Fall 2005 Photo Printer Buyers Guide
By David Elrich
November 15th, 2005
The Easy Way to Buy a Printer
Taking a great picture is wonderful. Turning it into a gorgeous print to give to friends and family is even better. Today it's even simpler, quicker and less expensive than even to make dazzling prints. Your first clue about any printer's photographic capabilities is as obvious as its name, such as the Canon Pixma Photo Printers, HP Photosmart, Epson Stylus Photo, Lexmark Home Photo Printers, and Sony Digital Photo Printers.
You may have to dig a little deeper with other models that don't have "photo" in their names. This doesn't mean you can't print photos with them; rather, there are models like the ones just mentioned that utilize specific technologies to deliver the ultimate in photo-quality prints. At this time, inkjet printers are the most popular way to make prints at home but models that use the dye sublimation process are gaining in popularity especially for 4x6-inch prints.
No matter if you choose inkjet or "dye sub" printers, crisp detail and smooth color gradation are the keys to good prints. When you get your photos back from the lab, they're shiny and smooth (without lines or dots). Getting this quality at home depends on several factors including printer resolution, i.e., how many dots per inch (DPI) of ink the printer lays on the paper as well as paper quality. When you're out shopping, the higher the resolution, the smaller the dots and, in theory, the better the prints. The best way to gauge any printer's photo capabilities is looking at sample prints at the store or on printer company websites. There are a couple of other criteria to keep in mind as well.
The Tiny Dots
In general, look for the highest number of DPI and levels of gradation. Some of the best printers offer 9600 x 2400 DPI and over 50 levels of gradation. Another important specification for inkjet printers is ink drop size, typically measured in picoliters. The smaller the number, the more ink per square inch can be placed on the paper. The more ink, the more accurate and lifelike the color of the print. Canon's new Pixma iP5200 is rated one picoliter, the best in the industry but you'll find many rated 1.5 and two picoliters. Expect to pay $150 or more for a photo printer with such high specs. Although this may seem expensive since there are printers readily available for 50 bucks, it's really not once you start turning out beautiful 8x10s that wow your family.
Canon's Pixma iP5200 and the Epson Stylus Photo R800
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Usually, the more colors a printer has, the better. Most inkjet photo printers offer four, five, six or more colors. Four-color printers use cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks, while six-color printers add lighter cyan and magenta inks to provide a wider color range and more accurate results. The new Canon Pixma iP5200 uses five: yellow, magenta, cyan, black and a pigment-based black ink. There are also eight color inkjet printers such as the HP Photosmart 8450 ($299) and the Epson Stylus Photo R800 ($399). Not only is the color of the 8450 excellent (we've seen many sample photos), it's very fast. You can print a 4x6-inch borderless photo in about 27 seconds. For printing text, the 8450 has print speeds of up to 30 pages per minute (PPM) in black and up to 20-PPM color printing in draft mode. (The current "Ink King" is the HP 8750 with nine inks and the speed king is the new $179 HP Photosmart 8250; it turns out a 4x6 print in 14 seconds.)
The HP Photosmart 8450 and the HP Photosmart8750
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If you want larger prints than the traditional 8x10, good choices are the Canon i9900 ($499), the HP 8750 ($449) and Epson R1800 ($549). The Canon is designed for the enthusiast but it gives you a great idea where the higher-end of the market is going. The 13x19-inch inkjet printer adds red and green ink cartridges—eight total-- for 4800 x 2400 DPI maximum color resolution, very small two picoliter ink droplets for smooth gradations, as well as USB 2.0 Hi-speed and Firewire interfaces to connect with advanced digital cameras. It is also PictBridge enabled for direct printing without a computer with compatible cameras.
Canon i9900 and Epson Stylus Photo R1800
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As noted Canon's eight-color ink system adds red and green ink tanks to the cyan, magenta, yellow, black, photo cyan and photo magenta inks that are commonly found on six-color printers. Not only is the color excellent (we've seen many sample photos), it's very fast. You can print a 4x6-inch borderless photo in about 38 seconds, a 5x7-inch borderless photo in approximately 47 seconds, an 8.5x11-inch borderless photo in about 84 seconds and a full 13x19-inch borderless photograph in under three minutes. For printing text, websites and other documents, the i9900 has print speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (PPM) in black and up to 12 PPM in color printing.
Another excellent, award-winning printer is the Epson Stylus Photo R800 ($399). It features UltraChrome Hi-Gloss pigment inks for archival prints on matte and glossy media, according to the company.Using it, the R800 produces long-lasting photos that can resist fading up to 80 years by using the new inks and Epson matte or glossy media, per Epson. The ink set includes eight individual cartridges and features the Gloss Optimizer as well as Photo Black and Matte Black ink cartridges. With an eight channel print head, the R800 lets you keep the Photo Black and Matte Black ink cartridges in the printer at all times and the printer driver determines which black ink to use based on the paper type selected. In addition to the traditional cyan, magenta and yellow inks, the ink set also include red and blue inks that expand the color range.
