Depends what you're doing with it.
If you're looking to do forensic analysis involved with litigation, there are calibrated meters available.
If you just want to make sure something exceeds the minimum light levels required around ATM's or at various different locations in or around a building, and you're not cutting things real close, any $20 off the shelf meter should do.
We own around 15 light meters. Some are data loggers and some are handheld. As far as longevity and accuracy, we've only had one go out of whack in about 5 years and it just went 10% out of calibration. To verify calibration we set all of our meters on the same "x" on a table inside and look for the same reading on each one. If one is out of calibration and we just throw it away.
It's my experience that price is moot. You may want to get 2 or 3 cheap ones so you can compare them with each other over time to make sure you're not working with a meter which has lost it's accuracy.
Calibrated meters cost the same as the uncalibrated meter plus $150 additional for the certificate of calibration, and then there's an annual recertification.
Hope this helps.
