Photo Frame Buying Guide
SMART-THINK BEFORE YOU BUY A SMART DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME
BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY
Recent years of photography, in its digital format has gone to a mind blowing change. The art of imaging and its viewing had taken a multi-dimensional change. Those days of printing and storing in albums are bygones and new trendsetters like loading in a PC or a laptop have replaced them. Even though having the lovely photos of your dear and near ones in a computer and viewing them in full blown colours is highly impressive, it is not that every time you can share them with others in a close knit get-together. Even sharing via e-mail does not makes it the same way like when you happen to watch the memorable pictures along with your close ones.
The Digital Photo Frames have come as a logical conclusion to the hi-tech development in this imaging field. The Digital Photo Frames which are otherwise called as Electronic Picture/Photo Frame or as an LCD or TFT DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES referring to its technology or the screen type.
These days, the massive production of digital photo frames and the user friendliness of the device makes it much easier to place it anywhere right from your couch table to your working desk. The modern picture frames makes it a real delight and a willful treat to oneself; considering the choice and selection of features in these electronic frames.
The Digital Photo Frame had made things easier without the need for a PC or a Laptop or the necessity to know the technicalities or complications of their usage.
INTEGRAL FEATURES TO PROBE THROUGH
Before going in-depth about the prominent and technical features of the Digital Photo Frame, one should know what it actually is. It is nothing but a miniscule computer which comes complete with a central processing unit and built-in memory. It helps to download, display, edit and other basic operations. The electronic photo frames are usually displayed in bright and high resolution images. There is an LCD ( liquid crystal display) or TFT Screen in some of them. One has to look into features like the size of the screen, the quality and type of screen, resolution, built-in memory, supported memory cards, slide show and video options, and additional features like in-built speakers, music options, MP3 and remote control facilities. Also, one has to check the power options like using the main power or rechargeable batteries and USB or other wireless facilities.
SCREEN SIZE
The Digital Photo Frames comes from a range of 1.5″ to a maximum of 15″ screen size. The measurement is usually checked diagonally. The rate pops up depending on the increase in screen size. The smallest of 1.5″ digital picture frames are usually taken on travel as it is highly compact and easily fit into the smallest space available.
But 7-inch digital picture frames are the most popular ones as this is of the optimal size that could just fit anywhere easily and blend into the scenario. This size has a picture resolution of 16:9 which makes that makes the video clippings a delight to watch. It is a standard 4 inch x 6 inch print size and has a picture resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. The rest of the screen size usually is 4:3 ratio which is the standard one.
SCREEN RESOLUTION
The resolution of a Digital Photo Frame is nothing but the measurement of the details and their details in the displayed pictures and the perfect balance of the rest. The brightness of the frame screen with the TFT technology or known as thin film transistor technology with a combination of LCD screens have more depth in colour. There is pure clarity and sharpness if it is labeled 24-bit or true colour.
A TFT or active matrix is a combination of pixel grids and each pixel grid has its own transistor for the individual on and off of the colour options. That is how you decide the resolution of a picture or image. 16:9 aspect ratio is rather known as a widescreen format and the 4:3 aspect is called a traditional screen format.
MEMORY CAPACITY
Most of the digital picture frames come with only a low level of built-in memory as the pricing is too heavy. The quite normal memory that these DPFs sport is 256MB RAM. As the memory card is considerably cheaper, many of them come with options for a memory card slot. It is much convenient as the memory cards with a wide range of memory capacity and other options.
On the other hand, with in-built memory or memory cards, it is quite easier to copy the images directly into the personal computer or vice versa.
MEMORY CARDS FOR DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES
In a Digital or Electronic Photo Frame, the usual or default memory card offered and which is compatible with all models is the SD (secure data) memory card. There is also the smart media card or the memory stick which also could be used for storage of images or photos. The CF or compact flash memory and the xD are yet another types of memory cards that could be used. In a CF card there are fifty very small sockets for fifty pins inside the card reading slot. As it can wear off easily, it is not recommended to replace or change the CF card very often.
One important point to be kept in mind is that make sure that both memory cards in the camera and the digital frame is of the same type. If not, check for an adaptor which helps you to make use of other cards or for a MMC or multimedia card option.
It is highly optional to choose one which sports a USB or universal serial bus port which supports a pen drive or memory stick. This is an extraordinary storage option for higher number of images.
It is always better to go for the one which offers you a maximum number of card supports so it is easier to exchange and view from all types of memory cards.
VIDEO AND SLIDE SHOW OPTIONS
The trend setters of the digital photo frame world have this extra and exciting offer to view your pictures in a slide show mode. There are sometimes many number of slide show options and you can also set the timings for both display and change of picture. Also you can adjust the brightness and contrast for the picture quality and the transition element as mentioned above.
Some of the digital cameras have options to shoot a short film in them. So, if needs to view these trailers are necessary then one can go for a digital photo frame with AVI movies or MPEG formats in them.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES TO ASSESS
After having a bird’s view of the overall features that one would like to have, there are certain other facilities or luxuries one would love to have with their favourite Frames. You can check if there are in-built speakers for music. And also see if there is an option for storing MP3 music formats. You can set your own music for the different types of moods your photos suggest and play them for you. This makes the viewing highly interesting and suggestive of enjoying. You can also see if there is a remote control facility which facilitates to control the digital photo frame from a reasonable distance at your own luxury. You can control the contrast and brightness, the slide show transitions etc.
POWER ACCESS
As far as the power goes it is better if it is used in both the mains and the batteries that are preferable rechargeable. Check if there is facility for the automatic ON and OFF in the Digital Photo Frame. Check for the energy rating and consumption if provided with the manual as well.
WARRANTY PERIOD
It is always advisable to check and make sure of the guarantee/warranty period and other service options. This can make you more peaceful in times of defaults.
