This is a great and smooth cutting saw. I love it and probably won't ever need to buy another one. The LED light is useless as others have mentioned, but I didn't expect it to be anything special. Highly recommended over other similar priced saws.

Excellent saw. We have used this or simialr models for years. Rugged, durable--a real work horse!!

I finally got tired of the cheap-o homeowner saws that bog down, especially when cutting syn-board (synthetic board). My replacement choices came down to:
Milwaukee 6390-21 Tilt-Lok 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw
Porter-Cable 324MAG 15 Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Blade Right
DEWALT DW368K Heavy Duty 7-1/4-Inch Lightweight Circular Saw Kit
Makita 5007FK 7-1/4-Inch 15 Amp Circular Saw with LED Light
In my opinion all of these saws meet the basic requirements of price versus quality.

Working on a jobsite 40 hours a week has given me a pretty good idea of which tools can take a licking and keep on ticking. There are very few jobsites that you won't find a Makita saw, a Dewalt cordless drill, and a Porter Cable air compressor. One story falls are a common occurence and the new magnesium tools haven't done too well. These new tools look good and perform very well but the old heavy aluminum base plates have proven their toughness over the years. There's a reason that Makita circular saws are the most common saws on a jobsite; they're tough and dependable. This saw does come in a magnesium version, Makita 5007MG 7-1/4-Inch Magnesium Circular Saw 15 Amp, for anyone interested.

Tools are a personal choice and there are a lot of circular saw choices. I chose this saw based on the need for a dependable and accurate saw. The little headlight may come in handy some day but this saw cuts syn-board like a hot knife through butter and that's true of wet pressure treated lumber as well. My only concern with this saw is the lack of a blade brake. If children are going to be around when using a circular saw I highly recommend a model with the blade brake feature, such as the Makita 5007MGA 7-1/4-Inch Magnesium Circular Saw with LED Lights and Electric Brake. Don't skimp on safety features where young children could get hurt, these saws continue to spin after you set them down.

The Makita 5007FK is a true performer when it comes to circular saws! Nice, large aluminum base and powerful motor makes this saw a real winner for the home owner or contractor.

Got this new from Lowe's for 59.99 (they had a unadvertised sale). That put's it in 12 amp semi-cheapo saw land price wise. It has the power and smoothness that you will enjoy. Just ripped a bunch of Pressure Treated, and it was the smoothest cut I've ever had. Almost like I wasn't cutting anything at all. I cut 2x4', 5/4 decking, and 2x12x10's all were sliced through like they were soft butter. Not having the brake is something I missed. But since it was such a deal, I have learned to live without. I don't think the light is too "gimmicky". Yesterday it was starting to get dark as I was finishing up and that LED was the only reason I could see my pencil marks on the wet wood. Shop around I am sure that they can be had for the $60 I paid. The other reviewer is right, the saw does not jerk itself alive- definitely a plus. All in all a good saw that should last.

Have had this saw for about a month now and have only used it three times, but it does the job quite well. Well worth the money.

I love this saw. I bought it from Home Depot for $90 plus tax (price matched Lowes plus 10%). It cuts like butter and it is so smooth. I wanted one with a brake, but nobody in my area carried one and I had to have it that day. I really don't miss the brake and it is one less thing to break, so it all worked out for the best. The Makita 5007 series is a great saw. I chose this saw over Porter Cable, Milwalkee, Bosh, Skil,Dewalt, etc. I am a big Makita fan (I have the 10" sliding miter saw as well). I highly recommend it!

this is the workhorse saw i've used for years.i couldn't kill the old one,just too lazy to put a switch in it.this one has been in service for a while now with no issues.i thought the L.E.D light was kinda gimmicky,but it's proven very handy.these 5007's outlive many blades.

I used to use American tools like Sears Craftsman and Skill Saws for 20 years. The problem is that the motors are not well made. They last well, but they start up with a jerk which is not a great thing, you have to wait a second and let them calm down to use them. If you are in the middle of a board or piece of plywood then you have to try to hold them so they don't jerk a knoch out of the board. Also they are loud and noisy. I use a head set so the noise does not effect my thinking - consentration about what I am doing. This Makita has better winding on the motor and better brushes so is purrs to life and you don't have to worry about it jerking in your hand. It is also quite. It feels balanced and is simple to cut with, of course the blade you use is everything. The aluminum housing is great too, it is a snap to line up a cut and keep it lined up through the board. But this saw or the Bosche would be my pick. I am a contractor in Florida.

I bought the tool to use for removing my old kitchen floor.
To my surprise, I discovered five layers of flooring above the original
wood floor (felt-lenolium, plywood, vinyl, plywood, and vinyl). I guess
previous owners were lazy and didn't want the trouble of removing the
old flooring(s). This was the first time I used a circular saw, so I was
apprehensive. But as I continued to use it, I felt more comfortable with it.
I set the cutting depth at a 1/4 " since I didn't know what was below the
plywood/vinyl upper layer. The saw cut through the two layer nicely.
Sometimes it hit a screw in the inner layers and sparks would fly-
when this happened I stopped the saw and restarted in another spot.
The saw was very noisy so I used foam earplugs-it was nice not to hear
the annoying machine noise. I also didn't know that my project would
create so much saw dust that flew everywhere. I suggest sealing your
work area or room and using a good vacuum- I used a Rigid 5 horse power, wet +dry vac.
I liked using the circular saw so much that I decided to buy other
Makita tools for the kitchen renovation project. I have a 1/2" drill and a grinder. I also like using these tools.

If you are a novice user of power tools I would suggest that you
read the manuals completely, ask any questions even ones
that you think are dumb- talk with skilled tradespersons, hardware
store workers, and buy or borrow from the library "how to books".
Make sure the electric cord is away from your cutting spot.
And take your time- do not rush the power tools.

Do visit Home Depot or Lowe's or stores that have display models.
It's good to hold different tool brands so that you will know which one
feels comfortable and fits your hand better. I'm 5'2" and 100 pounds.
For me, the most comfortable tool was Makita.


Good luck to all newbees like myself.

I am NY framer and my number 1 tool on the job is my circular saw. That saw doesn't stop from 7:30am until 4:00pm. I've owned a Bosch which I despised and even the DeWalt 369CSK which was a great saw just TOO MUCH PLASTIC. The Makita weighs a bit more but for the love of GOD, I've never used a more powerful saw. This thing rips through CCA like it was 1/4 inch plywood. BUY IT...YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!!!

A very good saw with a nice, big table that runs smooth, BUT... spring the extra[money]for the next model up with the blade brake. I mistakenly assumed this model had one when I ordered it and I was wrong and I miss it badly. And what's the light for? You can't see it in anything less than dark conditions and should you be sawing in the dark? This is another superfluous marketing gimmick that drives the price up with no real benefit to the consumer. Too bad.