Top 10 laser range finders

The building laser rangefinder from an “honest-Taiwanese” company that is not popularly trying to mimic under a “firm”, but works confidently all over the world without “hiding faces”, is quite popular and interesting in terms of the “price-quality” ratio. Measuring instrument under this brand shows itself well, so it is not surprising that the rangefinder they came out curious.

In the Cosmo lineup, the “seventies” model is a kind of “middling”: the range finder is not as simple as the Cosmo Mini, but it also does not force you to overpay for “bells and whistles” like a video camera in Cosmo 120 Video. That is just the fact that in most cases will be sufficient for a home wizard.

As is clear from the marking, the maximum measurement range of this rangefinder is up to 70 meters, and with an accuracy of 1.5 mm. The manufacturer claims that this range is available without the use of a target. In fact, of course, this will not always work - it’s not for good reason that the instruction immediately lists, for which error displayed on the screen, you need to install the complete target with the gray side, and for which with the brown one. Since the display is purely digital, messages are displayed on the screen in the form of numeric codes, which is inconvenient: tell offhand what you do not like to the rangefinder, issuing error code 253?

But in general, we definitely can recommend this laser tape measure, although we’ll point out two shortcomings: the display lacks contrast when working (inverse, like the same Zamo III, would be much better), and a regular strap is fixed very badly - it often interferes with measurements , it will have to be removed.

And here the display is already inverse, which for readability is a plus. It is a pity that the “range” here is not particularly large (40 meters) ... on the other hand, and the price is more interesting than that of Cosmo 70. If you compare it with a direct competitor - ADA Instruments COSMO MINI 40, the range finder Condtrol will win exactly (1.5 mm to 2), although it will be somewhat more expensive.

When measuring, the range finder is able not only to show a specific length, but also calculates the area and volume, and he did not listen to the Pythagorean theorem in class.The fun feature of the SMART 40 is that it has a built-in bubble level: this is, of course, not a three-dimensional accelerometer that allows you to measure angles and display them in digital form, but how much cheaper the device could be made. Although this level is not particularly useful, but let it be.

Not bad that the range finder was able to make a compact and lightweight - it does not take a lot of weight in your pocket, and does not delay it. For the "lover" he came out very successful.

The “green” Bosch series, alas, fights against the “yellow” competitors in the main with a loud name, for which they have to pay extra despite the fact that this rangefinder is also produced in China. Indeed, with a maximum measurement range of 25 m and an accuracy of 2 mm, its price may seem rather large.

The functionality here is also limited at a basic level: the range finder can measure distances from the leading and trailing edges, calculate areas and volumes. There is a memory for 10 measurement results, but there is no possibility of indirectly calculating the distance - this may not be enough. And the error indication here is the most “none” of all that you can think of: if the same ADA Cosmo 70 writes us at least with a digital code from what it doesn’t like, then Bosch PLR 25 is succinctly limited to the “Error” message.

This brand is not particularly well-known in our country, although in the history of this company it cannot be denied: as early as the end of the 19th century, the firm, then still called Meterfabrik, produced folding meters and spirit levels. They say that even in the Russian Empire they managed to organize their supplies. As for Stabila (the trademark was registered in 1925), the company began producing laser rangefinders a quarter of a century ago. In the current line model 520 - the most "long-range", capable of working at distances of up to 200 meters. And thanks to the digital viewfinder with a fourfold zoom, the range finder is just as handy when working “at the limit” as the much more expensive Leica. At the same time, data can be transferred in real time to a smartphone or tablet - but if Leica only supports Android devices in the top model S910, which has almost reached the six-figure price, then Stabila will do without the “apple” gadget in your pocket less money. Agree, at a construction site, a protected smartphone on a “green robot” looks smarter and more appropriate than an iPhone?

Measurement accuracy - 1 millimeter. To eliminate the impact of keystrokes on the accuracy of sighting, a kind of “self-timer” is provided. The case has a standard dust and moisture protection standard by the range finders, it is additionally protected by shock-proof linings.

