It may not be a revelation to some, but I am a huge fan of Leica Geosystems' products. I challenge almost anyone just to use one of the new Leica DISTO(tm) products for half an hour and fail to be impressed with the amount of technology and design skill packed into such a compact body.  Others try to copy, but generally they lack behind because of Leica's commitment to product development.

However, all this product development means that some training in the use of the devices really maximises the way in which to use them. But when the custom case arrived with the new Leica Roteo 35G I realised I have only my general knowledge of builders' lasers to rely on. Now this may be good news or bad news. It is a complicated and well-specified device, and I might need some pointers to get the best out of it. On the other hand, it is aimed firmly at feet-on-the-ground tradespeople who might want to just get it out of the box and set to work, finding out by experience and instinct what its capabilities are. I decided I needed to behave like a builder for the day, so hitching my trousers a bit lower, I unpacked the box.

The Leica Roteo 35G has the same characteristics of the Roteo 35, in addition it has a green laser beam for better visibility in very bright light conditions and over long distances. It comes in a well-made ABS case lined with a shock-absorbing, custom-fitted polystyrene liner. This obviously protects the kit itself, which consists of the Roteo with its motorised wall mount, the combined remote control/detector unit with clamp, manual, rechargeable batteries, spare alkaline battery holder, the green laser target plate, some laser safety glasses and charger and adaptors. For most users, the only real extra needed would be a sturdy tripod on which to mount the laser for some uses (otherwise the floor or wall mount would have to do).

Getting a levelling job started is relatively easy because the nine control buttons are logically laid out and self-explanatory. It takes a half or minute or so for the laser to self-level once it is switched on. Like most levels of this type, if the surface is not level enough the device will indicate it or switch off. The rotating laser spins at a standard 300rpm, but four speeds can be selected. The laser is more visible at slower speeds, but at higher speeds the laser line appears on the surface as a nearly permanent line to line up against. In my ignorance I found this line a lot easier to measure and line up to. My guess is that once you were more experienced with the workings of the Roteo the rotation speed could be reduced significantly.

I was soon feeling confident enough to try out the remote control. With as much distance as I could get, aiming at the sensors on the top of the device, this seemed to be easier to use than using the main controls because there was no touching of the device needed, therefore it stayed absolutely still and the projected line continued in a steady path. Somehow this accessory just seems like a necessity because it will certainly save a lot of time and a lot of pacing backwards and forwards. Unusually, the laser line is green instead of the usual red. Apparently green is four times more visible to the human eye and I found it easier to see in the relatively light room I was using as my test room.

The design genius of Leica became apparent when I tried the Roteo in wall-mount mode. Although it looks like an integral part of the Roteo, a couple of large black turn-knobs enable the wall-mount to be put at right angles (or any other angle between 0 and 90) to the laser device. From here the features of the wall mount are more obvious. There are holes for mounting the laser to a wall, a clip to clip it to a suspended ceiling strut and a tripod screw mount. 

Once mounted on a wall, say, the Roteo can be moved, either manually or by remote control, on a geared carriage. This has enough movement for the laser line to be set at the desired level for the line of tiles, suspended ceiling or whatever is being levelled. I had great fun moving my set laser line on the wall moving steadily up and down from a ten-meter distance by using the remote control. It seems like magic, but a very practical magic at that.

One of Leica's advertising slogans is that many of its devices are "site-proof". With smaller laser devices, dust and water-proofing and some shock absorbing technology can make such a claim real. But with a bigger device this may not be so easy to achieve. It may be knocked off a tripod or from a wall simply because the operator has not done a good enough job of mounting it. Secondly the device is heavier and may well fall from some height. So "site-proof" is a difficult, not to say impossible thing to achieve. However, the Roteo does have more than a few nods in the direction of robust construction. It is quite noticeable that the ABS casing is very solidly and simply made. The rubber encased carrying handle is big and solid and shock-absorbing and serves to protect the switches behind it. A strong alloy cage protects the spinning laser head. This cage can be removed in seconds for better visibility by twisting the plastic release ring beneath it. I didn't try it, but my guess is that the alloy cage could support my weight, so it is well made.

Finally, the device is protected against dust and water penetration up to IP54 standard. This should protect it against building dust and water perfectly well in normal use.

In a very competitive market, price can be a key determinant of sales, and other manufacturers of similar devices are often able to set lower prices for similar products. However, in my experience, although the devices may offer similar functions, they often have a lower performance or are clunkily designed and therefore harder to use. So although the Roteo 35G is priced at £899 plus VAT, my take on it is that quality and accuracy does not come cheap. Like many continentally-designed products, the purchaser is buying into a system, and the Leica "system" is up there with the best. This ensures long product life, good customer service and logical updating of products.