If Kodak's EasyShare SV710 digital picture frame had a larger display area and slightly sharper picture quality, it would be one of the best frames available. Unfortunately, those two drawbacks somewhat limit its appeal. The SV710 does offer an excellent street price of about $100, making it a great choice for budget-conscious consumers.

The SV710 has a 7-inch screen (measured diagonally), which leaves it a little below average. The brightness and contrast levels are very good for a unit in this price range, but the overall image sharpness isn't where it should be, and an above-average contrast ratio cannot overcome the sharpness problems. If you shoot a lot of black-and-white photos, however, the SV710 does work pretty well with them.

Kodak includes some high-end features with the SV710. Having the ability to save dozens of photos and audio files directly in the frame is extremely handy and somewhat rare for a unit at this price point. If you'd rather load your pictures via memory card, the SV710 is compatible with six different card formats. You can also link from your computer via USB. The SV710 has built-in speakers, allowing you to play MP3 files while viewing photos, and you can give the SV710 commands through the included remote control.

If you're on a budget, the SV710 is an excellent value and it certainly is among the best units in its price range. However, a few minor drawbacks leave the Kodak EasyShare SV710 behind other models in terms of performance.


Pros: Great starting price, 128MB of internal memory, accepts six memory card formats, good contrast ratio and brightness, built-in speakers for music
Cons: Somewhat small display area, disappointing image quality, no battery option

Warranty
1 year