With a “range” of 250 m (one of the best in this class, by the way), the GLM 250 VF rangefinder definitely needs to be bought with a tripod, especially since the quality of the BS 150 brand is worth its price. In this case, a complete set will cost significantly cheaper than the same “Leica”, even if you do not take top Disto. Of course, the price difference is not taken from nowhere - for example, the Bosch optical finder, when working at a large distance from the target, is several times less convenient than digital sighting with the DISTO D810 Touch. The lack of a touchscreen also interferes to a certain extent when measuring large distances: when pressing the measurement button, the laser spot is noticeably deflected, which can be avoided with a slight touch of the screen. So don't forget the tripod!

On the other hand, Bosch has its own peculiarity: it is a marking mode that allows you to quickly rebuild several points relative to a given one. Simply set the desired distance and move the rangefinder in a given direction. So it can be fully used not only when marking up a large-scale construction site, but also in completely “room” matters like installing profiles for drywall.

But the error indication here has remained as primitive as in the Bosch PLR amateur level rangefinders, and for this we will definitely say our “fi”. So, if you saw on the screen the constantly burning “Error” inscription, then this may indicate a contamination of the lens, and even an error in calculating the area or volume! If the inscription blinks, then you just tried to add or subtract the measurement results made in different units - which prevents the rangefinder from using the built-in converter, which works in the measurement time anyway, and is completely incomprehensible.

Need something to measure? Then it is definitely worth looking in the direction of Fluke - they just ate more dogs on the measurements than any visitor to a Korean restaurant or shawry at the station.We note in particular that this rangefinder is listed in the state register and is an “officially recognized” means of measurement. At the same time, we would like to thank the manufacturer for honesty: Fluke indicates the maximum range is not “just so much” (and that's how it goes), as many do, but separately results in the maximum range when working without a target (80 meters) and with a target (100 meters). The target, by the way, is made by Leica - the same GZM27, which is used with Disto rangefinders.

The measurement functionality is excellent - direct and indirect measurements are supported, there is an accurate built-in compass and protractor. The accuracy of measuring distances is 1.5 mm (at distances up to 10 m - 1 mm), the goniometer is 0.2 degrees. In short, the device is fully consistent with the class that you expect from this brand, and at the same time also costs enough reasonable money.

Our ranking of the best building laser range finders continues with a very interesting set from Bosch, which is not just “sharpened” for indoor work, but also capable of working not only in living rooms: no matter how cool you are, the GLM 80’s measurement range reaches 80 meters. But the R 60 “digital ruler” added to the kit, the landing slot on which was made specifically for the GLM 80, makes it even more functional, because it gets the opportunity to work as a full digital level. Of course, in theory, this can be any rangefinder with a built-in goniometer, but imagine yourself how convenient it is to position the horizontal - by applying a short rangefinder housing or a 610 mm tire. If you need to align stand-alone structures, then without a tire you will definitely not get along.

Unlike other construction rangefinders Bosch, to this day using the "finger" batteries, there is already used a modern lithium-ion battery. Its capacity is 1250 mAh. Of course, the best alkaline batteries have a higher capacity ... but they are disposable, unlike a battery!

Honestly, this rangefinder looks like, as we have repeatedly pointed out at Makita, simple to archaic: involuntarily you want to scrape the inscription, is there Electronics hiding under it? If this did not interfere with the work, then it would not be scary, but the faded display with low viewing angles spoils the impression very much. However, with the range finders, the “Makita” somehow doesn’t set anything - take the same Makita LD080P model, which, in an attempt to give the body more “ergonomic” shapes, actually became, on the contrary, inconvenient.

And it’s a pity, because the range finder is in fact conceived as a good one: without a reflector, we are promised a measurement distance of up to 100 meters with an accuracy of one and a half millimeters. There is a folding heel for mounting on the corners, and the function of measuring these same angles, and with mathematics everything is fine. For efficiency, the backlight is made adaptive - it automatically reduces the brightness depending on the ambient light.