Laser Tape 
 accessories laser measure tape 
 By Fabio 

 on 1/13/20, 1:26 PM • 572 views
Hi all, lately I've seen that there has been a change in laser tapes brands. Before there were just two or tree brands, but lately I've seen around a lot of new brands, with a whole range of prices and features so I thought it would be a nice topic for a thread. As for me, I almost always had a Leica. First a small one, then my second which is the one I'm using now: the Disto D5 .
It has all the accuracy we need on set, it can measure angles (very important for VFX shots), do maths of various types, easily switch from meters to feet and the other way around, and has an integrated digital camera for measurements in bright daylight where you are not able to see the red dot.
About downsides, it takes almost 5 seconds to power on, which in some cases is a real pain, and sometimes on certain type of fabric or metal it can get the measurement at the first attempt. Nevertheless it never really let me down and I feel I can recommend it. Maybe the price point is a little high but the quality and build definitely worth it.
Since it's also a little bulky to my taste, I found (thanks to the feedback of a good friend and fellow focus puller) the Bosch Zamo . It is clearly on another range of price/features (you cannot switch unit, doesn't have a camera) but it switches on and start measuring in less than a second and it's smaller than a old school mobile phone (do you remember the Nokia 3310??) so is perfect for interior shootings and the perfect sidekick to my Leica.
So, what's your weapon?


Cheers

 

 Vince 

 On 1/13/20, 9:17 PM
Hi Fabio
I stick with my Hilti PD-E. It turns on in less than a second.
Also has a built in optical viewfinder, what makes it very easy in measuring in bright sunlight.
https://www.hilti.com/c/CLS_MEA_TOOL_INSERT_7127/CLS_LASER_METERS_7127/r587776
Hilti provided "life-time" service, whenever your unit brakes down, they will try and repair it and if not possible, give you a brand new one for a small fee!


All the best



 Salomon Saade 

 On 1/13/20, 9:22 PM
I have also been using my Hilti PD-E for 5 years and it’s great! Very fast and accurate as well as alll the functions of the Leica Disto, but instead of the camera it has an optical viewfinder, which works great in the daylight
 

 Clovis Ghiorzi 

 On 1/13/20, 11:58 PM
I have two.
The old Hilti PD40 which I love because works very well in externals shots and it is very fast to power on and to read and I also have the Leica Disto D2 which is amazing because is tinny, fast and the batteries last forever. 
With theese two I did a lot of nice things and It help me a lot.



 Adriano Venâncio Andrade 

 On 2/7/20, 12:18 AM
Hi everyone.
I use a Bosch GLM40.
Upsides: Inexpensive, instantly turn on, convert units.
Downsides: Forget about using it under sunlight for more than 10 meters, no optical sight.


But nevertheless it gets the job done. I'm already pretty used to overcome its weak points.




 Guille Gil 

 On 1/14/20, 10:34 PM
Hello,
I have the Hilti PD-E and I think it's a great tool, robust, accurate and it have saved me many many many times before or during a take!
I even used it last week as a laser pointer on a dolly shot ;)

 

 Carlos Cañal 

 On 1/15/20, 12:03 PM
Hi everyone.
I have my old Disto D5 and works great, it is true that is slow when is turning on... But it never really let me down. For interiors I have, as Fabio mentioned, the little Bosch Zamo. It is fast, accurate and very cheap.
If in the future If I have to get a new one I would probably go for the PD-E but there is a half price option that many people in Spain are happy with: the Bosch GLM 120C. Check it out!!
Cheers!



 Philipp Uhl 

 On 1/16/20, 5:35 PM
I have the Leica X4, and I really like that it has a built-in "pointfinder"-camera for situations when you can't see the laser dot because its too bright outside or the distance to the subject is too big. Also, it's water- and dust-resistant (IP65!) and you get all the accuracy and quality you'd expect from Leica.
 https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/buy/package/x4#product-tabs 

I also have the Leica D2 for interiors/as a backup, but I rarely use it anymore because I got used to the X4 so much.
