Want a smaller and inexpensive Digital Picture Frame for the Office or as a Gift?
Written: Feb 10 '08 (Updated Feb 11 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Price, Clarity, Sharpness, Size.
Cons: Restarts at photo number one after sleeping.
The Bottom Line: Display those pictures of friends and relatives with faces only a mother could love in a smaller frame.
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| smallmouth's Full Review: Kodak Easyshare S510 Digital Picture Frame |
Needing a smaller digital picture frame than the ones I currently have on display, I entered the market and started my search for the best little digital picture frame out there. My first step was to read reviews from consumers. Reading reviews gave me the gist and information to get started. My next step was to search the manufacturers and vendors web sites. After taking those initial steps from my home computer, I had a general idea of which ones I was interested in and had narrowed the search down to a select few. Then the footwork came in and I went to stores to check them out first hand to make my final decision. I was leaning towards the Kodak S510 before the footwork part of my search mostly because of the good reviews I had read and because I have had excellent luck with the Kodak SV-710 and SV-1011 models. Not to mention Kodak’s history of making quality products and being a trusted name brand company. I liked what I saw first hand and subsequently came home with one.
--------------------What is it?--------------------
This is one of those billion dollar ideas that I wish I had thought of first. But since I did not, I have to pay for it with my unimaginative hard earned dollars like everyone else. And what a great idea it is. With virtually every photographer, regardless of skill level, entering the field of digital photography, the technology had to keep up for displaying the digital photographs. What better way to display them than with a digital frame that can cycle the pictures through. Kodak has been at the cutting edge of photography since the days when subjects being photographed had to remain perfectly still for several minutes to ensure a correct exposure and picture. They are a trusted name across the globe and I naturally turned to them for my digital picture frame needs. You will see me use DPF. as the initials for D igital P icture F rame throughout this review.
--------------------Easy of Use--------------------
This is pretty much a plug-and-play product. Manufacturing companies have to assume consumers are idiots when programming their products for use, and they have assumed we are idiots with this one. That is fine by me, I don’t take any offense to it, it just makes using the frame and setting it up that much easier. The manufacturing companies also realize that men are unable to read product manuals, directions and set up guides, these aids are just not visible to us and do not exist in our minds. No red blooded man would ever get caught reading the directions on how to assemble or use a product.
The Kodak S510 is incredibly easy to use. Unpack it from the box, plug it in, and connect either your digital camera or memory card and the frame will walk you through it. You will be viewing pictures within the first minute of opening the box. The pictures will come up in the order they are on the camera or card. By following the directions you can look through the pictures, set them up in a slide show, delete them, and copy them.
--------------------Display and Appearance--------------------
The Frame: The display screen is bright and crisp. Like other Kodak DPF’s, I consider the frame to have the appearance of being elegantly sharp. It is a dark frame which enhances the vision of the picture.It is black around the outer edge and beveled into a gray interior edge. The black is a semi gloss so it doesn’t attract attention, it directs the viewers eyes to the picture. The dark colors of the frame compliment the brighter and lighter colors usually involved with the photographs.There are three different planes the frame portrays from the outer edge of the frame leading into the picture screen which also gives the appearance of a funneling effect gently bringing the viewers eyes towards the photographs and away from the frame.
Vert or Horz: As consumers, we love having options. This frame gives you options. It can be displayed either vertically or horizontally. This is a great option for the person decorating the home or office. They have the choice of how the frame will be hung or set up. The default mode is panoramic or horizontal, but with a couple clicks of the remote or side buttons, the frame can be set up for vertical viewing. Another benefit to having this option is to match it up with the type of pictures you take. If your pictures are wider, set the frame up this way, if you take pictures with the camera sideways or edit it in a taller display, set the frame up this way.
--------------------Photo Display Options--------------------
While not very technical or complicated, the little Kodak S510 does offer the viewer some options. The options pertain to the slide show and the display of the pictures.
Picture Display Duration: The default mode for this frame is a display of 3 seconds per photo when in slide show mode. However, you have the option of displaying each individual photo for any period of time from three seconds to one hour. When I display it on a desk or at a work station, I like for it to cycle through the pictures and I keep it on a fast rotation. When I am displaying a DPF on a wall I let the pictures stand for several minutes. This is just my preference.
Screen Fit or Screen Fill: In the Screen Fit mode, the picture in it’s entirety will be shown. Depending on the size and shape of the picture and how it fits, there might be a black border around the image if it doesn’t fit perfectly in the frame. In the Screen Fill mode, the entire screen is filled by the picture. If the picture size is not conducive to the size of the frame, some of the picture might be cropped or invisible depending on size and frame orientation.
--------------------Setting Up the Frame Physically --------------------
There are a couple of simple things you will need to do for setting up the frame. It comes with a stand. Decide if you will display the frame vertically of horizontally, on a counter/table top or hanging from a wall. If you are displaying it on a counter/table top, it comes with a handy little stand or brace for support. This simply snaps into the allotted slot provided on the back of the frame. The power port is located on the side of the frame and this is similar to the USB ports on your computer. Plug in the provided cord which comes with the frame. There is also a remote control holder which snaps onto the back of the frame.
--------------------Memory Cards Accepted--------------------
The frame will accept a card up to 2 Gigs. The cards accepted are; Secure Digital (SD), Multi-Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), and XD Picture Card (xD).
--------------------System Requirements--------------------
Mac: Macintosh OS X 10.3 or higher, POWER MAC / POWER BookG3, G4, G5, iMac, eMac, iBook, MacBookPro, Safari 1.1 or higher.
Windows: Windows XP or higher, Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, 600 MHz processor or greater.
