Features:

  • This unit contains a Class II Laser with 1mW output
  • 1/16" accuracy and up to 330 foot measuring range. Measuring units-0.000 m, 0.00 ft, 0'00" 1/16, 0 in 1/16. Measurements per set of batteries-up to 10000
  • Bluetooth 4.0 for transferring measurements into desired software
  • Last 10 measurement memory, Dimensions : 116 x 44 x 26 mm / 4.57 x 1.73 x 1.02 in
  • Pythagoras function for indirect height or width measurements.Operating temperature range:14°F to 122°F / -10°C to 50°C
  • Intelligent automatic end piece for hard to reach corners
Great Laser Distance Measure!

This is the first laser distance measure I have owned so I don't have a lot to compare to other than similar ones I borrowed from co-workers. I love this device! Working on set or on locations, this helps me to quickly survey areas that need be be drawn up in plans for set design. The form factor is amazing, the features are fantastic…the fact that I can use my iOS devices with this while I am doing surveys really speeds up my time. Most laser distance measures I looked at only covered about 160 feet. The fact that this one covers 330 ft makes it my go-to measuring device. It has not replaced my trusty tape measure, but has enhanced it and I use the two in conjunction.

A Camera Assistant's Take on the Leica Disto D2

I'm a 1st AC in the film industry and this is a godsend compared to hardtape/soft tape. At least on sets where you barely have time for marks (not like rehearsals are a thing nowadays anyways). Another 1st friend of mine has the Bosch GL2, but for $50 more I wanted to try this Leica Disto D2 which can hold 7 more measurements, and can measure 40 more feet than the Bosch. And it's lighter, and it's friggin' LEICA :D And it has a bunch of small features that make it cooler than the Bosch. I definitely recommend it as a starter laser tape if you don't want to drop $700+ on a industry standard Hilti. Obviously the one big downside of the D2 is the lack of an optical viewfinder to get measurements in bright sunlight, but nonetheless this will take you a long way before you upgrade to the Hilti. 5/5

Best I've used. Distance and battery life is tops!

The two things that I needed that this product provided was distance and battery life. This tool measures about double the distance as other measurement tools in the same price range. The battery life is outstanding. I use it daily and haven't changed the battery once in over a year. I've tried the Bosch and the Leica is superior. Great product. Great brand.

Better than the Bosch equivalent

I perform a lot of preliminary site visits for construction and the Leica Disto D2 is my favorite laser measure. The equivalent ones from Bosch feel cheap and don’t easily slide in and out of the belt holster since they are too grippy. The Leica’s backlight is great along with its ability to keep three measurements on the screen at once. My biggest gripe is that if it powers down before you write down the three measurements, you lose them when you turn it back on. This doesn’t happen a lot but it happens just enough that I rememebered it. Don’t buy the Bosch. Spend the extra money on the Leica.

Great measuring device

Easy to use.. Good size for job sites (not too big...or small). Long range distance for laser, great for commercial applications. Corner measurements are a breeze. The calculator is great for real world applications. My favorite spec is viewing several of the latest measurements without messing around with buttons. Works great, works fast. Very accurate. If you're serious about measurements, give this unit a serious consideration.

I really can’t get over how easy it was to use and just how accurate the ...

Bought this for something else but ended up using this to replace the rotten bargeboards on my house, I really can’t get over how easy it was to use and just how accurate the measurements were, 1 measurement, 1 cut, 0 waste. The only negative I’ve noticed, and it may have been a problem with the included batteries but it seemed to have eaten them fairly quickly, only more time will tell.

The lit screen makes a difference

Does the job and more. I was torn between spending the extra money for the Leica or just get the $99.00 Bosch. The most obvious difference being that the Leica has a back lit screen and the Bosch does not. Well I am glad I sprung for the better screen. No matter what the job site condition is or where you are measuring, you don't need to carry a flashlight. And since it stores the last 10 measurements automatically sometimes you don't even need a pencil and paper. All the buttons are obvious and intuitive. I have only just scratched the surface of this little guys capabilities and I am more than pleased. I am an old school tape measure guy, so learning to trust the measurements took me some time. So far I have used this for creating floor plans for estimates, measureing for material purchases, and doing my own at home crown moulding project. It takes a 2 man measureing job and makes it a one person job. Plus it is much faster. The visible laser is great because you can shoot under couches, behind curtains, over furniture, etc. So, for the most part, it elimiantes having to rearrange a room just to measure it. It's a bit much to spend for a Do-It-Youself-er, but if your hours are costing you money, it will more than pay for it self in the first week.

Quick readings works on dark walls.

It works great. I am an appraiser and measure houses on a daily basis using laser. This lasern takes readings very quickly and works well even on brown or dark surfaces. My previous laser would take up to a second or two to get a reading which meant that you need to hold it steady. I also would not be able measure distances over 30 feet if the walls were dark or brown. Disto is definitely a much improved laser over other products.

