Modern ESR meters?

[AiboPet]

I'm relatively new here. Still cutting my teeth so to say.

I have for about a year been collecting and fixing up some solid state "micro" TV sets. For the most part, these are just dirty...been abused, or just plain been TOSSED away for me to run across and clean up. They usually only need pots cleaned, a couple pots turned with a crosshatch generator attached....or require very little troubleshooting to fix "no vertical" or whatever.

Recently....I have decided to start taking on actual projects that would fall more into "restoration". I have recently come across a beautiful little Sony S8-301W set. This is apparently the very first Sony set, and it's still solid state (except I think the HV rectifier at this point).

This set is in need of a real recapping job...and I wanna take it on. AFTER I've got THAT set all happy....I have two other Sony sets that also have linearity problems (900U), and "within a minute horizontal issues" (700U), so yeah, I am running across some 60's sets that need more serious attention, and I REALLY wanna get them looking good again! These are a collection, as a hobby...and I really love rescuing these and Usually DO have a few of these sets scattered around the flat as "daily drivers".

I have done a recapping job on a couple old arcade monitors before, so I'm familiar with the mechanics, soldering, etc...of actually DOING the work. Anyone who has recapped an arcade monitor from a kit knows that you sorta just GET all the required caps...and blow through replacing all the electrolytics. Not really a whole lot of troubleshooting required.

My question (if you ALREADY haven't guessed)...Are the "ESR testers" that come up when you do an ebay search of any use for the pretty basic caps I run across in solid state?

I know the old timers and real serious in here are using Solar and some other serious testers for testing paper, bumblebees, etc. But I want to find something a little more "toolbox" friendly and for just testing of really pedestrian electrolytics. This Sony set consists of three PC modules....and appear to be populated by "nothing exciting" as far as caps are concerned. Just what appear to be some axials and cans....of just pedestrian values under about 1000uf (until you get into those Pepsi cans underneath of course).

Is anyone here actually using one of the more modern testers? Are they having decent luck?...easy to use?....can sit in a toolbox next to a Fluke DMM to carry around in the car like the rest of the tools?

I'd LOVE to see any ebay link or model numbers if you can divulge. I've played with lots of meters and tools..and a few scopes, but don't recall using an actual "capacitor checker" since I was in a TV/Radio repair class in like the early 80's.

I do sorta have a price range, because I can't do "crazy expensive" for just a hobby. I live in a small flat, so aside from maybe ONE nice Predicta or something one day....I'll not likely have room to start taking on tube sets with the real serious caps. (I'll just continue LOVING the passionate work you guys are doing). I'd like to keep within a couple hundred bucks for a decent little ESR meter. I didn't want to just buy some cheapy thing that might be real cryptic or iffy to use. If you advice that I should NOT be trusting these little handheld meters....I'll listen. I just want to be able to actually SEE what a "bad electrolytic" test out like. I don't even need to test "in circuit" like these new ones claim to do. Not sure I really trust that...and I'm not THAT lazy.