Choosing A Digital Photo Frame

Digital picture frames are becoming more and more popular, and it’s not difficult to see why. They have much more functionality than conventional frames which are only able to display one photo at a time and – when you think about the expense of printing out hard copies of photographs – conventional static frames begin to look like a more costly option.

Many digital frames combine video, audio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and other features may well be included. All digital frames let you create your own slideshows, usually with transitions, which will let you show all your photos using one single frame. On a cost per photograph displayed basis, digital frames are quite a bit more economical than conventional ones.

On the subject of cost, the technology used by digital frames has reduced in price – which means that you can now find these frames for sale at very competitive prices. However, before you rush to the store to buy one, here are just a few points that you might want to bear in mind:

Buy The Frame To Suit The Intended Recipient: A large percentage of digital photo frames are selected as gifts, often for elderly relatives who might enjoy viewing photos of their children and grandchildren. Some digital frames have extra features such as full web browsers, internet radio, text news feeds, Wi-Fi etc. Apart from enhancing functionality, these high end features may also mean that the user interface is more complicated – and quite possibly more confusing. Plainly all these extra bells and whistles also mean a significantly higher price tag. So, if your intended gift recipient is chiefly interested in viewing pictures, you may be better to go for a more basic frame which will not only save you cash but be more likely to be used on a regular basis. More technologically aware users may enjoy web enabled features of course.

Don’t Forget – A Well Known Brand Name Need Not Guarantee High Quality: You would probably be surprised at some of the low quality images displayed by the entry level models produced by some very well known brand name manufacturers. On the other side of the coin, you may be equally surprised (but pleasantly so) at the quality of some lesser known brands. Check out reviews – or try to see the frame working before you buy.

Choose The Appropriate Resolution: The most frequently selected frame size is seven inches. It’s a reasonable compromise between size and cost – and it also corresponds with a typical conventional frame or photograph size. It’s what you might expect to see in other words.

For this size of frame, you will probably want a resolution that is no lower than 640 X 480 pixels. Less than that and you will probably wind up with pixelated, chunky images. There’s no point in saving a few dollars for something which has a quality too low for your intended use.

Choose A Suitable Aspect Ratio: Generally speaking, digital frames come in two aspect ratios; 4:3 and 15:9. Digital cameras usually take photos which have a 4:3 aspect ratio – therefore a frame with this ratio will be well matched and ideal for displaying your snapshots. Choosing a 15:9 ratio will result in the top and bottom of your images being cropped in order for them to fit the display. Of course, you always have the option to manually crop your images – but choosing the correct aspect ratio will mean that this isn’t necessary.

The Image May Not Be The Total Picture: Top quality image display is important but you may have other considerations that need to be taken into account. Ease of use and functionality might also be noteworthy items for you. The menu system and user interface ease of use can vary greatly from one frame to another and you may want to review that prior to making your final selection. Integrated Wi-Fi, which allows you to transfer pictures using your home wireless network, may also be something that you would consider worthwhile. If you are technically minded then you could think about setting up a frame at your parent’s home which has the facility to download images from file sharing websites. You might just want something as simple as a timer which switches the frame off when not in use or a frame which has its own integrated battery for use when on the road perhaps.

These are simply a few suggestions for you. Consider the end user and the probable method of use and take some time to go over your options and you’ll be able to find a good, economical, frame which will display your photos in a cost effective manner for many years to come.

Find out more about Digital Photo Frames – a wide range with all prices and functions available. Free delivery on many models.