Digital photo frames are available with a variety of features.
Digital photo frames range from very inexpensive small screens to high cost ones featuring screens as large as some television sets. Before deciding on a digital photo frame, buyers should consider exactly how high-tech that they want the frame to be, since the most sophisticated of them have features that may require photo downloading techniques that are more complicated.
Screen Size
Look for a sufficiently large screen size. The smallest of the digital photo frames measure 5.6 inches, which does not provide easy viewing unless the photo frame is viewed from a few feet away. A screen size of at least 7 inches will allow for easy viewing from most points in an average room, so this is generally the minimum size to consider. If the digital photo frame will be displayed in a large room or will be hung on a wall, a larger screen size is preferable: an 11 or 12 inch screen works best in this case.
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that are contained within each frame. The higher the pixel count, the better the quality of the picture will typically be. For a 7 inch digital picture frame, look for resolution of at least 720 pixels by 480 pixels. An 8 inch digital picture frame should have a minimum resolution of 800 pixels by 600 pixels. A digital picture frame 10 inches or larger needs to have a minimum resolution of 1,024 pixels by 768 pixels.
Aspect Ratio
It is important to be aware of the aspect ratio of the digital photo frame because digital cameras capture photos in a specific aspect ratio,. For ideal display of photos the aspect ratios should match. The majority of digital cameras capture photos in a 4:3 aspect ratio, and most digital photo frames display in 4:3 aspect ratio. Aspect ratios such as 16:9 (widescreen ratio) and 15:9 will stretch or otherwise distort photos to fit the screen, so in most cases the 4:3 aspect ratio is the best choice.
Memory
Sufficient space to hold photos is an important feature to look for in a digital photo frame. Frames will have a specific amount of built-in memory storage, some of the more expensive holding thousands of photos in the internal memory. A memory card slot is a good feature to look for, since it will allow the porting of photos directly from a digital camera's memory card. Check for memory card and digital photo frame compatibility prior to purchase.
Connectivity
A digital photo frame with more than one connectivity option is a good feature because it can make it simpler to download photos regularly. Most digital photo frames are equipped with a USB port that can be used to download photos using a USB cord. Additional download options to look for include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability. These options will allow for wireless syncing from laptop computers, camera phones, some photo sharing Internet sites and Wi-Fi capable cameras.
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