In the past, you had to choose which precious photos you would most like to have in your home. Today that is no longer necessary. With a digital photo frame you can see as many photos as you want.
What is a digital photo frame?
A digital photo frame is a simple mini computer that specializes in displaying photos taken with a digital camera. That can be a real photo camera, but also just the camera on your smartphone or tablet. A digital photo frame shows several photos in succession in a kind of slide show. You decide which photos those are and for how long they should be shown. You can also choose to show a photo in the list for a long time.
The most important part of a digital photo frame is the screen on which the photos are displayed. This is a so-called IPS screen, which is also used in smartphones. This screen ensures that photos always look sharp, even in the dark. The colors also remain clearly visible from every viewing angle, which is of course important with a photo frame. You don’t want to be able to see the photos properly if you’re sitting right in front of them.
In addition to a mini computer, a digital photo frame has its own memory in which the photos are stored. Furthermore, a photo frame has one or more connections. For example, a memory card reader and a USB connection for a USB stick. This allows you to transfer photos from a camera, tablet, smartphone or PC to the list.
Just like a regular photo frame, you can place or hang a digital photo frame. It is important that there is a socket nearby, because without power a digital photo frame cannot do anything.
If you want to buy a digital photo frame, there are a number of parts and features to look out for. Below you see an overview.
Screen
The screen is the most important part of a digital photo frame. After all, you want photos to look as nice and sharp as possible. First of all, you need to determine which frame size best suits your interior and taste. This size is usually stated in inches (2.54 centimeters) and measured from one corner oblique to the opposite corner. So, for example, from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Nowadays, the width and height are often stated in centimeters with digital photo frames.
Various sizes of digital photo frames are available for sale. From a small format of 7 inches (17.5 cm) to luxurious high-resolution photo frames of up to 24 inches (60 cm). In the latter case, you are talking about a photo frame the size of a small television. You can also play videos on it. The price of a 7-inch frame is around €70, the price for a TV-sized frame is above €400.
Incidentally, all photo frames have an option that automatically displays photos in the correct size. So you don’t have to worry about small photos being completely stretched in a large photo frame.
Usually, pictures are taken in normal landscape orientation (landscape). This means that the photo is wider than it is tall. But you will also regularly take pictures in portrait mode, especially on a smartphone. It is therefore useful if a photo frame can show both portrait and landscape photos. With many digital photo frames you have the choice to use it portrait or landscape. If a photo does not fit completely on the screen, it will automatically be displayed correctly. By zooming in or with black bars on the side of the photo.
As with computer monitors and TVs, screen resolution is important with a digital photo frame. This is the number of dots (pixels) that make up the image. The more pixels, the sharper photos will be displayed. With smaller format lists, the resolution will automatically be lower, because there are simply no more pixels on the screen. With larger formats you have more choice. More pixels on a screen does mean a somewhat more expensive photo frame.
Finally, the brightness of the screen is something to take into account. The higher the brightness, for example 200 cd/m2, the better the image contrast in the photos in rooms with a lot of light. Simply put: you can see your photos better in such a space.
Memory
Every digital photo frame has its own memory in which photos are stored. Photos take up quite a bit of space these days, because they are taken with an increasingly higher image resolution. This gives nice sharp and detailed photos, but also requires extra memory space. Eight GB (gigabyte) of memory space is therefore the minimum you need. More memory space is a plus, because then you can store more photos in the frame and you can therefore show more photos in succession.
Incidentally, the memory in the photo frame can be expanded with a memory card. The list can then take its photos directly from there. All modern digital photo frames have a slot to insert a memory card. Most use the small micro SD cards for this, but some have a regular sized SD card reader. Such an ordinary SD card reader has the advantage that you can also insert a micro SD card with an adapter. Please note that not all photo frames can use the memory card as additional memory. With certain lists you can only put photos in the memory of the list with the memory card. You then view it from that memory.
Put photos in your photo frame
You don’t just use memory cards with a digital photo frame to get more memory. They also provide a way to transfer photos from another device, such as a camera or smartphone, to the frame.
