I recommend a hand operated lever valve. They are inexpensive (less than $140), easy to hook up, and require no programming or wiring. Hand operated valves are available that have metering spools.
But there is a little more that we need to know before helping you select an actual model. Hydraulic valves have a variety of spools. The kind of valve spool you need will depend a great deal on your hydraulic pump. If you have a gear pump then you will want a valve that connects the P & T ports together when the valve is in the center position, known as a tandem center spool. If you have a pressure compensated axial piston pump (expensive pumps) then a valve with P & T ports blocked, or a closed center valve will probably be what you want.
Here is a tandem center spool valve for a gear pump:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/40529/Prince_RD2555T4ESA1_Spool_Monoblock_Valve
Here is a closed center spool valve for a pressure comp pump:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#4393t2/=dgmae
If in doubt use a tandem center.
But before making the final selection the valve needs to be size matched to your pump.
So knowing your pump type, pump displacement (flow rate), and pressure will help in making a recommendation.
Don't forget that a pressure relief valve is required or pressure will build until something breaks. Some hand operated valves have built in relief valves, so if you don't have a relief valve say so.
Again, more information will be really helpful, because if you are using one of the job site pump packs like Enerpac or PowerTeam makes then you'll need to stick with the valves supplied on the pack because of the pressures those units use.