After testing 17 laser distance meters in the past few years, I think there’s no such thing as a universal laser distance meter for residential and light-commercial work.
If you want extreme versatility, for instance, you can buy the Bosch GLM 100 C. Costing $300, it can measure distances with a simple point and click, as well as measure indirectly around obstacles, read angles, and clamp into an optional rail to become a 2-foot electronic spirit level—and it’s an exceptional estimator, too. A built-in Bluetooth module allows you to pair it with an iOS or Android device and use a free app to store, manage, and share measurements.
Then again, you can choose an uncomplicated compact like the two-button Spectra Precision QM75, which is strictly designed for installation work. Costing around $125, it can measure distances or take a continuous reading when moving toward or away from a target, period.
For me though, the new Bluetooth-enabled Leica Disto E7100i, which costs $150, might be the sweet spot. I just put one through a quick scrimmage, and it’s unique.
FEATURES
The E7100i is one of the tiniest and simplest models I’ve seen. It weighs just 3 1/4 ounces, is as slender as my utility knife, is dust and water resistant, and has been drop-tested onto a hard surface from one meter. It can measure distances up to 200 feet, take continuous readings, calculate areas, and display your last two values until turned off. It’s accurate to 1/16 inch and shows fractions down to 1/32 inch. The display is backlit for an easy read.
The setup isn’t entirely intuitive. The E7100i can beep to confirm operations, or be muted to measure quietly. But you need to press the middle buttons simultaneously for two seconds to turn the beep on or off. Also, you must press the area button for two seconds to switch between fractional inches, feet and inches, decimal feet, and meters.
The E7100i also has a Bluetooth Smart module that allows you to pair it with compatible computers and iOS or Android devices at the push of a button, which opens the door for designers and estimators. For starters, you can scan a QR code on the package to download the free “Disto sketch” app, which I did with my iPhone 6. That allowed me to snap photos with the phone, draw dimension lines on them with a finger, and then take the measurements with the E7100i and easily drop them next to the appropriate dimension lines. You can also sketch simple drawings with a finger and insert measurements in the same way. It’s easy to add labels and comments to the photos and drawings, and even easier to email the visuals as PDF files. This isn’t a powerful app, but it might come in handy for quickly sharing dimensions of existing spaces and details.
Better yet, Bluetooth-enabled Leicas, including the E7100i, are the only models that can be used with Chief Architect design software, including “Premier” and “Interiors” for PCs and “Room Planner” for iOS devices. I downloaded the free Room Planner app with an iPhone 6 and gave it a try. The app allows you to create floor plans and 3D models and to insert everything from doors and siding to furniture and cars. Once I added the app’s Dimension Bundle, which cost $1.99, I could use the E7100i to push field measurements of existing spaces directly into Room Planner drawings, which is a time-saver for remodeling. You can email the drawings, attach them to a text message, or share them in other ways. Other E7100i-compatible third-party apps are also available.
THUMBS UP
As a basic standalone laser distance meter, the Leica Disto E7100i is hard to beat. It’s simple, precise, and rugged, and fits into a narrow toolbelt pocket. And the Bluetooth Smart module works with compatible mobile devices and computers, which is a bonus for remodeling contractors.
