Pacific Laser System Reviews

I needed a faster way to measure up exteriors of houses for re-siding and this is it. Easy to use and understand advanced functions and accuracy is awesome. 4 stars because the laser target peep hole for use in daylight is hard to look through and line up free hand rear of unit, but for the level of accuracy I still get and speed beets a tape measure at least 10 to 1

I'm a real estate appraiser, and I can't think of anything more goofy looking, than how I must've looked using a measuring wheel, circling around the house with a squeaky grinding toy. Especially when I could've been using a PLS1. Well now that I have bought one, and have been using it, I don't understand why I didn't have one sooner.

If you're an appraiser like me trying to decide if you should switch to laser: do it, the dark ages are over, stop using toys and rulers. Or if you're weighing the scales between: Stanley FatMax TLM200, TLM300, or a Disto Classic, or Disto A5. Choose the PLS1. It looks like a field professional's tool, and is engineered by the same company that engineers the Distos and Stanley FatMax's, known as Leica Geosystems out of Austria. The PLS1 also costs $150 less than the A5 or the TLM300 (though it retails the same or more than these two). The TLM200 costs $50 less than the PLS1, but has less features.

My main thing was that my laser meter had to have a Pythagoras function, or the ability to triangulate. What this basically does is allows you to measure a wall, say the outside rear of the house, while you're just looking at it from a distance. So what you do is: measure 2 or 3 points on the wall (the instrucion manual is pretty clear) and the meter figures out the measurment of the rear of your subject house. Not all Laser Meters out there carry this function, and the ones that do, other than the PLS1, will cost a lot, or if it costs less, it may not offer as many functions as the PLS1 for instance, the TLM 200.

One con for the average joe is that it's clunky, though solid. I have big hands so it doesn't bother me. Some random notes on features: If you work late during the winter months and it starts getting dusk, the unit has a backlight. That funky looking rudder that sticks out from the bottom is removable. It has a view scope to pinpoint your laser at far distances, which comes in handy under bright light conditions: this is the only laser meter I know that has this feature. It comes with a black nylon velcro case. It has a mini level on the side like most of the laser meters out there.

If you're buying it anywhere else on the internet other than Amazon, make sure the ad photo is of the updated PLS1 model, not the old PLS1 with only 6 buttons or so (Ebayers beware).

I'm a general contractor and I love this unit! This unit is such a time saver for estimating jobs. I don't even bother with a ladder anymore. If you're comparing the few laser-only units out there, go with the PLS-1 (for now). The built-in optical sight is a must for long distance measuring in bright light. It might be my old eyesight, but I can't see the laser dot beyond 50' in bright daylight. This unit is the only one that has a built-in scope (from what I can tell).

The only negative comments I have are these: Terrible battery compartment design, ergonomics/industrial design could be much better as the unit is fairly large and awkward to hold in one hand while pressing the buttons and aiming, the plastic screw mount for tripod use is offset from center and is easily broken and stripped out (it should be located in the center and made of brass), and no reflective target included (at least not with mine).

I'd really like to be able to mount it on a tripod for long distance shooting, but I'm afraid the current mount will break and the unit will fall to its death. When looking through the scope at a target a few hundred feet away, any hand movement can make you miss a small target. BTW, the included case with Velcro belt loop barely fits the unit, but it works. Overall, this is an awesome product that is designed for professional use. Hopefully they will change the plastic case design in the future and give you a reflective target.

I have been installing custom stairs and railings in the Chicago area for 21 years. And I am a very low tech person when it comes to my work. My square,divider and plumb bob are my primary tools for doing stair layouts and I rely on my stabila levels of course.Today I used my PLS3 to set up to build a basement to 2nd floor switched back stair and I did it a quarter the time and alot more accuretly. I recomend this product whole heartally. Dean L.

I was concerned to read the comments from "Small Carpenter " Mountain Builder" regarding his recent purchase of the PLS3 laser from Pacific Laser Systems. Whilst I appreciate that very occasionally there is a defect out of the box for the most part PLS lasers are known for their quality and customer service. Our policy is to repair or replace defective tools within 48 hours of receipt and ship them back to our customers the way they came to PLS. So if a unit is shipped to PLS overnite then it is returned the same way under warranty.
I am most concerned with the comment that PLS suggested that contractors not buy from Amazon.com. There is no one within PLS that would suggest this. PLS sell our products through professional dealers throughout the world and Amazon.com is a valued re-seller of PLS. To suggest otherwise is without merit.
Finally PLS has entered its ten year anniversary servicing the professional contractor with quality products and customer service unrivalled in our industry.We take the comments of our customers very seriously and I invite the Mountain Builder and all other PLS customers to contact me direct to discuss this issue or other applications considered for our products.

D. Michael Tramontin
Partner Director Marketing and Distribution
PLS Pacific Laser Systems

I have been using one of these little laser plumb/levels for about a month now. It is the first, and often only level I reach for these days. It shoots a bright red dot visible in full daylight, and makes locating plumb and level points a cinch. Great for framing, layout, finish,etc.. It is rugged enough to handle the usual job-site bumps and scratches, and small and light enough to fit in your tool pouch. Long battery life too... The only drawback is that the other guys on the crew constantly want to borrow it!

