Hello! New member with multimeter questions

[james_s]

Did it not come with reasonable leads?

The standard Fluke TL75 leads are under $25 brand new. They should work with most meters.

[rsjsouza]

Thanks for all the help.  After considering my needs right now (accurate measurement of components, biasing components based on frequency/voltage, and troubleshooting any issues on densely populated PCBs where there is little current or voltage), I felt that the UNI-T UT139C fit my needs at the best price.  I got it last night, and construction wise it feels a lot more solid than my Mastech. 

Now it's onto finding some good test leads that don't cost $50...

Welcome and congratulations on your purchase! For test leads it is possible the UT139 already comes with decent ones. In your case I would instead invest in accessories such as alligator clips and grabbers to your test leads - something similar to what is shown in this eBay listing.

These things are of great help probing circuits.

[Lightages]

Now it's onto finding some good test leads that don't cost $50...

The leads that come with the UT139C are pretty good leads. If you want a step up you trust our friend here on eevblog forums, Frankie, who has an ebay store. He has a couple of option:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitek-Gold-Plated-Test-Leads-Probes-for-Multimeters-CAT-III-1000V-/171120395118
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-Silicone-Gold-Plated-Test-Leads-Probes-for-Multimeters-CAT-IV-1000V-/171162377470

[Timko]

It comes with leads, but I am considering something very small as I am at some point going to start working with SMD parts and boards.  The last set of probes on my Mastech were a little too big to reach around some of the components, so I was considering something thinner.  But the leads with the UNI-T may be fine; I was hoping to find a way to connect the pinchers or alligator clips to the leads themselves.  With my Mastech, I had to use a double ended alligator clip to connect and it was sort of a mess.

[james_s]

Well not to sound like a Fluke salesperson, but they offer a set of alligator clips that slip onto the standard probe tips.

I'm sure any number of other brands have similar offerings.

[Timko]

Oh cool!  I didn't realize that.  I was thinking that they had different connection wires for the ones with all the different tips (clips, pinchers, lugs, etc).  If that's the case, then all I need is a tip to slip on it since I have a decent set of leads.  Thanks!  I'm going to pick up some of those tiny pinchers and alligator clips to start.

[Lightages]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ETA3201-Slip-On-Sharp-1mm-Probe-Tips-for-Multimeter-Probes-1-Pair-Red-Black-/171959888985

[Fungus]

Well not to sound like a Fluke salesperson, but they offer a set of alligator clips that slip onto the standard probe tips.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=multimeter+crocodile+clips

[tooki]

It comes with leads, but I am considering something very small as I am at some point going to start working with SMD parts and boards.  The last set of probes on my Mastech were a little too big to reach around some of the components, so I was considering something thinner.  But the leads with the UNI-T may be fine; I was hoping to find a way to connect the pinchers or alligator clips to the leads themselves.  With my Mastech, I had to use a double ended alligator clip to connect and it was sort of a mess.

These from ProbeMaster have become my everyday probes, precisely for PCB work: http://probemaster.com/dmm-multimeter-test-leads/spring-loaded-test-leads/

Get the set, it comes with both spring loaded and fixed needle tips.