Recently, I hosted a “welcome back” party for a friend who just returned from Africa. While out there, she got engaged to her long-term U.S. boyfriend, so we had lots to talk about and, luckily, she had lots of photos to help tell her story. As the dinner party hostess, I had the challenge of coming up with the best way to display her digital pictures for all to enjoy.
The solution was much more simple and elegant than just setting up a computer. I collected her images from her fiancé and her Snapfish account and uploaded them onto a digital picture frame. While I finished cooking, the guests gathered around the frame and listened as she filled them in. On rotation all night, guests were able to see shots they might have missed earlier. It was a fantastic and subtle way to catch up without any hassle.
Finding the right frame is easy, when you know what your priorities are. For most (myself included), the look and style is key. Size, storage capacity (the amount of images its memory can hold), and wireless options are also important factors. Whatever your preferences, I highly recommend that everyone only look into high-resolution 4:3 aspect ratio frames to accommodate the photo size captured by most digital cameras.
With all these features in mind, I’ve selected my top three favorite digital frames currently on the market that will beautifully set the stage for all your vivid photo stories.
Kodak EasyShare P725 Digital Frame, $89
PERKS This sleek and simple best-seller has lots of great customer reviews, most of them raving about its user-friendliness. Photos are automatically resized to fit, meaning you won’t get that stretched look or have to choose a black border in order to see it in the correct ratio. With 512 MB of internal memory, at the standard 72 dpi, it will hold up to 4,000 pictures. If you have images on a memory card or stick, you can review those images directly from that source (no need to upload them into the frame’s memory) via card slots and a USB port. The 10.9-ounce frame is also Energy Star-rated and the display is mercury-free.
DISADVANTAGES It’s not battery operated, so you’ll need a power source and the cord is only six feet long. If you want to load your images directly onto the internal memory, you must have Windows XP or higher operating system. Macs are incompatible. The frame shows JPEG or EXIF files only, which does include TIFFs but does not include GIF or PNG. Translation: Most of your images will read, but some emailed images or screen shots may not. Also, with a black-bordered display screen of only seven inches, it’s on the smaller side (others range up to 15 inches).
Insignia 3.5-Inch Portable LCD Digital Photo Frame, $35
PERKS Best for “taking the show on the road,” this no-frills petite frame features a carrying case, weighs a mere 3.4 ounces, and has a built-in lithium-ion battery, which will last up to two hours. Plus, it’s Mac and PC compatible.
DISADVANTAGES The internal memory is small (can hold only 35 images), but the saving grace here is that it comes with a USB memory stick and card slots. Oh, and the display screen is only 3.5-inches, so plan on huddling in to watch.
Pandigital Pantouch 15-Inch Digital Picture Frame, $230
PERKS The espresso-colored wood frame and gray or white interchangeable matte backgrounds make this popular large-display photo frame the most traditional-looking of my three picks. Ironically, it’s also the most technologically advanced with WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities (no computer needed to transfer images from anywhere including from your phone). A USB port is available if you prefer to input your photos using a cable or memory stick. With 2GB of internal memory, you can store up to a whopping 4,800 images. The frame supports all JPEGs, AVI, and MP3 media files, which lets you show short home movies with sound thanks to its built-in speakers.
DISADVANTAGES At 10 pounds, you’ll likely want to park this dynamic device (and keep it there), preferably near an outlet, which it’ll need to stay juiced up.
About Our Expert: With 20 years as an editor, director and producer of photography for magazines and newspapers, Amelia Hennighausen has been immersed in the change from film to digital from the beginning. Also, as a professor of photojournalism at New York’s Fordham University, she’s made it her job to keep on top of the latest developments in technology and to stay current with the most recent trends.
[Photography courtesy of Kodak, Insignia,and Pandigital]
Published on March 25, 2010
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