my father is going to san francisco next week. I want him to buy me a photometer (can't get them here).
does anyone know where can he buy one and how much should this cost?
thanks
amber

Since you're asking on an orchid forum I assume your intended use is to measure light levels for your orchids? If so, just about the least expensive that I know of to measure in either footcandle or LUX is the Sper Scientific and here's a link to it: http://www.bio-world.com/MoreInfo.asp?ItemCode=217152 There are some other combination meters that are quite expensive so if you feel you really need one and here's an example site from Google for light meter: http://www.calright.com/_coreModules/common/categoryDetail.aspx?entityType=6&categoryID=43

If you intend on using it for photography and botanical light levels it can be tough to find an inexpensive one (hundreds) that can give results that can be translated into footcandles or lumens. It's best to buy one that meets the needs of your photographic equipment and can give results that be translated into a light level value instead of just F-stop. Some of either type can be found new or used on eBay for fairly reasonable prices.

Two quick comments about using getting one:

First: Knowing how your leaves react to the light you allow is a much better guide to them getting enough light instead of the general ranges offered in cultural guides. As you look at plants that are in bloom you get a feel for the green of the leaves necessary for them to bloom depending on species and either increase or decrease light levels or exposure times (light lamp growing) accordingly.

Secondly: In your circumstances, a light meter can be a business expense for adjusting your treatment room light levels. They're great for ensuring you can do competent shade matching for anterior composites.

This is a slightly different subject matter but it may apply.
I recently checked out ebay for pH and TDS meters and I found the same stuff as in the hydroponics stores but about 25-35% less than internet store prices. It may be worth checking out, since you would have plenty of time to ship it to wherever he's staying.

thanks guys!
I know it was a little off topic but I didn't know who to ask. I already sent my dad Ernie's links and hope he'll buy me one.
It is for the orchids ofcoarse.

Secondly: In your circumstances, a light meter can be a business expense for adjusting your treatment room light levels. They're great for ensuring you can do competent shade matching for anterior composites.

as for the anterior composite, you caught me by surprise here Ernie. not many people know about this. It is a great idea though, I wouldn't have thought about it myself. by the way, light intensity is less important then light quality (sunlight vs. bulb light) and I always take my paitiants to the window to match shades.

thanks guys!
I know it was a little off topic but I didn't know who to ask. I already sent my dad Ernie's links and hope he'll buy me one.
It is for the orchids ofcoarse.

Secondly: In your circumstances, a light meter can be a business expense for adjusting your treatment room light levels. They're great for ensuring you can do competent shade matching for anterior composites.

as for the anterior composite, you caught me by surprise here Ernie. not many people know about this. It is a great idea though, I wouldn't have thought about it myself. by the way, light intensity is less important then light quality (sunlight vs. bulb light) and I always take my paitiants to the window to match shades.

I was pretty sure you DID take your patients to the window but you can inexpensively put in sun matching fluorescents and increase the color quality of your overhead lighting with something like Duro supertwist lights. It not only makes the ambient light proper for shade matching but tends to eliminate shadows. They're cheaper on the utility bills and the bulbs are usually warranted for 36 months. You flip the high intensity reflector out of the way and voila, instant color matching sunlight. A by-product is both staff and patients find the color is more pleasant to work in and not as harsh, like that red color vs green color room psychological study.