Review: Sony DPF-V1000

Written on Nov 19, 2009 by Thomas S. and filed under Reviews, Sony

Editor’s Note – This is a review of the Sony DPF-V1000. Sony also makes the DPF-X1000, which is identical to the V1000, except it has 2GB of internal memory compared to 1GB in the V1000. The DPF-V1000 has an MSRP of $249, the DPF-X1000 has an MSRP of $299.

Digital photo frames can usually be separated out into two categories; basic but affordable and high-end with interesting features. The Sony DPF-V1000 takes the digital picture frame one step further, showing pictures not only on its 10.2” screen but on your HDTV through a HDMI port. Sony has you covered if you like to have a picture frame showing off a gallery of pictures throughout the week, but also if you want to show off slideshows during parties on the big screen. Priced at $250 this model costs quite a bit more than competing models making us wonder if the features justify the price.

Sony 10.2” DPF-V1000 Specifications

• Widescreen 10.2” LED-Backlit TFT Display with HDMI-out
• Resolution: 1024 x 600
• Supported Image Format: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, up to 48 megapixels
• Built-in Memory Capacity: 1GB
• Memory Card Types: SD/ SDHC, MMC, MS, CF, xD
• USB flash drive support
• Bluetooth support with optional adapter

Build and Design

Compared to other digital picture frames on the market, Sony really nailed the design of the DPF-V1000. The front is completely flat with a lexan cover over the LCD panel. This protects the LCD and makes it easy to clean fingerprints off the front ifthe need arises. The outer edge of the display is trimmed with chrome, adding a dash of elegance to really bring the design together.

Viewing from the back, the side panels slope to the front edge of the display, to keep the profile looking thin. Sony gives you with two covers that close off each side, further cleaning up the design. One of the nicer elements to finish off the looks is a single chrome rod sticking out the back of the frame that acts as the stand in both its horizontal and vertical positions.

The build quality is superb with a rugged front cover over the LCD, solid metal stand, and covers to close off any unused ports. The unit as a whole feels solid when you are holding it and sits firmly on a flat desk surface when you place it out for viewing. The only real complaint you could find with the body of the frame is the stand which is fixed, making it impossible adjust for viewing angle.

Controls

The Sony DPF-V1000 uses buttons on the frame itself and an IR remote to the various functions of the frame. The primary keys such as viewing mode, menu, back, select, and direction pad are in both areas. This allows you navigate through albums without needing to break out the remote. The controls on the side of the frame are very intuitive. They are designed to be triggered with one hand, using your thumb to rest against the front of the frame and your pointer or middle finger controlling the buttons. To use the side controls you first press the menu button which then loads up an on-screen guide.

In the center of the display you see the current tab of the menu directory you are using and on the right side Sony programmed an overlay to show you how the buttons on the frame function. The overlay also lines up with the height of the buttons so you know where to find them without looking behind the frame.

The remote is rather cluttered but in a way I think it turned out great. Sony gives you all the needed buttons in a small form factor, which means it’s easy to slip into a shirt pocket or store behind the frame when not in use. They don’t worry about ergonomics which might get in the way of keeping the remote as small as possible. The buttons are clearly laid out and a different background texture helps to separate the higher function keys from the normal controls.

Display

The 10.2” LCD looks very nice when displaying pictures. Excellent color saturation and deep black levels really help make images pop. The glossy surface seems to improve the color and contrast of the images but increases the amount of glare and reflection off the screen. If you have the frame near a window or lamp the reflections can partially or fully obscure the image being shown.

Viewing angles were good, although you do notice some color shift when you are viewing images in the vertical viewing position. Since most screens have weaker viewing angles when tilted forward or back, when you rotate the screen on its side, moving side to side starts to show this color shift. Backlight levels are fine for brightly lit rooms, but not enough to overpower bright objects like the Sun or lights reflecting off the lexan cover.

One really cool feature I need to give credit to Sony for is the white LED-backlit logo on the front of the frame. The frame senses which orientation it is in, so when it is positioned vertically it turns the logo off. This might not seem like much, but it really helps polish off the look of a stylish photo frame when the company’s logo isn’t on sideways.

To display your images on the big screen Sony includes an HDMI port to connect the frame up to an HDTV. Image quality was perfect on my 1080P display and the scaling of the menus also looked great. One of the features I didn’t notice until I had plugged the frame into my TV was that it outputs music during slideshows. The slideshow menu is rather basic and the “BGM” setting was actually the background music. Sony gives you three options, BGM1, BGM2, and OFF… I chose the off option.

Memory Sources

This Sony picture frame can handle multiple input sources to pull images from. It offers 1GB of internal memory that you can use to store individual images copied off of memory cards. You also get a multi-card reader that can handle every memory card format under the sun, including Compact Flash, Memory Stick, SDHC, and xD memory. If you prefer loading pictures from your computer onto a USB flash drive, Sony offers USB port that will be read just like the memory card readers.

Display Modes

The Sony DPF-V1000 offers a few display modes that are handy no matter how you use the frame. As a dedicated picture frame you can chose the one of the preset slideshow templates (including images plus borders or other background) or the single image viewing mode. If you have the frame sitting at a desk it can act as a colorful clock or calendar only, or a combination clock and image viewer. There are more advanced viewing modes which can be used to display entire folders of images on the screen in a large grid or even EXIF information modes which display camera settings next to the current picture.

Menu System

The menu structure was intuitive and nicely displayed. If you load up the menu while viewing images, the menu shows up on top of the image in a semi-transparent form. This contrasts with other photo frames which load into screens with black backgrounds when editing menu settings. The menu system was split up into two areas, one used to edit pictures or frame settings, and the other used to select the current viewing mode. The settings were split up between editing photos, selecting the memory device, and frame settings. Besides the background music confusion mentioned in the display section, every menu option was easy to understand.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Looks great
• Lots of refined features
• HDMI out

Cons

• Pricey

Bottom Line

If you are looking for an easy to use digital picture frame that looks classy and don’t mind spending a bit more, the Sony DPF-V1000 is a great option. The 10.2” display looks great and will auto sense which orientation the frame is in. The clear lexan cover gives the front a cleaner look and also protects the LCD from fingerprints and scratches. If you host a lot of parties the HDMI-out might come in handy to show of pictures to a larger crowd without getting a computer involved. Overall if you can get past the steep MSRP of $249 this frame is worth adding to your list.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars – Editor’s Choice

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