JP, Another advantage to the Suunto is that if the clinometer movement becomes faulty, professional mail order stores like Ben Meadows can salvage the old housing and install a new clinometer cartridge element into it for less than the cost of a new clinometer. I'm not sure if this service is available for Bruntons.
Paul On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:13 AM, Paul Jost <[email protected]> wrote: > James, > > There is no difference between the operation and ease of use of the Brunton > CM360 series when compared to the Suunto PM-5/360 series. They are nearly > identical in design, size, and appearance. I'm not sure why you would think > that one is better than the other unless they have a completely different > unit available than the one that I have. In any case, don't use the crude > plastic arrow clinometers that come with compasses. > > Paul > > On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM, James Parton <[email protected]>wrote: > >> ENTS, >> >> The Brunton looks like it would be a little easier to use, at least >> for a beginner. Not that the Suunto is at all hard to use. >> >> JP >> >> On Jan 6, 12:18 am, "Edward Frank" <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Steve >> > >> > As far as I know nobody has ever compared the two here in ENTS. Brunton >> makes top of the line compasses/clinometers for geology work. would thin >> they would make good clinometers. The thing to check would be how easily >> the readings are to take, how closely can you estimate the angle, and if you >> sight the same point several times from the same position (sight, drop it >> down, sight again, do you come up with the same readings. >> > >> > You can test the accuracy of the clinometer calibration: >> > >> > Ed Frank wrote (Sept 14, 2005) >> http://www.nativetreesociety.org/measure/instrumentation/suunto_clino... >> > >> > You can test the level accuracy of a clinometer or instrument. Sight >> from a >> > marked height at some object- tree of pole at a distance. Have an >> assistant >> > mark the point on the distant object the clinometer or instrument says >> is >> > level. Move to that spot and sight back to your original position. If >> it >> > is perfectly accurate the backsight will be right on the point you shot >> from >> > originally. If it is reading high, then the angle it is off will be >> > under-reading by arc tan [1/2 (error)/distance]. If it is pointing >> lower >> > than the starting point, then it is reading high, calculations are the >> same. >> > In this way you can tell at least if the original level line is actually >> > level or not. >> > >> > There is no reason to think that the Brunton would be calibration error >> would be any different from that of the Suunto. But you can use this >> process above to develop a correction factor if you want. The error in the >> clinometer is a simple mechanical one relating to the weight placement on >> the dial. It is a simple error that should be exactly the same amount in >> the same direction at all angles, unlike systematic errors which increase >> over a range. However unless the clinometer is really way off, several >> degrees, then the errors at the bottom (slightly larger but shorter >> distances, ad the errors at the top slight ly smaller but longer distances) >> tend to pretty much cancel out >> > >> > John Eicholz wrote (Nov 6, 2003) >> http://www.nativetreesociety.org/measure/instrumentation/calibration.htm >> > I think I can prove mathematically that the error in tree height >> that >> > results from each degree of clinometer error is approximately >> between >> > 1.75% and 1.9% of the horizontal distance to the trunk...Because >> the >> > factor: (1/cos(@))*(Sin(@)-sin(@+e)) is nearly a constant! Its >> range is >> > a smooth progression from 1.74% at 0 degrees to 1.9% at 80 >> degrees. >> > >> > Ed Frank >> > >> > >> http://nature-web-network.blogspot.com/http://primalforests.ning.com/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=709156957 >> > >> > >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: Steve Galehouse >> > To: [email protected] >> > Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 11:09 PM >> > Subject: Re: [ENTS] Suunto vs. iPhone >> > >> > I have, and have been using, a Brunton clinometer rather than a >> Suunto---any appreciable differences in quality or accuracy? >> > >> > Stevehttp:// >> nature-web-network.blogspot.com/http://primalforests.ning.com/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=709156957-Hide >> quoted text - >> > >> > - Show quoted text - >> >> -- >> Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org >> Send email to [email protected] >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en >> To unsubscribe send email to >> [email protected]<entstrees%[email protected]> >> >> >
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