Light Meter recommendations
 

Can anyone recommend a fairly accurate light meter. In the $100 to $150 range. Brand and model number would be appreciated.

I've been researching these a bit lately -- posts from serious light tent growers of non-orchids, head to head comparison videos -- and it seems that the meters by Apogee set the bar, at about $500. The PHOTOBIO LGBQM2 seems to be a decent alternative (this seems to be a rebranded generic product, and there are other brands, but I don't know that those others have been tested).

The Photone app is tested to be close enough to high end meters to be a good option so long as it is used as directed (must purchase the option for the light source you're measuring, and use a diffuser if necessary for your phone).

I'd be curious to see if anyone has tested the one piece generic "Quantum" meters; an internet search can't find anything because of the non-distinctive name.

I also don't think a high quality light meter is necessary. I have one but almost never use it. I paid about $35 on eBay for one like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174083896898

A cheap old light meter from a used camera shop is adequate. The old ones didn't even need batteries; the photo cell / light sensor powers the device. Here's an example. There are many less expensive on eBay. Search on 'vintage light meter':
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373052576838

You can also use an automatic exposure camera to read foot candles.
How to Use a Camera to Measure Foot-Candles of Light for Houseplants | PetaPixel
Note this article refers to the Free Information section of the First Rays Web site, where you can read everything you need to know about light, water and fertilizer for orchid growing.

The best orchid growers look at their plants to determine light exposure. Whenever you can look at well-grown plants in person. You will learn what they should look like. I don't mean watch videos. I mean stand in front of the plants and look at them closely.

I use one like this and it checks out. It has worked well for a few years.

There is a light meter app that you can download to your phone. It uses the light sensor of the phones camera.

I grow under full spectrum LED's (and also maintain planted aquariums) and you must get a light meter specifically for full spectrum LED's if that is your light source. The Apogee, at $500+, is very good in a very small set of choices.
I chose to use the Photon app for my iPhone, AND as others have said, let my plants tell me if the light is correct. Is an app at $7.00 as accurate as a $500 meter? Probably not, but as a hobbyist with a small collection, it's fine.

If you don't have a light meter at all, getting even the cheapest one will make positioning plants so much easier. Phone apps seem to have useful accuracy these days also.

You can always use the LUX app on your phone from play store. It uses your phone's camera and will do lux or foot candles. Seems to work accurately for me from what I can tell.

BTW can anyone explain how some LED light sources seem to have hugely fluctuating values on a stationary lux meter but others give stable readings? Both kinds of lights appear suitable for growing though.

LEDs emit one or just a few specific wavelengths of photons. Many light meters have been designed for light with photons of a relatively even distribution of many different lengths. LEDs are more difficult to measure with readily available meters.