Manufacturer: Sony
Model: DPF-D80
Price: £140
www.sony.co.uk

The digital photo frame is fast gaining in popularity and it’s easy to see why. Nothing comes close as a means of sharing and enjoying our favourite photos. When Sony entered the market with its 7in frame it blew the competition away with its combination of innovative features and outstanding image quality. Best of all, the £100 price tag was competitive.

Sony has since added 8in and 10.4in versions, at around £140 and £170 respectively. Both are available in a beautiful gloss black finish while the 8in also comes in a rich chocolate brown.

As with Sony’s other frames they offer a variety of viewing options. In the standard slideshow mode you can alter the duration of each image and the type of transition. You can also display random multiple images, or a single image with an analogue clock or calendar display. Perhaps the cleverest feature is the auto-orientation sensor which, when you turn the frame to the portrait format, automatically rotates the pictures. All these functions are controlled from the back of the frame or via the supplied remote control. Pictures can be imported to the frame by connecting it to a PC, or inserting a flash memory card. There’s also 256MB of internal memory, and images can be exported from the frame to the PC. In addition to jpegs, if you’ve got a Sony DSLR it can also display your Raw files.

Pros:
Styling, versatile viewing options, auto-rotate, awesome picture quality, remote control

Cons:
Clock doesn’t display current time when displayed with pictures. Mains only

Our Verdict:
It all sounds great but of course it’s the reproduction that counts, and the D80 that we reviewed does not disappoint. Picture quality is up there with the very best on the market – images look vibrant, with excellent colour and contrast, and they’re sharp as a razor (assuming the originals are, of course). What’s more, the wide viewing angle means you don’t have to be right in front of it to see images clearly

What Digital Camera Score: 92%