Home > SHOP BY CATEGORY > OPTICAL EQUIPMENT

Hand Levels & Auto Levels | Optical Equipment

Before any construction project breaks ground, surveying and levelling is done to determine the level of a future construction site. In order to get millimeter-specific level data, contractors use a wide range of optical equipment and data transmitting devices to capture, process and understand level data for a planned building site. Superior Instrument specializes in the latest tools used in construction surveying and levelling, including surveying auto levels, sight levels, laser levels and more. Depending on your surveying needs, you can explore our construction optical equipment by clicking an image below. Superior Instrument is Connecticut's only complete sales and in-house service source for construction lasers, machine control and surveying instruments. Shop optical equipment for building and construction sites below.

Sort By:
1
   
 
1

Optical Equipment FAQs

What Is the Difference Between Hand and Automatic Leveling Equipment?

Optical leveling equipment consists of a telescope with crosshairs and an interior level to measure height and distance. Our field leveling optical supplies and instruments include both hand and automatic levels with a range of features that let you choose equipment that best suits your needs.

Hand levels give a preliminary assessment of elevation and distance in relation to a reference point. They are faster to use than automatic levels because they do not have to be mounted on a tripod. Automatic levels are more precise than hand levels. They self-adjust to maintain a consistently level position along the line of sight. Automatic levels must be mounted on a tripod.

What Are the Advantages of Hand Levels?

Hand and sight levels are small, lightweight and fit easily into a backpack or pocket. They look like a small telescope with a spirit level inside. Hand levels are often used by land surveyors or for projects that do not require precise measurements, such as installing lawns or fencing. However, they are not as accurate as automatic levels.

What Are the Advantages of Automatic Levels?

Automatic levels offer precision to the millimeter. They are used to establish grades, lines and leveling points and check elevations. They are used by builders, engineers and land surveyors in applications that include building construction, road construction, landscaping and excavation. Although they are highly accurate, they must be mounted on a tripod because they require a stable foundation. The combination of tripod and level is bulkier and heavier than a hand level

What Features Should I Look for in an Automatic Level?

Automatic optical equipment for leveling offers a variety of standard features, including image stabilization, large apertures that gather more light, automatic level compensators and rugged construction.

Automatic levels are tested for their resistance to dust, water and solid objects. This resistance is described as an ingress protection rating. Most of our automatic levels are rated as IPx6, which protects against dust and jets of water, such as driving rain. They are built to perform well in extreme temperatures.

Different models offer varying levels of magnification, allowing you to select the magnification required for your needs. In contrast to transits that only move vertically, automatic levels rotate 360 degrees horizontally.

Superior Instrument's construction leveling supplies offer the most advanced technology in the industry. Our products include several models of builder's and engineering automatic levels by Nedo and Topcon, respected brands in the industry.