transits--Laser vs. Optical

After discovering that the rental houses wanted $25 to rent a transit level for a day, and knowing I would need to use one for more than a single day, I searched all over town, looked at new and used, and the best economy I came up with was available from Sears... The Craftsman "builder's transit level" is listed in their catalog at $339.99 including tripod and stick.

This appeared to be $50 cheaper than even a "used" unit offered by a local rental company. I would have bought it then and there but it is a catalog item not normally stocked in stores.

I went back to Mennards with intentions of buyuing the $40 laser level. But while there, I noticed they had a CST/Berger Model 136 that appeared to be IDENTICAL to the Craftsman unit for under $289.95.

I am convinced that the Craftsman unit is made for Sears by CST/Berger. I have never been sorry I bought the CST/Berger. It has more than paid for itself in saved rental fees. Gadget

I am from the old school and prefer the builder's level (CST Berger or equal) for outdoor use. My son & I recently built a pole shed for our church and one of the members insisted on using his newly bought laser level to set up the benchmarks on the poles. When I saw what he had, I told him I would shoot the marks with our builder's level as his level was a small unit good for picture hanging or something inside. I liked the laser marks for convenience, but the level vials were so small, it's very easy to think you're producing a level or plumb line only to find out you're 3/8" out in 40 feet. There are good and bad laser units and good and bad builder's levels and the bottom line is that the user must know the limitations of the equipment and use it accordingly. I've found that most leveling errors (not counting "unsquare" foundation layouts) occur when the user doesn't perform the leveling process accurately--usually in one direction. If you just "gotta have" the laser beam for laying out your blocks, then go with that, but I would look closely at setup functions and leveling accuracy over the distances you'll be needing.