[Closed] Surveyors - advice on laser measuring device

Nice little unit. We use these at work and other cheaper similar Leica ones with very similar results.

Thanks dabaldie - do the cheaper units do height as well?

Does it use green or red laser? Find our red laser really hard to spot in bright conditions.

The Disto D410 is a great bit of kit. With the 4x zoom on the screen they are fantastic for accurate spotting in bright conditions.

Depends on what you need, but I’d go for the 510 personally for the data transfer and sketch functionality (for phone tablet)

both awesome though

Thanks nealglover

The 410 is enough for my needs on site -just need to be able to measure distances and heights of trees.

510 is a good price here

https://www.buybrandtools.com/acatalog/leica-disto-d510-laser-meter.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIusegxbLl2gIVSrDtCh2uiQINEAAYAyAAEgIrePD_BwE

I use the 910 which comes with its own tripod / cradle etc.

Im guessing you need some sort of cradle / tripod arrangement to make use of the 360 degree tilt sensor for measuring heights as you need to keep your start point constant.

https://www.thetapestore.co.uk/leica-disto-d510-pro-kit

The tripod pod is around £50 , and the cradle is £165 on its own , so that's a pretty good deal there

Go for the 510 in revs link above as it’s cheaper than the 410 you were looking at anyway.

Even if you don’t think you need the extra functionality. I’ll bet my hat you will use it if you have it available. 👍

I've tried replying to this twice already bith times have been binned.

Measuring a tree with a disto is a pain in the hoop.

Trying to hold it steady and aim it onto the top of a tree without hitting a branch/leaf and getting a false readying is a pain in the arse. And you need line of sight. Which means stepping quite far back to get it. At more than about 50m you have heehaw chance of seeing where the laser is hitting. The camera function will help but you're back to it waving around in a say 1msq which is about 10% tree and 90% sky.

In my experience of measuring watercourses and other dimensions outdoors asweol as bridges and the odd tree, 75m is about as far as you will get in daylight before it starts saying its out of range about 50% of the time. More than once its said no then given a total bollocks reading then something thats probably about right.

All that said its (510) very good its just not designed for the task you want it for.

Trying to hold it steady and aim it onto the top of a tree without hitting a branch/leaf and getting a false readying is a pain in the arse. And you need line of sight. Which means stepping quite far back to get it. At more than about 50m you have heehaw chance of seeing where the laser is hitting. The camera function will help but you’re back to it waving around in a say 1msq which is about 10% tree and 90% sky.

That's why you need the tripod and cradle.

Thanks guys - this sounds like it’s not one of my best ideas. From what’s being said I’d say I’m probably better off sticking with my clinometer for tree height and then just buying a standard outdoor laser for distances?

Any recommendations for a distance laser to basically take measurements between trees and built structures etc?

That’s why you need the tripod and cradle.

And ask the tree to hold still for a minute?

Its still a brilliant tool. I'd still recommend it but lugging a tripod about for measuring a tree... Seriously?

I'm assuming ecologist or planner/planning if you're looking at tree heights and distances.

I'd still get it its pretty bullet proof. It stores everything you measure and can take photos (rubbish) of what you measure. I'd even try using it on the tree height  but equalky i'd still have the inclinometer to hand (thedisto actually has a constant read of the incline so you can use camera for rough angle you may even be able to record it but to memory it wont wecord a measurement if it misses the target)

Measuring the distance between two objects from a thirdlocation is also really usefull if access is difficult. More than once i've got the dimensions i need without sliding down a dubious river bank.

I'm just trying to say if you think you'll zap all the trees on the first shot you'll probably find it a little dissapointing.