Sunlight and Laser Measurement Help Please

[CaliforniaSD]

Hello everyone,
I need some advice from you sage appraisers on this forum. I use a Disto D2 Laser for measurements and I have been having problems in sunny conditions for a long time that force me to be creative in measuring properties where I cannot see the laser dot. I live in San Diego, so for the most part it is always sunny. It drives me crazy when I spend an excessive amount of time making sure that my measurement is correct with the laser when I cannot see the actual dot and have to resort to taking measurements in increments, typically I set up my clipboard and shoot in like 10 feet increments, but this is honestly a pain in the @ss. Does anyone have any tips or tricks as to how to see the laser dot in sunny conditions? I researched the Disto X4, Disto E7500i, and Disto D810 but they are priced a bit on the high end $399 - $864 and I'm not even sure if they really work in sunny conditions, as they claim on the Disto website. Is upgrading to one of these expensive lasers really worth it? Does anyone have any magic tricks that they would like to provide me with so that I can have an easier time measuring with a lot less stress and anxiety?

As always, if you have gotten this far I really appreciate your time and hope to get your input. This has been really bothering me for a long time and I guess I am willing to pay for the upgrade, but I want to see if these models really work or if there is a different laser that is superior. And I would rather not use a measuring tape.

Thanks!

 

[Red Flint]

Disto eye viewfinder, white target

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I researched the Disto X4, Disto E7500i, and Disto D810

If you are connecting a total mobile app to these, they are your choices. A Bosch is cheaper and has a camera feature which allows you to shoot with a cross hair visible on the camera. Otherwise you can get the red glasses and see the dot better. And buy a large target to place at the corner.

 

[TC]

Get the red glasses to complete the Nerd Appraiser Look.

 

[Overimprovement]

STRONGLY concur with the red glasses--it really does help. Does your disto have the camera? That helps me.

With fresh alkaline batteries, red glasses, and a steady hand, I can usually see that dot even without the camera up to about 75'-80', even in bright direct sunlight. The farther one goes, a tripod can help too if using the camera.

I've used a mid-grade Bosch, and much prefer the Disto. YMMV.

 

[Zoe]

100 ft fiberglas tape works good.

 

[James Micozzi]

Disto eye viewfinder, white target

the measuring wheel does not care about sunlight.

 

[Tom4value]

I always carry a tape measure in my trunk for these times.

 

[Tom4value]

Reminds me of a story I heard when I was a young’un. NASA found that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. So they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop a pen that would work in zero gravity. The Russians used a pencil!

 

[Zoe]

If you know outside wall width, I know some who do inside measurements with laser and add for outside walls on ground floor. That laser is easy to see on inside. That wouldn't be bad idea as hot as it is outside right now, assuming they have a/c on inside. LOL

I did a bunch of vacant foreclosures in the melt down and I tried to go early if I could. No utilities on. It was rough sometimes, especially upstairs late in the day on a hot day.