In the age of digital cameras, electronic picture frames are the logical next step. Why be restricted to displaying a single picture? No wonder, more and more people are opting for digital photo frames.
Digital photo frames have become one of the most popular electronics gifts for teens, parents, and grandparents. For a special gift, pre-load the frame’s memory card or USB device with memorable pictures and insert it in the frame before wrapping. This will allow your recipient to enjoy the gift straight from the box!
There are so many frames on the market at this point ranging widely in prices that you may find it difficult to decide which one to buy. Here are some points to consider when making your selection.
How to Choose the Best Digital Photo Frame for Your Needs
Ease of Use
Electronic picture frames are becoming feature rich. Some of these clever devices allow you to integrate video, sound, bluetooth, wi-fi, and a variety of other technologies – such as Internet browsers, Internet radio streaming, and displaying text news feeds.
However, some of the digital picture frames on the market have so many features that they may be confusing to inexperienced users. Many people just don’t like to fiddle with complicated menus and read manuals. They just want to upload the pictures and enjoy them.
On the other hand, more sophisticated users will enjoy advanced features, such as the ability to e-mail photos or see up-to-date weather forecasts. Features like dedicated e-mail addresses make basic Wi-Fi frames, a good fit for anyone with a wireless network.
Digital frames also need a power source — so you’ll have to place it near an outlet.
Don’t base your decision on brand name alone
Sony, Kodak and Samsung are all excellent brands, but some lesser known companies make excellent electronic picture frames too. One brand that is recommended by many is Pandigital. Their PanTouch 8-inch Digital Photo Frame delivers a great value. It is a touch-enabled frame that provides a good viewing experience for the money. The frame offers picture adjustments for brightness, contrast, tint, and color for fine-tuning almost any photo to perfection. So the best advice is to read reviews before you buy.
Screen size
The most affordable electronic picture frames have a display area of about 5.6 inches (measured diagonally). While that size might be easy enough to view if you are sitting right in front of it, you won’t see much from an angle or a few feet away. So it’s helpful to consider where you’ll be placing the frame. Large picture frames can measure up to 15 inches.
Resolution
Don’t save on resolution: 640×480 pixels or higher is best. Low prices on some frames (below $80), may make them attractive, but be aware that you’ll be sacrificing quality of your images. Resolution of 480 by 234 pixels is too low to display sharp details, so images may look boxy and pixelated! In my opinion, you should consider only frames with a resolution of 640-by-480 or higher.
Aspect Ratio
Photo frames typically come in one of two aspect ratios, 4:3 or 15:9. Most digital cameras shoot in a 4:3 aspect ratio and a frame with a matching 4:3 ratio is ideal. Frames with a 16:9 widescreen ratio will crop or stretch photos to fit the format to the screen, or display them in a letterbox to fit the image on the LCD screen.
On the other hand, a 15:9 aspect ratio will give your pictures a widescreen feel. For example, one of the great digital frames, the Sony DPF-V900 9-inch Digital Photo Frame, displays in 15:9. That, together with its slick design and intuitive software, makes it look and feel like a mini HDTV.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi features are proudly mentioned in descriptions and advertising for electronic picture frames, but in reality, many people posting reviews find setting up wireless features difficult. While wireless connectivity seems great in theory,even those who consider themselves computer savvy have had trouble getting Wi-Fi frames to communicate with a home wireless network. If you’re thinking of buying a frame as a gift, be sure to consider whether the recipient has a wireless network at home and their level of technical skills.
Memory-card compatibility
Although most digital frames support multiple memory card formats and have USB slots, confirm that the memory card you use is supported. A memory card adapter can be purchased separately, but it’s an additional expense.
Music and Video
Do you want to play music and video? Many digital picture frames can play MP3 files. Some play video files, but supported formats vary. Kodak frames play MOV files, others play AVI or MPEG4. However, when you read reviews, video and MP3 playback in general seems spotty.
Read more about Electronic Picture Frames and Can Electronic Picture Frames Replace Photo Albums?.