade. If you're in the shade and the target is bright it's easier. Getting the Disto stable helps, as the slightest movement is huge in the viewfinder, especially at x4 magnification. Small targets are worst, beware sighting onto something close by, especially if it looks similar. Having said all that it's still a great tool and the viewfinder is a great help.

Richard, post: 330697, member: 833 wrote: I've been told reflectorless doesn't perform as well.

But I could surely use it on odd occasions.

Reflectorless is useful - I would not want to be without it.

But it has a few gotcha's.

We get more than a few bum shots with it - it seems that you must have an absolutely unobstructed view of the target - anything in the line of sight is a potential target.

We use it mostly for shooting eaves and ridgelines and do have trouble with odd bits of vegetation (we assume) being targeted. Our field procedures now call for a minimum of three shots to any structure so as to be able to weed out the bad data

I just ordered one today to get powerline heights. I hope I have a better experience than some of these reviews.

I see it's probably a D410 now.
I wait with bated breath to hear the report. (baited ~ bated - take your pick. Think I've got it right)
Please keep us informed.

Roadhand, you can get powerline heights with the Disto but I've found it a bit frustrating, I've tried it on fairly light lines and it's difficult to aim onto the line especially if it's moving in the wind. Better on heavy lines, a wider target and less movement. At least with direct measurement straight up there's no confusion, either a distance or nothing. I found lying on the ground with a coat over my head and across to the disto helped to see the screen properly. A Disto capable of sweeping across and measuring a minimum distance would be a lot better.

The local power company borrowed my Disto when they were investigating measuring headrooms to lines but they ended up opting for Trupulse laser range finders using an indirect method program, measuring the distance to a ground point below the line then a vertical angle to the line. Topcon do a similar program on some of their total stations.

Richard, post: 330819, member: 833 wrote: I see it's probably a D410 now.
I wait with bated breath to hear the report. (baited ~ bated - take your pick. Think I've got it right)
Please keep us informed.

I wanted the D510, but they said it was discontinued, and said the E7500i was the replacement.

I just got the 810 touch... Wow!

It connects to my tablet or phone with bluetooth. That's handy for mapping out courtyards, rooms or small areas between buildings that are away from GPS coverage and impractical to set a control point for TS.

I use it for measuring manhole depths and pipe sizes, building heights, billboard locations, etc. It's also handy to locate features that aren't accessible such as those within fenced yards with mean looking dogs. I've always got it on my belt so I can shoot offset distances to trees, etc when mapping with GPS.

There are a lot of functions available that I haven't tried out yet.

Probably the most handy feature is the camera. If you can't see the laser dot, you just turn on the camera and use the screen with zoom levels. I find that very reliable.

The down side: $800

I hope that helps.

Thanks for updates.
I'm curious about B'Tooth.
410 hasn't 510 has.

Do these all have similar reading capabilities/ downsides? 510 and 410 same I imagine but what about 810.
Not referring to software side, but just basic reading ability. I imagine its the same engine across most (all) devices.

I'm trying to envisage use and getting a reading via bluetooth.
Last job was inside a grocery store and associated areas where I had to stand on box/ ladder and reach up and put the Disto against a hard to access point.
Whilst standing on one leg and outstretched arm I wondered what/how BT would be applied.

I can see the value of BT but it's the application of it that makes me ask.
I haven't checked but assume SurvCe acknowledges such? Not sure either about Field Genius.

Which is better the D5 or the E7500?

I found them both at Appraiser Laser for the same price.