Sony S-Frame DPF-X1000 review

We liked Sony's DPF-V900 frame when we reviewed it last year. The DPF-X1000 is larger at 10.2in, but it has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is slightly odd given that most cameras don't take photos in this ratio.

However, this is the best photo frame we've seen. Quality is exquisite, with the bright screen having excellent contrast and wide viewing angles. It's stylish, too, thanks to its 'frameless' design. Given the steep price, there are few frills. There's no WiFi, no speakers and no support for video. Sony has instead concentrated on making the X1000 exceptional at its sole job: displaying photos.

You can set slideshow intervals from three seconds to 24 hours, and images automatically rotate when you turn the frame from landscape to portrait mode. The screen automatically dims depending on the ambient light level and there's an HDMI output for viewing photos on an HD TV.

There are various options for viewing photos. You can either view a standard slideshow with a choice of transitions or choose from scores of other templates that show photos along with clocks or calendars, or show your photos in scrapbooks or collages. All these options help fill the display's 16:9 aspect ratio.

Even the menu system is a cut above the rest. Menus are easy to navigate, and respond quickly to inputs. The alarm will be handy if you keep the frame in a bedroom, while the ability to retouch photos automatically is also useful if you don't have the time to do it manually. It'll remove red eye plus optimise white balance, focus and exposure. The on/off timer is the best we've seen; you simply mark the hours when you want the frame on, so it's possible to have it turn on and off multiple times, and at different times, each day.

With 2GB of built-in memory, you can store plenty of photos without having to leave a memory card plugged in, and it's easy to copy images to and from cards. The price will put the DPF-X1000 out of the reach of many people, but if you're after the ultimate photo frame, this is it.

Author: Jim Martin