Editor's Choice 2007: Imaging Essentials

If you shoot nonstop with your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone but are frustrated by its skimpy display screen, here's a solution: Beam your photos to MediaStreet's eMotion Bluetooth Digital Picture Frame. Its screen is a big, bright seven inches, its built-in memory an ample 256MB. If your phone doesn't have Bluetooth but does have a removable microSD card, you can transfer images to the frame with an adapter using its slots for xD, SD, and CF cards, as well as a port for USB (2.0) flash drives. (The removable outer frame of real wood pops off to reveal a second, acrylic frame underneath.)

The frame also plays compressed MPEG video files (with audio) at full 640x480 VGA resolution, and, through a set of built-in speakers, MP3, WMA and other music formats. Operated via built-in control buttons or the supplied remote, it even includes a built-in calendar, alarm clock, and basic image-editing functions. And it is one of the few digital picture frames to offer updateable firmware through its USB connection. The eMotion Bluetooth frame displays most still image formats, including JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and BMP -- it can even be used to read eBooks. About $160.

Delkin SensorScope

Sometimes a modest idea can make a big difference. A case in point is this deceptively simple illuminated magnifier. It helps cure one of D-SLR photography's biggest headaches: dirt and dust on the sensor, which leave spots in the image that require labor-intensive retouching. Many D-SLRs now have some form of automatic sensor cleaning, but none are foolproof, and older models all require manual cleaning. The SensorScope makes this job much easier, with four super-bright LEDs that provide abundant light and 5X magnifying optics that reveal every speck of debris. Just put your camera on its back in sensor-cleaning mode (which raises the mirror and opens the shutter), place the SensorScope on the lens mount, press the scope's power button, and look through the eyepiece. If you see dust you can clean it with Delkin's own DigitalDuster Kit (which uses a mini vacuum and cleaning wands) or systems from other manufacturers. Then inspect again to make sure the sensor is clean. A carrying case and two CR2025 batteries are included. About $90.

American PHOTO Editor's Choice 2007
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