Can this Bluetooth Laser Replace Your Tape Measure?

No. But your tape measure can't replace this laser either. You’ll probably want to have both if you do a lot of measuring. This laser helps you work faster and more accurately. The bluetooth feature allows you to move measurements directly onto sketches or photographs in your phone or tablet without rewriting them - eliminating a common source of error. If you do not take lot’s of measurements you can probably just stick with a good quality tape measure. If you’ve already got a laser measure but it doesn’t connect to your phone or tablet, the D2 may be worth an upgrade especially if you are prepared to invest the small amount of time required to use the free app effectively. The Disto D2 is more expensive than some other laser measuring devices. What you get for your money is a well designed device, high build quality, ISO certified accuracy, compact size, very good ergonomics and a 3 year warranty. I’d rate it at 4-1/2 stars if amazon allowed - but since I can’t I’m rounding up to 5 stars. In summary I like this tool a lot and am comfortable giving it a strong recommendation. WHAT I LIKE: -------------- [+] Small, compact, fits comfortably in my medium sized hands. [+] Comes with a high quality case that hooks to your belt with a velcro strap. [+] Comes with a wrist lanyard which I didn’t use - it seemed like it would interfere with accurate measuring. Others may have a different opinion and find it handy. [+] Bluetooth pairing is intuitive and reliable. I found it quick and easy to switch between iPhones and iPads. [+] Free bluetooth app - Leica Disto Sketch (V3.0 currently). Use it to move measurements from the Disto directly onto a photo or sketch. Remotely control the D2 to take a measurement. Transfer measurements into a spreadsheet using CSV format, or PDF format, or as a photo. [+] Verifiable Accuracy: each device is tested to ISO Standard 16331-1 and ships with a calibration certificate. Leica claims this device is accurate to 1.5mm (1/16”) - my particular Disto bettered this and tested to within 0.7mm. I’ll upload a copy of the calibration certificate with this review. Maybe it’s just me but I find it reassuring to know this stuff. [+] Measure from multiple reference points including the front, the back, and a flip out end piece. The Disto automatically adjusts the offset when the end piece is flipped out. [+] Audible feedback. Tones indicate when measurements are successfully completed. Especially useful for stake out function as you do not need to look at the screen as you are marking off distances. The device can be silenced if you prefer. If you silence it, it stays quiet - even after powering off - until you turn the sounds back on again. [+] Memory automatically stores last ten measurements. These are retained even if the device is powered off. [+] Countdown timer - variable between 1 and 60 seconds - for reducing shake at long distances. [+] 3 year warranty if you register your device - otherwise a 2 year warranty applies. [+] Battery life is excellent - rated for up to 10,000 measurements. I’ve probably made a thousand or more measurements with this device and the batteries are still going strong. This is pretty remarkable considering the bright backlit display is always on. [+] Dust and splash proof to IP54 standards. [+] Add and subtract distances. This is essential for many kinds of measurements (e.g. the thickness of a window casing which is otherwise too narrow to measure). A nice bonus is that addition and subtraction also works with areas, volumes and Pythagorus functions. [+] Stake out function helps measuring off constant distances, like 16 inch centers for studs or rafters. It took me awhile to get used to using this but it seems like it’s going to occasionally come in handy. Time will tell. [+] Pythagorus function let’s you estimate the height of a building or other object from ground level. Take two or three measurements and the D2 calculates the height. [+] Min / Max function allows easy accurate measurement of diagonals. [+] Leica has a very good website with loads of useful and interesting information. It's worth checking out even if you do not own a Disto, or you plan to purchase a different brand. WHAT I DO NOT LIKE: ------------------- [-] I find the buttons stiff and hard to press. This sometimes makes it difficult to keep the laser on target. I suspect this is a design trade-off to prevent accidental triggering of measurements. It’s not a big deal for me and there is a work-around - simply use the timer function. [-] Minimalist instruction pamphlet is just enough to get you started - be prepared to spend some time experimenting to master all the features on the device and in the app. For example: I thought there was no way to edit a sketch after it had been drawn but it turns out you can - in fact it’s even possible to insert extra corners and insets. It took awhile to learn how to get measurements into a spreadsheet until I discovered where the Export CSV feature was hiding. (Okay, if you must know the secret here you are: when viewing a sketch press the 4-horizontal-bar icon on the top left corner. That shows a list of all your lines. Now touch the Share box in the top right corner and the option “Export CSV” pops up. Why it doesn’t present in the main sketch view eludes me.) [-] Some features are not intuitive, may require pressing and holding two buttons for a few seconds. Keep that tiny pamphlet handy as a memory jogger! [-] The free Leica bluetooth app takes a little time and practice to unlock all it’s features. It does have a few rough edges - it crashed a few times - but never lost my data. It’s good enough as it is right now - I expect it