i guess it depend what level of reliability you require and over what range of lux. i wouldn't expect much for one costing £33 but it might be Ok to check if the lux output in an office is Ok as a quick check but for anything that needs a high level of accuracy or to be used as some form of documentation then i think you would need to up the budget. What are you looking at using one for and what degree of accuracy and is going to form some part of validation document???? maybe someone can then suggest a suitable make and model and give you an idea of price. Phil

Hi Paul, Beware! I tried to research Lux meters last year and encountered several issues. There is often little manufacurer information available on the meters and most (it appears) are sourced from China (although nothing wrong in that). I eventually ordered a meter which had a 'Relative' function which I thought might be useful, but it didn't work. As I thought it to be a manufacturing defect they supplied another meter but this too did not work as expected. What I am leading up to though is quite worrying. Although both meters were factory calibrated there was a difference in reading between them of more than 100 Lux at at a level of 600 Lux. Needless to say I returned both. I eventually settled on an Extech LT300 which had a working relative function and agreed with an older meter that I have in terms of its readings. I would suggest that you do get slightly more accuracy and additional functions if you spend more (mine was just under £100 with VAT etc.) but apart from some special circumstances it would not normally be necessary to have the meter separately calibrated in my view - and yes it probably would cost as much if not more than the meter. Good luck with your search. A