Hardware: 128 MB RAM, 200 MB hard disk drive space available, CD-ROM drive, Available USB Port. Let me give you a tip or some user advice here. Skip this section and do not install any of the Hardware provided for your PC. The frame will work perfectly by installing your memory card into the frame. Bypass this unnecessary step and save some space on your hard drive and don’t bog down your computer.
--------------------Specs--------------------
Total Size: 7.3 X 6.2 inches
Display Size: 5.6 inches
Resolution: 320 X 234 pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Backlight: LED
--------------------Accessories--------------------
Remote Control: Just like the remote from my other digital picture frames, the first thing I thought when I saw the small and thin size of the remote control was, this thing is a goner. I tend to misplace remote controls for extended periods of time, especially small ones. I was delighted to find the storage port located on the back of the frame where the remote can be stored easily and safely when not in use. I always know just where it is when I want to use it. This remote allows you to control the pictures, set-up the frame, turn the picture frame off and on, and navigate through pictures and windows. Play around with the remote a little bit and you will get used to it in a short amount of time. Who ever thought there would be picture frames with remote controls twenty years ago?
AC Power Cord: The frame comes with a standard AC power cord. The cord connects the frame to the power source of a wall socket.
--------------------Maintenance--------------------
Cleaning the screen: I tend to be very cautious when cleaning any of my digital screens including, television, computer monitor, and DPF’s. I touch them as minimal as possible and try to keep them out of reach of children. However, accidents happen, people get grabby, dust collects, and screens get dirty. In my mind, if you scratch the display of a product like this, it is pretty much ruined. I want the screen to look just as nice as when it was opened from the package. Now I am not so anal-retentive that I leave the protective see-through film that is used for packaging on the screen, but I am cautious. Leaving the film on the display screen is similar to my friends mother who bought a protective see-through cover for her furniture and used it all of the time. It was plastic and slippery and no one knows what the material of the furniture felt like. She cleaned her sofa’s with Windex. If my DPF screens need cleaning, I use a soft cloth and an easy wipe. Make sure you are not using rough paper towels or a rag or cloth with any foreign substances on them, it would be a shame to ruin the screen.
Changing the Remote Battery: I have not had to do this yet but I am the type of guy who takes things apart and puts them back together, so I know how it is done. The remote takes a CR2025 3 volt lithium battery. These are the little round disc pancake shaped watch batteries. The battery holder slides into the back of the remote and can be removed by pinching the two tabs together.
--------------------Things I like about it--------------------
Its Sharp and Clear: These are things that you should expect from a name brand company such as Kodak. For its size, I find the display very clear and crisp. This is important to me no matter what size digital frame I have. Just because it is a small frame does not mean it shouldn’t be clear.
Price: I like the price of the Kodak S510. For under $70 you get a high quality, name brand, and easy to use DPF.
Small size: The small size is actually the reason I bought this frame. This was not the first DPF I purchased. I have larger ones but needed one that was smaller for various reasons. It takes up less space on a desk or wall. Some pictures do not need a large display and this frame is perfect for them.
You can view your memory cards easily with this frame. If you have a handful of memory cards and are unsure of their contents, just slip it into the frame to find out what they contain. There are easier ways of doing this and probably quicker with certain cameras and computers, but sometimes its just easier or handier to do it with the frame.
Easy to Use: I guess I have previously covered this but felt compelled to list it here. Kodak DPF’s are incredibly easy to use and this model is not an exception.
--------------------Things I dislike about it--------------------
Kodak’s persisting problem, the rotation starts all over again. This problem is not exclusive to this frame. With all of the different size Kodak DPF’s I have, they all do the same thing. When they are shut off or even put into sleep mode, they always restart at number one. If you have 400 pictures on the memory and you get up to say number 52 and you shut it off for the night, in the morning it won’t start at number 53, it starts at number 1. This rings true for the sleep mode as well as the power mode. I have learned a little bit recently about Kodak’s Firmware upgrade program. The Firmware is the program that runs in your frame. It is the internal computer. Kodak gives the consumer the ability to download new advancements or upgrades when they are available for their products through their Firmware upgrades program. If Kodak ever rectifies this problem with their DPF’s, we will be able to upgrade or download the software to our products for free from our home computers.
It’s a little bit slow in cycling through buttons and set up. This just tells me that the internal computer is probably cheap and of lower grade. This isn’t a real problem, more like an inconvenience in an era of instant everything to have to wait a couple of seconds can feel like an eternity.
Unlike other Kodak DPF’s, you can’t print from it. This isn’t really a big deal either but it is a nice feature that their higher end models possess.
Doesn’t come with a USB cable. This will cost you another $25 if you don’t have one that you can use for the frame. This is needed to connect to a camera or computer.
--------------------Recommended to:--------------
Newcomers to DPF’s: This is a great starter DPF. It is incredibly easy to use, is relatively inexpensive, and is quality made. If you want to enter the DPF field but have cold feet or reserves about buying a more expensive DPF, try the Kodak S510. If you don’t like the digital frames your out $70 bucks.
Small Display Areas: If you have a small work area, cubicle, not much wall space, or are just generally confined, and you want a DPF, this is a great one in a small package.
Gifts: I like this model and the next size up for gifting. Everyone loves a DPF and most people have converted to Digital Cameras so these make for excellent gifts. Birthdays, Weddings, etc, etc.
--------------------Price and Availability--------------------
These are currently selling for $70. They are available at numerous inter-net sites and carried at Wal-Mart and other large retail stores. Kodak has packaged this frame with the Easyshare C613 Camera for around $150.
© smallmouth 2008
Want a Larger DPF? Kodak SV-710
Special Thanks goes out to Howard Creech for adding this product to the epinions database.
Recommended:
Yes
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