Digital Picture Frames – How do I choose the best for the best price?

Digital Pictures Frames are a great gift for any occassion. There are many, many different types of digital picture frames being sold that it can make my head spin trying to figure out which one has the best image display quality for the best price. Determining image display quality requires a little bit of understanding of the different specifications describing a digital picture frame. Here are some brief, user-friendly descriptions of different features that come with a digital photo frame.  Hopefully, it can make you choice easier.

Size – from key chain size to 17”:  Larger may not always be the best. With a larger frame, brightness and image quality may be decreased so really look at how you will be using the digital picture frame. If larger is the only way, then pay close attention to the resolution and brightness specifications.

Resolution - determines the quality of the displayed image:  Common resolutions for digital devices are 1280x1024, 1024x768, 800x600, and 640x480. A small screen with a large resolution will give you the best pixel density meaning more pixels per square inch.

Example:

1280x600 = 1,310,720 pixels²

8”x10” = 80"²

1,310,720 pixels² / 80”² = 16,384 pixels² per inch²

Take the square root of 16,384 = 128 pixels per inch

If you do the same calculation for 800x600 resolution with a image size of 8”x10”, you will see the pixel density drop to 77.5 pixels per inch.

Brightness – makes an image display easier to view in bright conditions:  Digital picture frames can have a brightness that ranges from 250 to 300 cd/m² (candelas per meter squared or nits). More expensive digital picture frames will have adjustable brightness to suit your room conditions.

Contrast Ratio – describes the vibrancy of an image:  A larger number means there is a greater difference in luminosity between the brightness white and darkest black. Digital picture frames have contrast ratios of 400:1 or 300:1. For a more vibrant image, choose 400:1.

Aspect Ratio – shows if an image will be distorted or cropped to fit on the screen:  The aspect ratio is the ratio between the horizontal width and vertical height of the screen. Digital picture frames have an aspect ratio of 15:9 or 4:3. Digital cameras take pictures with an aspect ratio of 4:3. This means that if you have a digital picture frame with an aspect ratio of 15:9 your images will be cropped and/or distorted when viewed on the frame. A digital picture frame with an aspect ratio of 4:3 will not have to distort a picture from a digital camera.

For some extra $$$, you may be interested in some of the following features that are currently available or will be in the future:

Compatible for a standard 8x10 frame: There are some digital picture frames that will fit easily into any standard 8x10 picture frame making it easier for you to customize it into your décor.

Support of video and/or audio files: Generally a standard feature now which gives you the ability to play video and audio files on you digital picture frame.

Basic Wi-Fi/Wireless Internet: A great feature that enables you to gain access to the internet through the digital picture frame and send digital picture from your computer directly to the digital picture frame without using memory cards or cables.

Full web browsers: A feature that will be available in the near future that will give you the ability to read emails and surf the web like on your mobile phone.

Streaming Internet Radio/Text News Feed: Near future features that will probably come with a full web browser.

Taking all these things into consideration will help you choose the best digital picture frame to fit your needs.

And that's Just About It!