Yes! A pocket DMM shootout would be fantastic!
I'm on a endless quest for finding my dream pocket DMM. What I found so far is that higher brand DMMs are more frustrating, idiotic, non-working than lesser known brand and cheap Chinese stuff.
For many years I have own "noname" brand pocket DMMs from "Biltema" a Swedish car parts retail store. They do not sell anymore so I haven't found a picture, but they are similar to Extech DM110
http://www.extech.com/instruments/product.asp?catid=49&prodid=291The chassis is exactly the same but the functions differ. The DMMs don't have a 400 mV range so I tried to replace them with a new beast. Edit: For clarity: The Extech DM110 _does_ have a mV range on DCV!
I have so far tried:
Amprobe PM55. Its sucks. Hard. First of all, they missing a mV range as well. It has only ONE button, no data hold, no rel mode, no range lock. It eats battery and have so much problems with freezes and other acting up that they have a system reset function (hold the button for 6 or 10 seconds). The current mode is a joke with a burden resistor of 3k! Freq measurement is not reliable.
The continuity mode is really slow. All in all, the meter is useless.
Then I tried the APPA iMeter 5 that actually have a mV range. But it is also really slow on the continuity mode, again having a burden resistor of 3k, can only measure freqs up to 40 kHz (in my case that is completely useless) and it beeps constantly when pressing a button or changing mode.
Then I was curious about the UNI-T pocket meter UT10A, but it also only measures up to 100 kHz.
My $15 "Biltema" DMMs is still the champion of pocket DMMs in my toolbox. It has a ok continuity mode, measures freqs _above_ the specs (10 MHz) and is really sensitive and can measure really small Vpp on freq or duty mode. It has a non-retarded layout with a real range switch with a real off position and do relative mode measurements, have a hold and an range switch for disabling autorange. And the cap and diode modes are really good too.
The "brand" DMMs from Amprobe/Meterman is a totally PoS and the APPA (with is somewhat of a brand) sucks as well. The UNI-T is far better but I consider the freq measurement a big fail.
I value usability, fast continuity mode, mV measurement and freq measurement up to at least 10 MHz as the most important properties of a pocket DMM. The typical use of a such meter is to test continuity, check voltage over small SMD components and check for a freq on a bus (like a clock signal). Duty cycle is also important.
I can live without a current range on a pocket DMM, but if its there I don't want a freak 3 kohm burden resistor! My next pocket buy might be the Extech DM110. It seems like a real killer. It even has a real 400 mA current range! If Dave doesn't find any big flaws in it, of course in the hopefully upcoming shootout!
Edit: In fact, I will buy a Extech DM110 as soon as I can find one in Sweden or a seller that ships to Sweden!