This is a great accessory for builders. I just nail a framing square to a stud somewhere, attach the laser magnetically, slide it up and down to the proper height, and voiala simple swivel laser with the precision of a much more expensive transit level and no clumsy storey pole to deal with.

If you get this accessory you will certainly not regret it.

I've found I don't use this as much as I thought I would, but sometimes it's a life saver. Hard to use freehand, really works best on a tripod or some kind of support.

I was always impressed with the reviews of this particular tool. When Amazon had different discount deals going on with total purchases-I figured -Why not. Arrived just in time for my basement remodel. Kept my lines straight for my sleeper floor and continued with the cement backer and finishing with my tile installation. Now I have a reason to install real wainscoting in the entire room. The unit is small but compact. I have it attached to my old camera tripod. Shoots a firm direct line-levels automatically and shows green indicating that it is level. This is not my first laser level. I also own the strait-line-which works fine, but newer models of lasers have gone to more advanced features. Lasers are hot items now. This is more than just a another toy. Comes in a nice case with a bracket to attach to a wall. This company offers many products with lasers and this seems to be one of the more economical items they sell.
Happy so far, but new tools make me smile anyway.

I am a Union Carpenter and I use the Palm Laser for installing wall track for overheads in offices. On average each private office would take about 2 hours to install, but with the PLS2 Self Leveling Laser I have cut that time down to 1 hour and 10 minutes. The PLS2 is very well made and comes with the magnetic wall bracket so dont do what I did and order an extra one. I give this product 5+ stars, it keeps me on the job!!

List price for the PLS5 is actually $495.00, NOT $999.95 as Amazon claims!

$378.94 is actually only 23.5% less than Pacific Laser Systems' MSRP of $495.00. Amazon has artificially raised the list price by 50.5% to make this look like a better deal than it is! It's still a decent price, but it's nothing like the savings they're reporting!

After looking for a laser level for the past year, I finally took the plunge and bought the PLS5. Out of the box, I was not disappointed. Simple, easy to set up; plumb, level and square. Have already used for a framing job and I going to use on a garden shed to square the foundation. Am not a professional, but this really helps. As someone says, if you can find a better one, buy it. For my money, this is perfect

The PLS 5 is the best layout tool available. It is simple to use and moron proof.

I'm a finish carpenter who is in the process of building my own house. I spent a great deal of time researching the laser market before settling for this product. I wanted the exterior detector feature that works both in level and plumb mode. I've been completely satisfied with the PLS2E. Everything that I've set with the laser has been dead level when compared with my six foot level. The laser fans out nicely so that you can set it at one corner of the building and level at least three corners if not all four at the same time. It's very sensitive in the detector mode. Very good performance for this relatively inexpensive product.

I recently finished a basement and picked this up to help with the suspended ceiling. It got plenty of use before I even got to the ceiling. I used it to layout and plumb the walls, layout some boxed posts, check the floor for level, plumb the rough openings, and level the ceiling. The great thing was I just turned it on and there it was, a level line that was easily movable when I needed it. It was also much easier not to have to hold a level with one hand and try to drive nails or screws with the other. Although initially it may seem the price is high, I would have to say that my PLS2 almost paid for itself on one job because of time saved. A couple of notes: one set of batteries lasted the whole basement job, and I probably had it on twice as much as i needed to, also, I tested it outside and found that with the detector I could use it up to about 300 feet.

I received my brand new PLS360E on a Thursday for a ceiling job to begin on Friday. After my crew and I finished loading in to the job, we set about to work by first putting fresh batteries in our new laser. Imagine our disappointment when we turned the thing on and the device did nothing but light up it's little green indicator. After calling PLS tech. support, I was told it must have a disconnected wire inside and would have to be returned for service. This on a Friday afternoon at a jobsite at least 30 miles to the nearest rental outlet where I might pay to rent a "working" laser. Needless to say, I sent the crew home and broke the news to the homeowner that we would not be starting their job until next week. Maybe PLS will have a working laser to me soon after we finish with the rental one.

If you're a professional remodeler/builder and don't have this laser, you need your head examined. This tool is money in the bank. From checking grades, leveling sill plates & setting windows to installing interior doors & cabinets your accurate layout is simply minutes away. Don't waste your money on cheap consumer grade equipment. PLS are truely engineered and built for professionals. I've been paying my bills building for 17 years and have tried them all. This is the real deal.

I ordered my PLS 360E on Monday and recieved it on Friday. I was anxious to try it out, put the batteries in and was extremely satisfied to say the least. The beam was very bright, I don't think anyone would have a problem seeing the beam under normal conditions. I switched the laser to pulse to try the detector and again was very pleased. This will be a great time saver for me. Great product!

I order 3 and I receive 3 diferent no one work with pls5, the boxes have the same code number but item were diferent from each other,I have 3 pls5 for my crew so this was a bad invesment. they should say that work for all but pls5.