Leica DISTO A5

List Price: $499.00 Discount Price: $449.00

Features:

• Bluetooth® data transfer
• Wireless transfer via Bluetooth®
• Power Range TechnologyTM
• Measuring range of 0.05 up to 200m (0.16 up to 650ft); typ. accuracy ± 1.5 mm (± 0.06in)
• Integrated viewfinder with 2x magnification

Customer Reviews:

Leica Disto A5 is VERY accurate, BUT! [Posted on 2007-10-01]
This is one of those tools that cost too much and very, very hard to find for less money. I had hoped to find it discounted here at Amazon but I guess the manufacturer has a set price for its distributors. As the unit comes out of the box (without targets) it will not achieve readings even close to 650-feet. Because of these two reasons I give it 4 stars. For usefulness and accuracy, I would give it 6 stars! This tool is not going to fall into the average persons tool bag at this price range. If your like me and work alone many times and need great accuracy or even speed of measuring, this is the tool for you.

When you buy the Leica Disto A5 and finish measuring everything in sight, replace the pair of AA batteries and get down to business. You won't regret spending the money.

After using a Disto A5 that belongs to a friend for a few days, I had to have one. This tool is accurate to within a 1/16" +/-. Working along with another contractor who was using a Hilti, I could read greater outdoor distance than he could. That said, 650-foot readings are hard to come by without using recommended targets. The best outdoor readings I got were up to 280 feet and that was after several attempts. You need to be VERY still to achieve a hand held reading at great distance. The A5 does have a tripod mount screw thread which I am sure will solve some of the problem. The targets that Leica sells are so far, hard to find. Still, I am a happy camper with the quality and accuracy of this tool.
I measured an 85-foot floor wall to wall with a 100-foot tape and then took the exact same reading with the A5 and got exactly the same result. I then moved the tape off the floor with the help of another person, and took the reading again. The tape showed the dimension about ¼" longer while the A5 remained at the same reading as when reading the tape flat on the floor. The tape obviously had sag that could not be helped. The laser does not sag!

With a helper holding a clipboard as a target on the corner of a building. I was able to get a very accurate reading of the wall dimension with the A5. With the same helper holding the tape in the same location the reading grew almost 5/8 of an inch do to tape sag and the bow in the old wood wall. The A5 was extremely more accurate AND much quicker to use! No walking back and forth to reel out the tape!

I measured the height of my garage roof from gable end to ground with a tape. The reading was 17'- 2". With the A5, I was able to get a reading of 17' even. As the directions state, vertical readings from a distance are only as accurate as you are at holding the unit square to the building. Also the A5 results are not meant to be considered exact when doing this type of reading. It is to be used only as a CLOSE estimate. For no reason at all I now know how tall the telephone pole in my back yard is, give or take a few inches. I measured a two-story house with the Leica A5 and got a reading of 26 feet to the tip of the gutter. I then placed my 24-foot ladder at the side of the building. From my prospective the ladder looked to be about 4 feet short. Using the A5 for this purpose, I'll know what size ladder to bring to the job.

I am sure I will be using this tool often. As a finish carpenter, inside and outside trim measurements will now be a breeze! Window and door openings can be measured in 6 places at once with all the measurements stored in memory. Instead of stopping after each tape measurement to write down results, I'll do the writing after all the measurements are recorded into the A5, look at the screen and THEN write the numbers down. COOL TOOL!

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