Extremeophile wrote:But mostly it is better.
I did a poor job of getting my point across, so let me try again...
There are a class of users who I envision considering this Bosch GLM80 laser distance meter. Those users are already equipped to do a cave survey the "old fashioned way", with a compass and clino (or a compass+clino) and fiberglass tape. They are looking to add laser distance capability to their arsenal, because - as you point out - in many situations, a laser is better than a tape. The cost to buy a cave-worthy laser distance meter is, arguably, in the $75 - $150 range. If those users can get a unit with built-in digital inclinometer for free in that price range or for just a bit more, then this device could be quite attractive.
For this class of user, the DistoX isn't necessarily "better".... it's a
different tool than they want or need. They have either decided that the cost is too prohibitive, or they've decided that it doesn't meet their requirements for one of the reasons I outlined above.
There's another class of users who may consider the Bosch GLM80... sketchers. I always user a laser when sketching, whether for LRUDS or for anonymous splay shots. Using a laser with built-in clino means I could shoot ceiling heights without standing directly underneath the spot of interest. I wouldn't buy a second DistoX for this purpose, but I'd pay $50 more for that capability when my current laser dies.
Extremeophile wrote:I've heard it argued that the cost is nearly the same as a Disto + Tandem.
Sure, if you purchase a Leica Disto E7400X and a brand new Suunto Tandem at full retail price, the cost is comparable.
However there's no need to buy a Leica Disto unless you're building a DistoX; the posts above show that cave-worthy laser distance meters can be purchased new for 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the Leica. Further, the
Suunto Tandem's "street price" is 1/3 the retail price. So the actual cost of a laser + Tandem is very significantly less than that of the DistoX 2.
So I'm calling BS on that argument.
Extremeophile wrote:The DistoX2 is considerably more influenced by magnetic interference than a traditional compass.
Is this a fact?
Yes. Beet Heeb alludes to this fact on the "Hints" page of the
DistoX 2 User Manual.
My not-a-physicist guessplanation is that the compass card in a Suunto must fight the rotational resistance of its mass suspended in fluid, while an electronic sensor has no such impediment. Thus the Suunto requires a stronger magnetic influence to skew it.
Try it!
Extremeophile wrote:Since it sounds like the clinometer in the Bosch may have limitations, it's worth considering an unmodified Leica 7400x. It has a tilt (vertical angle) sensor that goes all the way from +90 to -90. The rangefinder will measure distances over 300', and the unit has a better dust/waterproof rating. You can also decide later if you want to spend the additional $250-300 to modify it to a DistoX.
To play devil's advocate, I'll argue that if the user is merely adding a laser with bonus inclinometer to their existing traditional cave survey setup, they're unlikely to choose any high-angle shot greater than 60° anyway, as that makes sighting a compass quite difficult. I probably wouldn't want to survey a cave without the option for extremely high-angle shots, however, even if I try for plumbs when possible. So the limited clino on the GLM80 does make it less appealing.