PCPhoto

Toolbox: Photo & Multimedia Viewers

Portable viewers provide a big screen for review and backup storage while on the go

By Dave Willis

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Many digital cameras are now sporting large, high-resolution LCDs, which are terrific for composition and limited review of images. We’re glad to see these larger screens, but for an even better mobile viewing experience, multimedia viewers are hard to beat.

Smaller and more portable than a laptop, these viewers include the ability to view all types of media, including photos. Some have built-in card readers and ample internal storage for backing up and reviewing images as you shoot.

With sharp resolutions and preview functions like zooming and panning, multimedia players provide enhanced visual inspection. This can help you check details like exposure and focus with better clarity than on the camera’s LCD—before you find out too late that you’ve missed the shot. Images that pass the review are then safely archived for convenient transport, and multimedia players can even function as a redundant backup.

Also, with one small gadget, you can have an entire portfolio of your work to show to friends, family and business prospects. Many players offer slick slideshow presentations for such occasions, often with the ability to output to televisions as well. Plus, the multimedia features allow you to take some entertainment along with you too, all in one handy device.

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