Johnson Level 40-6005 230ΠLaser Distance Measure Review
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Tape measures are great, but for anyone who’s done layout work or
estimated for a significant construction project, you aren’t going to
get much joy out of dragging out a physical tape 200 feet tape
measure. The new Johnson Level and Tool 40-6005 Laser Distance Measure
is a tool that takes the walking and dragging out of the distance
measuring game. It’s super compact in size, yet it has an incredibly
useful range. But that’s all common features of a technology that’s
commonplace now. Where Johnson attempts to distinguish itself is in
its flexibility and speed. The Johnson Level 40-6005 can handle
taking measurements from as little as 2 inches out to its maximum of
230 feet. On top of that, it’s lighting quick, thanks to a fast
on-board processor that delivers results faster than just about any
other similarly-priced laser distance measure we’ve used. Accuracy is
also an astounding +/- 1/16 of an inch – even out at long distances.
And, just to make sure that you are on target, a built-in laser
pointer shows you exactly where you are aiming. Now let’s break down
the features a little at a time.
The Johnson Level 40-6005 230′ Laser Distance Measure comes packaged with
the laser distance measure, a soft carry case, wrist strap, 2 “AA”
alkaline batteries and a useful instruction manual. We actually found
the manual more useful than most, since it gives easy to understand
instructions, trouble shooting and application scenarios that make
sense (specifically) for construction professionals. This new little
laser distance measure is really compact in size. Measuring only 4.3
inches long by 1.7 wide and 1.2 inches deep, it weighs just over
half-a-pound. The two AA batteries provide an impressive 10,000
measurements, certainly more than we could take in our review of the
product – even after weeks of testing. We’ll just trust the engineers
at Johnson Level are at least in the ball park on the exact battery
life numbers. Part of what helps extend the usage of the tool so long
is that, after 30 second of no use, the laser shuts off. Also, after
3 minutes of no use, the unit shuts off completely.
Contributing to the ease-of-use is a simple-to-read LCD screen and a front panel
blister-style group of buttons that handles all of the tools
functions. For tools like this, the graphically labeled blister-style
buttons are a good choice, since they resist dust and other job site
contaminants. The laser distance measure displays the numbers in both
decimals and fractions, with further adjustments that allow
measurement display in inches, feet, feet & inches and metric. At
the heart of this tool is a fast microprocessor that delivers
near-instant measurements and calculations.
Measurements can be taken from the front end, back end or from the
end of a flip out extension that lets you span over obstacles to help
get a better measurement (which came in handy as you’ll see later).
Some of the measurements that you can take with this tool include
single distance, continuous measuring, min/max, countdown timer, area
and volume and a stakeout function. It will also do 2 point, 3 point
and 3-point partial Pythagorean Theorem calculations.
Testing
and Use
As with any measurement tool, particularly one that employes modern
electronic technology, it is smart to study the instruction manual.
To be honest, the manual that was provided with this tool is
fantastic. We found it well-written, easy to understand, and it even
gave examples of how to use each function in the real world. It was
obvious that the product developers at Johnson Level took some input
from actual contractors and other building trade professionals to put
this tool together. That or (more than likely) they have them on
staff.
Out in the field, we quickly began to appreciate a few particular things
about the Johnson Level 40-6005 230′ Laser Distance Measure. One was
the very bright red laser pointer. While using this tool in indoor
conditions, we never had a situation where we could not see the laser
dot with our naked eye, even out to distances of over 100 feet. The
laser’s visibility did change some, once we moved outdoors into
bright sunlight, but that is to be expected and there are red laser
targets and detectors available to enhance your ability to correct
align over long distances in bright light. One other very practical
feature is the back lighting for the LCD screen which is activated by
the push of a button. All those features are excellent, but, having
used a number of laser distance measures, the most evident upgrade
with this model is the fast processor speed. When, taking
measurements inside one of our projects, Johnson Level’s 40-6005
Laser Distance Measure reported almost instant results. There was no
waiting. You simply point the tool and press the ‘Measure’ button.
As far as accuracy, Johnson claims +/- 1/16″ of an inch over the
whole measurement range. What we did to verify this was to use our
trusty Stanley Fat Max 30 foot tape measure and test it our against
this laser distance measure. After trying all different distances
from a few inches out to 30 feet. We were not able to find any
discrepancies The +/- 1/16″ as advertised is commendable,
especially since we could not come up with even that small of a
difference at 30 feet. Given that accuracy, for distances of up to
230 feet, it’s safe to say you can rest assured that you will have
some of the most accurate take-off estimates for materials. There
were some difficulties, however. While indoors we were able to get
quick and accurate distance measurements, outdoors, we had a bit more
difficulty getting accurate numbers. Part of this was because, at
very long distances, it was tricky to see the laser pointer which
made our measurements sometimes a little sporadic. As we recommended
above, there are accessories that make this a lot more reliable for
those looking to extend this tool to its furthest application.
CONCLUSION
The Johnson Level 40-6005 Laser Distance Measure comes with impressive
specifications and, from all our time and testing with it, we found
it to be spot on… literally. With an accuracy of +/- 16 of an inch,
even out to its maximum usable 230 feet, you can be sure that your
take-off for estimates will be dead on. We really appreciated its
super fast distance measurement results – Johnson has
all-but-eliminated the waiting time for both measurements and
calculations. While this laser distance measure does cost a bit more
than many models out there, there are features that should make this
tool the building professional’s choice.
Specs
- Working Range: 230′
- Accuracy: +/- 1/16″
- Battery Life: 10,000 Measurements
- IP Protection Class: 54
- Weight: .66lbs
- Dimensions: 4.3″ x 1.8″ x 1.2″