Basic Photo Frames

Frames without Wi-Fi are easier to set up

Digital picture frames without Wi-Fi cost less in general, though you obviously lose the option to grab photos from your computer or an online photo-sharing website. The upside is that they are far easier to use. Photos are loaded by inserting your camera's memory card, or by connecting a USB thumb drive or other portable storage device. Some frames include some internal memory to store photos, while others require you to leave it connected to the USB drive or memory card. Windows and Mac compatibility is less of an issue unless you want to connect the frame directly to your computer for loading images.

Sony has the largest selection of digital photo frames, announcing 11 new frames this fall. The Sony DPF-X1000B (*Est. $300) has a 10.2-inch screen, 2 GB of internal memory and uses Sony's TruBlack technology to improve contrasts and reduce reflection. A unique feature of the X1000B is an HDMI connector for viewing photos on an HDTV. Reviewers are mixed on the value of this feature with some scratching their heads as to why someone would buy a digital photo frame to show pictures on another, larger screen, while others justify the feature as a fun way to share photos with a large group or while entertaining.

DigitalPictureFrameReview.com's reviewer names Sony's DPF-V1000 an Editor's Choice for its excellent build quality, ease of use and refined feature set. (The V1000 is identical to the X1000B except for its lower 1 GB capacity.) Reviewer Stuart Miles at the British site Pocket-Lint.com gives the Sony X1000 digital picture frame an excellent rating of 9 out of 10. He says Sony's claims of minimal reflection are "spot on" and that "pictures are well reproduced and a number of features within the settings only help to enhance the visual experience further." Another feature that Miles likes is called "Auto Touch-up," which allows users to edit pictures directly on the frame. Options are basic, but they do include red-eye removal and exposure correction. One disappointment expressed by reviewers is the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity, which means no direct access to photo sharing sites like Flickr or SnapFish. The digital photo frame also does not support video.  

Finally, the 7-inch Pandigital PAN7000DW (*Est. $80) gets very good reviews from users and professionals. With 1 GB of built-in memory and video and MP3 support, this frame has an above average feature set for a below average price. Dozens of users weigh in on the Pandigital PAN7000DW on Amazon.com. Most say the picture quality on the 800-by-600-pixel resolution LCD screen is excellent, though some note problems with viewing angles. Another common complaint is difficulty loading video files onto the digital photo frame due to compatibility issues. Overall users say the frame is well worth the price and meets expectations. The Pandigital PAN7000DW digital frame has an optional Wi-Fi adapter, but we did not find any reviews that tested it out.