XGeology Geological Compass DQL-8

From the looks, heft and feel you'd not be able to tell this thing from a real Brunton. As others have noted, the needle takes a while to settle down sort of like an older Brunton. The magnet looks like a rare earth magnet, but it's apparently just a plain old magnet, otherwise it works like an old Brunton. I did not get to try adjusting declination because it uses a tiny screw to secure the adjustment screw and I could not find a tiny screwdriver to fit it. It does include a screwdriver for the adjustment screw. Also note that mine did not come with a halfway decent leather holster like some have posted. Mine has a crappy fake leather thing. And has METAL sights not plastic like the new Bruntons. Not at all bad. for $50. I have an embarrassing number of Bruntons - old ones, new ones, Japanese made ones, Real Bruntons including the Compro, standard one (in lovely blue), the Geo and the Axis. Certainly not quite as good as a new Brunton, but it works and does have metal sights (my beef with Brunton). The manual (if you can call it that) is pretty much useless, but you can download a Brunton manual online and it's gonna work the exact same way. If you don't already know how to use a Brunton, there are many YouTube videos and as I indicated you can download the manual. It is a well made and accurate knock off of the Brunton (copyright expired years ago). Perfect for a poor geology student.

I own a Brunton, but I am teaching Field Geology this fall and discovered that our collection of real Bruntons is in a sad state of repair. A web search turned up the Harbin compass, and I bought one on a whim to see if it would work at all for our class needs. I admit my expectations were not high. Sure enough the case is nothing to speak about. But, surprise, surprise, the instrument itself is really a solid, nice build. It has a metal case (painted black), a free spinning, weighted needle, azimuth dial with clinometer, ability to sight (and the sighting arms are stiff enough that they do not flop), a better damper than my real Brunton, and a little catch pin that keeps the top aligned with the rest of the compass when the top is closed. The various parts are held together with actual screws (so you can adjust the stiffness of the hinges) and the internal components are held in with metal keepers just like a real Brunton. The end result is vastly better than the hard plastic -bodied Bruntons that my Department bought some years ago. My only quibble (aside from the black body which will be easy to lose in the field) is that the needle is white with a red end on the SOUTH end, not the north end...I will be popping the glass off my new compass (there is a keeper and everything!) to rectify this issue with a daub of paint. I will also paint the body some day glow colors so I can find it in the field. The other need is to buy a better case. As some other reviewers note, a good leather case (~$38) costs almost as much as the compass itself! I am frankly flabbergasted that Harbin has made such a nice instrument for such a low price....

Great compass, lots of functions but a little bulky.

In all honesty, I got this because it looked cool. I'm not a geologist and won't be using this to measure strike and dip. I don't map out caves. I was looking to replace my sylva compass that developed a huge bubble that made it worthless. I saw this, thought about it for a couple days, and ordered it after watching videos about how they worked and what it was used for. After a few days of use, I love it! It takes some skill to get the pointer to hold still, but with the mirror and pointer, my accuracy is spot on. I don't really use the compass for determining elevation. Some years ago I did a lot of land nav in the military, and taught a few folks how to use a lensatic compass over a measured course. Initially most would be at least 5 or more degrees off and hundreds of feet off target after a km. I'd be surprised if, using this compass, they were off by more than a few feet. Today I use this as a contractor to determine communications bearings at radio sites and map out locations between mountains and hills. For me it is so much better than a 'normal' compass. The durability is very good if the lid is closed and not bounced around while being carried. I've used this almost daily for about a month and it's still as good as new. But I take care of my things - your milage may vary. Would I get this again? You betcha. Cheaper and easily as durable an any other compass, a lot more accurate, and the cool factor is off the charts.

First thing you have to understand is that this is a compass for geologists and others who make measurements in the field. The people who have given it low marks don't understand this. They are trying to use it as an orienteering compass. There are many simpler, less expensive alternatives, including ones from Brunton, that are better for that. But if you want to measure such things as geological strike and dip or accurate azimuths to a degree or so, this does the job well at a fraction of the cost of a Brunton Pocket Transit. It is surprisingly well made for a Chinese import. As others have said, it takes a few seconds for the needle to stablize, but when it does, it is accurate. Others have complained about the mirror alignment but mine is spot on. I was surprised to see that the clinometer scales for degree and percent slope are switched from the positions they are with a true Brunton, but then I realized why. With the true Brunton, the vernier adjustment lever on the back is in the exact center of the compass. On this one, it is offset (probably to make it cheaper to manufacture). Because of this, the scales must be moved up from where they are on the Brunton. If the degree scale was above the percent slope scale as in the Brunton, the numbers near 90 degrees would be partially hidden by the frame. Switching the positions of the scales avoids this problem. It still measures inclination accurately. I can't say yet how durable it will be, but it seems well made (even Brunton tells you not to walk around extensively with the compass open). I wish the outside was painted a lighter color than black so it would be easier to spot if you set it down in the field, but that is a minor concern that is easily fixed with some yellow tape.

I tried a plastic version of this type compass but it just didn't hold up to use - hinges broke out - and wasn't terribly accurate. The DQL-8, however, is solidly made and quite accurate for locating magnetic north and reading angles and directions. I cranked in the magnetic deviation for my location that I got from an internet site and compared it with the north star location (brought down to the horizon with a plumb line) and it read 0° as close as I could read it. The bulls-eye level is quite sensitive and takes a steady hand, likewise the needle suspension can be lively if you're not careful - has some magnetic damping but responds quickly. I'm quite satisfied with the instrument for checking property lines and aligning fences and such. Its the most useful compass I have ever used and the way it works is much better than the military-type compasses with a mariner's compass-like action. Learn how to use it properly - the azimuth circle runs the opposite direction from what you might think. The enclosed instructions are misleading. For example If you sight from the long sight through the hole in the mirror, take your azimuth from the south (red) end of the needle. It's intuitive if you just think it out. There are luminous dots on the needle and at N, S, E,& W but you can't see the level if its dark - it's not a marching/camping compass. Can't beat it for the price.

The mirror is set incorrectly in the compass, at an angle. The mirror surface is not perpendicular to the plane of the sighting arm. This can be seen by looking at the reflection of the sighting arm in the mirror. Both the sighting arm and its own reflection should be simultaneously in alignment with the vertical line on the mirror, but they are not. As seen in the photos, the mirror is misaligned and faces too far to the left of the sighting plane.

I bought this compass to use for class and work after seeing the price of the brand name, I figured why not. I'm glad I did. This compass is almost exactly like the Brunton issued for class. I've used both side by side and can not tell any difference in readings. The quality is almost as good. The line sighting arm is slightly crooked less than a couple of degrees, which might be able to straighten out. The other quirk is the inclinometer seems a little more difficult to get perfectly leveled, but seems to be getting smoother with use or I am getting better at applying the correct pressure to set it. Yes, as others have mentioned, the red paint being on the south pointing needle was a bit tricky at first, but you soon get used to reading it. Often when measuring strike, your going to use the one reading <180 anyway. The case isn't quite the quality but wear it out and then order the nice case and still have a few hundred extra.