Customer Reviews

Pacific Laser Systems PLS1 1/8-Inch at 100 Feet Laser Measurer

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Have been using this measurer for 5 months now. Common usage has been in theatres measuring the distance from stage flooring to the grid and from floor to the pipes our stage lights hang from. The beam is bright enough to see at great distances, 300' and more. The bright beam definitely helps me when measuring the trim heights of our pipes as there are usually dozens of pipes with inches of each other and 30' to 50' above my head. The quick sampling of the device and return measurement is very handy even when the objects are in motion.

My only complaint was that of the base end which is tappered. I quickly overcame this when I discovered that the red half-moon, which you can see in the picture, rotates to create an X base allowing the device to stand on end. The ability to choose measuring from nose or measuring from base is a real plus. The ability to add and/or subtract dimensions is very handy as well.

Without a doubt PLS provides great quality and features for the money. Their other laser devices, PLS3 and PLS5 have proven indispensable to me over the past several years and the addition of the PLS1 is very welcome.

I'm a real estate appraiser, and I can't think of anything more goofy looking, than how I must've looked using a measuring wheel, circling around the house with a squeaky grinding toy. Especially when I could've been using a PLS1. Well now that I have bought one, and have been using it, I don't understand why I didn't have one sooner.

If you're an appraiser like me trying to decide if you should switch to laser: do it, the dark ages are over, stop using toys and rulers. Or if you're weighing the scales between: Stanley FatMax TLM200, TLM300, or a Disto Classic, or Disto A5. Choose the PLS1. It looks like a field professional's tool, and is engineered by the same company that engineers the Distos and Stanley FatMax's, known as Leica Geosystems out of Austria. The PLS1 also costs $150 less than the A5 or the TLM300 (though it retails the same or more than these two). The TLM200 costs $50 less than the PLS1, but has less features.

My main thing was that my laser meter had to have a Pythagoras function, or the ability to triangulate. What this basically does is allows you to measure a wall, say the outside rear of the house, while you're just looking at it from a distance. So what you do is: measure 2 or 3 points on the wall (the instrucion manual is pretty clear) and the meter figures out the measurment of the rear of your subject house. Not all Laser Meters out there carry this function, and the ones that do, other than the PLS1, will cost a lot, or if it costs less, it may not offer as many functions as the PLS1 for instance, the TLM 200.

One con for the average joe is that it's clunky, though solid. I have big hands so it doesn't bother me. Some random notes on features: If you work late during the winter months and it starts getting dusk, the unit has a backlight. That funky looking rudder that sticks out from the bottom is removable. It has a view scope to pinpoint your laser at far distances, which comes in handy under bright light conditions: this is the only laser meter I know that has this feature. It comes with a black nylon velcro case. It has a mini level on the side like most of the laser meters out there.

If you're buying it anywhere else on the internet other than Amazon, make sure the ad photo is of the updated PLS1 model, not the old PLS1 with only 6 buttons or so (Ebayers beware).

I use this thing every week. It works great and is highly accurate. Allows you to reach out to places impossible otherwise. Just how high is it from the footings to the brick freeze? Easy. Just place the tail of the laser on the footings and shoot the brick freeze. Whammo! 18'5". Great.

How far is it from this stepdown to that stepdown? Whammo! 16'8". How far is it from this layout string to the footings? Whammo!

Is this side of the porch header the same height as the other side of the porch. Shoot both sides, allowing the PLS1 to display the difference and whammo, you know if you need to level it or not.

I could go on and on. Just cost too much.

I used the PLS-1 in the homebuilding and remodeling business. I can measure a house for a roof much quicker than with a tape. I can measure rooms, ceiling heights, exterior walls, lenght of rafters, floor to ceiling heights much faster, safer, and more accurately than with a tape.

I'm a remodeling contractor who works alone. I wish I had bought the PLS1 years ago. Huge time savings, wonderful accuracy. I'm completely satisfied, and would recommend this instrument to anybody who has ever wasted time trying to make a folding rule or a tape behave reliably. The PLS1 has paid for itself on the first job. That's pretty good.

I'm a general contractor and I love this unit! This unit is such a time saver for estimating jobs. I don't even bother with a ladder anymore. If you're comparing the few laser-only units out there, go with the PLS-1 (for now). The built-in optical sight is a must for long distance measuring in bright light. It might be my old eyesight, but I can't see the laser dot beyond 50' in bright daylight. This unit is the only one that has a built-in scope (from what I can tell).

The only negative comments I have are these: Terrible battery compartment design, ergonomics/industrial design could be much better as the unit is fairly large and awkward to hold in one hand while pressing the buttons and aiming, the plastic screw mount for tripod use is offset from center and is easily broken and stripped out (it should be located in the center and made of brass), and no reflective target included (at least not with mine).

I'd really like to be able to mount it on a tripod for long distance shooting, but I'm afraid the current mount will break and the unit will fall to its death. When looking through the scope at a target a few hundred feet away, any hand movement can make you miss a small target. BTW, the included case with Velcro belt loop barely fits the unit, but it works. Overall, this is an awesome product that is designed for professional use. Hopefully they will change the plastic case design in the future and give you a reflective target.

I purchased this product over 2 years ago, and it has been the best investment I have ever made. It is extremely accurate. I run a millwork company and it has saved alot of time and money. It is easy to use and has great functions. If you have to make alot of long distance measurements and want to know they are accurate, get one of these. The scan feature is great for layout work and finding variations in existing work. The memory function is great too. Pacific Laser put alot of thought into this product. You can't throw away your tape measure yet, you will still need it for short distances,(like 12 inches and less)but for anything above 12 inches your tape measure will never leave your hip. Once again great product and well worth the money.

I needed a faster way to measure up exteriors of houses for re-siding and this is it. Easy to use and understand advanced functions and accuracy is awesome. 4 stars because the laser target peep hole for use in daylight is hard to look through and line up free hand rear of unit, but for the level of accuracy I still get and speed beets a tape measure at least 10 to 1

We are a roofing & custom metal contractor. You won't believe how much effort & time this tool saves. We don't even have to use ladders any more for quoting. Saves time & is safer than climbing ladders.

The calculator function is great. Customer says "I'm not sure how many square feet this wall is". click - click, "This room is 605 square feet". As fast as you can push the button, you have the answer.

It adds a lot to your credibility as a contractor to have accurate tools & know how to use them.

Dan Merrill