BOSCH GOL26 26X Automatic Optical Level, Includes Plumb Bob, Tool Kit, & Carrying Case

Just finished shooting a contour plot of 10 acres of orchards of mine...nearly two hundred elevation points. The level worked great. Key features I liked: 1) The view with this 26x unit is really sharp and crisp making it easy to read the rod to a tenth at up to 300 feet. I also used it as close as 20 feet and everywhere in between. 2) The auto leveling is superb...leading to quick setups and fast shoots. I used the level on a professional camera tripod equipped with a sturdy ball head and custom adapter for the level's 5/8-11mount. For each setup, I just loosened the ball head and quickly roughly-zeroed the bulls-eye level in a few seconds, fine-tuned the bulls-eye with a quick couple of turns of the levels feet, and was ready to shoot. The auto level took care of all the fine tuning for all shoot directions...very quick. 3) The auto level dampens down very fast (second or two) and didn't bounce at all in the modest winds I encountered. Very efficient shooting. 4) The focus and lateral translation knobs work very smoothly, and together with the gun-sight, make acquiring and reading the rod a quick matter. 5) I performed a full calibration of the unit before using it...it was dead nuts on as shipped from the factory. Couple of issues worth noting: 1) The level comes with a clamp to hold the auto level mechanism during transportation, but actuating it requires holding in a pin on the underside of the level. This is done automatically when the level is placed into its carrying case...thus the mechanism is clamped during transportation in its case. However, the mechanism is not clamped when carrying the unit around in the field. Having a manual clamp for field transportation could be good...OR maybe NOT so good. One would have to remember to release the clamp, or all your readings would be way off. The clamp would have to block your view or somehow force you to release it before using the instrument. It worked fine as it is. 2) In a similar manner, I had to be very careful not to take bad readings with the level by using the wrong cross hair. The level has three horizontal cross hairs: the central one and two widely spaced additional ones for use in estimating distances. A few times I caught myself using the wrong horizontal cross hair when taking a reading...they're all similar in size and color. Had to force myself to confirm that I was using the central cross hair. Bottom Line: Great Level...a pleasure to use...particularly in comparison to the old "non-auto" units I've used in the past.

Professional contractor - I ordered this product as a replacement for an older model Johnson that grew legs on the job. It arrived as described - sturdy case, and all parts were included. The first setup was time consuming, but after i completed it, it was perfect direct from the factory - no adjustments necessary. The daily set up takes only a minute or two with the self leveling bubble dial. Stays accurate during use and is extremely easy to focus and adjust. I would highly recommend this product to other contractors and DIYers who are in need of an accurate, tool for leveling decks, additions and other building projects. I am a long time Bosch tool user and have always been appreciative and thankful for the quality and engineering that goes into their products. This level is no exception.

Works great,clear optics,no shakeing

once again Amazon prime has come through. This tool is we better than the piece of garbage berger that I bought off of E-bay. Somethings you just have to buy new and this is one of them. I recently used this to level a pool and it made it very easy by myself.

Bought for our company! Works Great!

It's ok for the money. Nothing super special. The guard covering the right angle mirror broke off without much effort (I don't even really know what happened). The reticule can be difficult to see under certain conditions. It does do what it is supposed to do though and it does it without too much effort.

Does the job very well. I did a lot of leveling and measuring on my pond shoreline (~1 acre, i.e. approximately 200 by 200 ft) and my 700 ft gravel driveway. The optic system isn't perfect and I'll have to adjust yourself a little to get a clear view (so, it is not, say, a Leupold scope :-), if you know what I mean), but it does the work. p.s. Oh, yeah, if you have old tired eyes as I do, you need the best glasses that you have, otherwise, it will be hard to focus on the scale and on the ruler at the same time. Hint: defocus background just a little to read the scale, and then focus on the ruler to read the numbers. You can as precise as 1/4" at 200 ft this way. More than enough for most applications.

Easy to use and very accurate. Using it for decks, patios, concrete pads and even some landscaping. Recently used it to build an 8'x12' concrete pad for a shed and will be using it to attach a ledger board for a deck I'm building for a friend.