You can also use a USB connection for some of the photo frames. You connect a USB stick, an external hard drive or a device such as a smartphone or PC to transfer photos. The options differ per photo frame.
Physically transferring photos with a memory card or USB connection can be called a bit old-fashioned these days. Modern photo frames have a wireless connection such as Bluetooth or WiFi, so that you can make contact with the photo frame directly from a smartphone, tablet or even a suitable camera. You can wirelessly transfer your photos to the memory of the photo frame.
A very nice side effect of a connection via WiFi – i.e. wireless internet – is that family and friends can also send their photos directly to your photo frame. For example, you can enjoy their holiday experiences directly from your home.
A special app is available for placing photos of others on the photo frame. You decide who has or does not have access to your photo frame. The app also helps establish a secure wireless connection between another device and your frame.
Service
Most digital photo frames have several control options. For example, to set which photos you want to show in the slide show and how long a photo should remain on the screen.
Operation is possible via the screen of the photo frame if this is a touchscreen. This is very easy, but the disadvantage is that you have to have the photo frame at hand and that sooner or later grease and other dirt will appear on the screen. Another way to operate the photo frame is by using a simple remote control. This is usually a bit more cumbersome than with a touchscreen, but at least you can do it without having to walk to the photo frame. A remote control is, among other things, nice if you want to manually go to the next photo in the list.
Finally, many photo frames have an app that you use on your smartphone or tablet. An app offers a combination of a touchscreen and remote control. You can set everything without having to get up, and at the same time see what you’re doing on the screen of your mobile.
Also important
Digital photo frames are not just about showing photos. It is also possible to play videos on certain lists, especially the larger ones. That way you can, for example, watch holiday videos in your photo frame. To complete the multimedia package, there is sometimes also an option to play music files.
Digital photo frames also regularly offer other additional functions, such as a clock and a calendar.
Every digital photo frame gets its power from the socket, so there is always a cord attached. There are photo frames with rechargeable batteries, but they do not last longer than a few hours. You still have to connect the photo frame to the socket to see your photos again.
It’s not just the size of a digital photo frame that matters when you place it in your home. Of course you also want it to fit in a bit with your interior. Just like with normal photo frames, you can therefore choose from different frames. Black, gray, white or wood-colored are most common. Manufacturers often offer different frames for the same type of photo frame. So feel free to look around to see if a technically interesting photo frame is also available in a different color.
Making a choice
There are many digital photo frames for sale in all shapes and sizes. In order to make a good choice, it is important that you first look at which wishes the photo frame must meet. Unlike many devices, appearance is quite important with photo frames. Finally, the frame must fit well with the interior.
First determine how large the photo frame should be. Is a small size of 7 inches enough? Or do you prefer a larger size of 11 or even 24 inches. In the latter case, you also immediately have a suitable screen for showing videos. Keep in mind that a larger size also means a higher price.
Also check which frame color fits well with your interior. This prevents you from selecting a suitable list on the technical properties and then discovering that it does not fit nicely in your room.
Then determine the technical properties. A higher resolution means a better image but also a higher price. The brightness is also important. If the frame is to stand or hang in a room where the sun often shines in, choose one with a high brightness of, say, 200 cd/m2.
The size of the digital photo frame’s memory determines how many photos it can store. If you would like to see many different photos in the frame with a high resolution, choose a frame with a large memory of 16 GB or more.
If you mainly take your photos with a digital camera, a photo frame with a memory card reader is useful. You can then place the memory card directly from the camera in the frame for transferring the photos.
Most modern photo frames have a WiFi connection. If it’s important to you that family and friends can list their photos over the Internet, keep this in mind.
Finally, it is wise to look at the way in which you can operate the digital photo frame. Would you like to do that remotely? Then check whether a remote control or app for a smartphone is included.
You can buy digital photo frames at electronics and photography stores. At webshops you have the option to filter on the properties of the photo frames, so that it is easier to find a frame that suits your needs.
