How To Buy A Digital Photo Frame And Get Good Value

By Dave Joa
If you like photos and photography you will probably be amazed at the quality of the images that can now be displayed on the latest digital photo frames. When you see what they can do you will want to buy one and have some fun. These electronic photo displays will let you see your digital photo collection at its best.

However before you buy a digital picture frame there are some minimum requirements that you need to check for the photo frame you are thinking of buying.

You Really Need To Get a High Resolution Frame!

To get a clear, crisp and brightly lit image to show your photos at their best you must look closely at the resolution of the display screen that the photo frame uses. Digital picture frames use a Liquid Crystal Display. These are just like those used in flat panel televisions, but on a smaller scale.

Image quality on a digital photo frame is very important. So much so that if you do not get this right you will not see a good quality image on your new photo display.

Many different resolutions are available and you need a 640x480 resolution as a minimum or 800x600 if you can afford it. It will make a big difference to the enjoyment of your photo collection. Any frame with a resolution below this minimum will not display images as well as the original photo and you will not like what you see.

Also if you go for a larger size LCD display of 10 inches or over then also go for the highest resolution you can afford as well. So for the sharpest images you should always go for the highest resolution. If the frame you want seems cheap then check the resolution before buying.

What Aspect Ratio Do You Want?

There are just two different aspect ratios to consider for digital photo frames and these are the less common 15:9 and the normal 4:3, which is found in images from most of todays more common digital cameras.

Because most photo images from digital cameras are in 4:3 format this is the best ratio for displaying your photos as they were taken. A digital frame using 15:9 will have more impact with a cinema-like image as on a widescreen TV.

Unfortunately if you display 4:3 images on a 15:9 digital screen then the top and bottom of the image will be chopped of to make it fit, which you might not like..

Get the Right Memory Card Slot.

If possible get a digital photo frame with a multiple card reader slot so that you can use your existing memory card and also your friends. If only one card reader slot is provided then you will need to make sure that it is the same as that used in your digital camera.

You may need a USB port.

In order to move digital photos and images from your digital camera or computer using a USB cable then the digital frame you buy must have a matching USB slot for the cable. If you only want to use memory cards to transfer your images you will not need USB.

What Other Options Do You Want?

There are many other options now available for the digital photo frame, such as wi-fi connectivity to download images from the web, speakers, headphones, remote controls, alarm clocks and many more. These are selected by personal choice and of course you should expect to pay more if they are what you want.

With the recommendations you have just read you will be well prepared for making the right choice when choosing a quality digital photo frame that will give you great images and at a great price. Remember to just ignore the brand labels as these really should not influence your decision.