will improve with time and future updates. [-] The app has an undo but no redo - which you sometimes need in case you undo too far! [-] The app does not sync sketches across devices. It’s most likely you’ll use your smart phone to take measurements in the field, but then may wish to further refine them on a larger tablet device. Right now there is no straightforward way to do it. You can export the data as a PDF or a CSV file and mail it to yourself, but that won’t get it back into the Disto App on your other device - it only exports these file types, it does not import them. Let’s hope a future update improves on this. [-] Some things in the Leica app are hidden or poorly labelled. For example to save a sketch into your photos you use “Export To Gallery" - why isn’t it labelled “Export to Photos”? MORE DETAILS (FOR YOU INFORMATION JUNKIES): ------------------------------------------- o Weight (with batteries), using my trusty old kitchen scale is: 105 gm / 3.6 ounces or 130 gm / 4.5 oz including the case. o The Leica app works only in landscape mode on my iPad, and only portrait mode on iPhone 5. This is fine on the iPad but a bit irritating on the iPhone as it’s not possible to see more than 3-4 measurements on the bottom of the display without scrolling. This is not big deal, but it would be nice if a future version of the app allowed landscape mode on the iPhone. o Stated Accuracy: in favorable conditions: 1.5mm (1/16”) in unfavorable conditions: 3mm (1/8”) o Stated Range: in favorable conditions: 0.05 - 100m (1.9” - 330ft). (My unit does slightly better measuring as close as 1.7”) in unfavorable conditions: 0.05 - 60m (1.9” - 200ft) o The laser beam turns off after about 1.5 minutes of inactivity. The screen stays lit and the device stays on for about another 1.5 minutes (3 minutes total) then turns itself off. All measurements are saved in the device memory and can be recalled next time the unit is powered up. o Requires 2 AAA batteries (included). o Size of unit (HxDxW) is 116mm x 44mm x 26mm (about 4.6” x 1.7” x 1”) o Bluetooth v4.0, range about 10m (30 ft). o Stated working temperatures -10C to 50C (14F to 122F). o Stated storage temperatures -25C to 70C (-13F to 158F). o Display formats: 0.000 m 0.0000 m (i.e. smallest unit is 0.1 mm) 0.00 ft 0’00” 1/32 (displays n/8, n/16, n/32 as appropriate) 0.000 in (numbers change in 0.005” increments, not 0.001”) 0” 1/32 (displays n/8, n/16, n/32 as appropriate) Press the + and - buttons simultaneously to change display units at any time. Device retains the selected units even after being powered off. The 10 memories display in the currently selected units. So you can measure in inches then convert to meters by changing the units later. o In bright sunlight all lasers become difficult to use at distances beyond 30 feet. There are workarounds such as using special gear, or simply waiting for an overcast day. This one is about as good as my other lasers for these conditions. I suspect all are limited by Class 2 regulations to the same maximum power level. o The Leica Sketch app gives you six choices of line color (black, white, red, green, blue, yellow) and 6 choices of line thickness. o When using min-max function the device screen shows max and min values but only the max value is stored into memory on device. Meanwhile the app gets all the continuous intermediate readings with the max reading as the final one. This is reasonable for measuring diagonals. Should you need the minimum value you can pull it from the stream of values inside the app or just shoot a new single reading. o It is possible to use advanced functions with app. Just remember you need to press the Bluetooth button on the Disto to send the computed result to the app. I wish this would have been explained better - it took some fiddling to discover how to do it. o Third party bluetooth apps are available. Some may interest DIYer’s others are expensive and obviously geared towards professionals. See the Leica website for a list. If you made it to this point in my lengthy review thanks for your patience! I depend on amazon reviews for many of my purchasing decisions, so I try to provide thorough accurate information in mine. If you notice any errors or omissions I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me a comment so I can make corrections.

Love the Features, Love the App on my iPhone!

Beautiful and bright. I purchased the target card and the glasses since common sense dictates I will someday have a scenario for them. For those of you saying you can sketch it by hand quicker... you likely have a flip phone and hate technology? Out of the box I stumbled the first night while investing 5 minutes of nonsense playing. BUT the next night I installed the app quickly and used the intuitive features to draw my first room in seconds. I did not read the manual. I will likely need help when it comes to 3D volumes or height calcs. If you fail to find it, use the "On-Dist" button in the bottom center of your sketch! Amazing: pivot the laser towards a wall, touch that button ON YOUR PHONE, drag the distance to the line you drew, swivel the laser, touch the button on your phone, drag and drop the measurement. It could not be easier! Granted I'm a visual person who likes technology BUT I ain't no 13 year old - I am old! If you don't remember what year it was when you had a flip phone, you will love this! If you could care less who Google and Apple are, stick to your tape measure. I am certain most naysayers are full of operator error. BTW, easily register online using the app. If I lose this I'll buy a replacement in a heartbeat - the same D2! (No, I own no Leica Stock:)

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