Best Bang For Your Buck Laser Measuring Device?

[miktay]

I'm really curious what non Disto brands/models people have used, and what their experience was like. Stablia, Bosch, Stanley, Milwaukee, Dewalt, etc.

I've used my Bosch DLR 130 full-time, for over 4 years and it still works great.
It doesnt come with a built in Fish-Finder, and it does grind coffee, but it does measure very well.
About $80 online.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I have a Craftsman, has to be over 10 yo. Works fine IF you can see the red dot.
So depends on lighting. The red glasses are minimally helpful.
On the plus side they are super dorky.

 

[Hondo]

If I choose Disto, that's the one I'm leaning towards I think.

I'm really curious what non Disto brands/models people have used, and what their experience was like. Stablia, Bosch, Stanley, Milwaukee, Dewalt, etc.

Also, what about appraiserslaser. com? These guys legit? Their prices are 20% lower than everywhere else, which makes me wonder.

Yes, they are legit and very nice to deal with, I bought mine from them about 4 years ago. Prior to the Disto I used a Ryobi Tek-4 for about 2 years, it worked ok, but the display was a little difficult to read and the 7500 has 4x camera that is great for long distances. I think ApraiserLaser has a 30 day return policy, check it out, but I don't think you will want to return it.

 

[Mark K]

I've been using a Stanley Fat Max for about 10 years and its been OK. Its done its job adequately for a long time but if I was starting over I'd get something with a viewfinder like one of the Distos or similar. The Stanley red dot is difficult to see in bright sun and the older I get, the harder it is to see.

If you can't decide in the next few years I'll send you mine for free. I plan to an ex-appraiser in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Elliott]

$125 on Amazon. Its about 2" x 4".

 

[Rlong]

I have my Disto E7500i with the telephoto viewing screen and absolutely love it. Worth every penny, the quality is unmatched.

Bob in CO

 

[TRESinc]

the e7500i is the new version of the D5. same basic tool but with a better camera system and bt. i have been using a D5 for about 5-6 years now and i love it. the e7300 is the lowest model i would suggest but it does lack in features (camera, bt) compared to the more expensive models.

as said before no worries ordering from appraiserslasers.com. great company to deal with.

 

[Mike Ault]

I started with the original Disto "brick" also, many drops & cracks in the screen later it still works but never leaves the office. I have gone through one D-5 and currently use my replacement D-5 as a backup because once you get a Bluetooth enabled laser paired with a tablet sketching program you will never go back to your old ways. Just walk around the house, take the measurement and press the arrow key in the right direction and the program does the rest. Especially nice in freezing cold weather when you're wearing gloves. Lots of different options for that out there, I'm currently using the Disto D330i with Apex Version 6 on a windows tablet. That Disto is small and relatively cheap however I have run into occasions where the versions with bigger screens and telephoto viewfinders (D8, D810) would probably be worth the extra size and expense. The 330i also has some difficulty with direct sunlight measurements that I never experienced with my other Distos. Just thought I would chime in as nobody has mentioned direct tablet interfacing yet and with that big of an expense you want to make sure you are "future proofing" your investment as much as possible....

 

[spittman]

I'm cheap too and can't bring myself to pay $400 for something that I can easily lose somewhere. I've had a Stanley Fatmax for the longest time now. Paid less than $100 at Home Depot. Like others say, the only problem is the laser in bright light, but my solution is that if you can't find a dark surface to shoot at, then use the add feature and do it in segments or just measuring from the inside. I've learned that good quality batteries also affect the brightness of the laser too and keep extra on hand in case they burn out while I'm on the job.

 

[Yehosha]

I'm wondering how much time will it really save by connected via bluetooth and going straight to my sketching app? It doesn't seem like it would be a lot. For those of you that do that, what are the benefits to it, and how much time does it save you per house?