The R800 has a 1.5-picoliter ink droplet size and resolutions up to 5760 x 1440 optimized DPI. It is also one of the fastest printer in the Epson photo printer line-up featuring text speeds up to 17 pages per minute (PPM) and photo speeds as fast as 45 seconds for a 5 x 7 photo in photo mode on Glossy Photo Paper.
Another popular printer is the Epson PictureMate ($199). Epson calls it the first and only personal photo lab that allows digital camera owners to easily print "brilliant, long-lasting lab-quality 4 x 6 photos at home at a cost that's comparable to some of the most affordable lab print prices (29 cents per print on average)." That may be a bit of hyperbole but this is a very popular printer. The PictureMate Print Pack contains a PictureMate Photo Cartridge and PictureMate Photo Paper to print about 100 glossy 4x6 photos ($29). No computer is required since it supports all popular memory cards, including SD/MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Compact Flash type I and II, SmartMedia, xD and Microdrive. It also supports direct printing from PictBridge cameras. In addition, digital camera technologies, such as Print Image Matching (P.I.M.), Exif Print and DPOF, are automatically supported. The PictureMate "Print Wizard" interface guides you through a simple printing process.
Epson PictureMate
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Speed Demons
As you can see from the specs of these models, print speed varies from printer to printer and, of course, the size of the print. If you plan printing only an occasional photograph, print speed may not be critical to your buying decision. Speed usually rises on the priority list when you intend to print photos on a regular basis or use the printer for text (letters, reports and so on) as well. Before you buy, find out the printer's page per minute rates for color and black-and-white. Expect to pay a little more for faster machines. When looking at printer specs, however, keep in mind that many manufacturers give the print speed at draft quality, which sounds great until you realize that it takes much longer to print an 8 x 10 photograph or 20 pages of text at high quality. Note: this information is easy to find as manufacturers tout their printing prowess.
Standard-sized printers, which print on up to 8 ½ x 11 sheets of paper, are fairly versatile and will generally meet most people's needs. Many standard-sized printers are also capable of printing panoramas, so you can make prints up to 8½ x 44 inches. Some printers also accept rolls of rolls of 4x6 paper so you can run your own "mini lab" and print out a large number of snapshot-sized prints at one time.
For more money you can get a wide-format printer, with a maximum width of 13 inches. Paper for these printers is available in 13 x 19 cut sheet paper, as well as roll paper for super-sized prints. All printers have a maximum print area, which leaves borders around the image. Borderless printing (where the image "bleeds" to the edges of the paper) is available on some models.
PC and Mac printer compatibility is rarely an issue, as long as you have a USB port. Just make sure the printer comes with a cable. There's nothing more frustrating than bringing your new printer home and discovering you have to go back to the store to purchase a USB cable. Be alert! If you have an older computer with no USB port there's no need to worry—some printers still offer parallel connections or you can always pick up an USB/parallel adapter.
Realize you don't always need a computer to use an inkjet printer. Some manufacturers, like Canon, HP, Sony and Epson offer models that can either be used as standalones or hooked up to your computer. These printers have slots that accept several types of media cards, like CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, SD/MMC. All you have to do is insert the media card from your digital camera, choose the image you want to print, select a layout and print size, press a button and you're done. With PictBridge technology found on many new cameras, different brands can talk to each other for PC-free printing. Many of these printers also have built-in LCD screens so you can easily find the image you want to print. The typical size is 2.5-inches. It's not the greatest but it is a helpful device especially if your camera has a standard 1.5-inch LCD.
Your Own MiniLab
One of the biggest printer trends is to dedicated 4 x 6 printers using a dye sublimation or thermal process instead of inkjet to lay down ink. If you're looking for a very simple solution and don't want to make large prints, you might consider one. Canon, Kodak and Sony sell them. With any dye sub printer, you purchase kits that have paper and a ribbon ink cartridge. Once you run through the paper, you reload paper and a new ink cartridge ensuring uniform color coverage. A typical kit of 40 sheets of 4x6 paper and ink cartridge lists for 60 cents per image (around $25) but you can drive the price down by shopping online and buying in bulk.
Favorites of ours are Kodak's EasyShare printer docks. The company has sold over two million in just a few years. Primarily geared for owners of Kodak digicams, you simply place the camera into the dock and within a few button clicks, you're printing a 4x6 photograph in either 90 seconds (Picture Dock) or 60 seconds (Picture Dock Plus). All have PictBridge technology for connecting to different brands of digital cameras and external memory card readers. They work seamlessly with EasyShare 600/6000 and 700/7000-series digicams. Besides prints, the docks offer one-touch picture transfer to a connected computer and camera battery recharging in less than 3.5 hours for Kodak cameras. The more expensive Kodak Printer Dock Plus ($199) does all of these things, has SD/MMC card slots and also prints camera phone images that can be transferred via infrared technology. An auto enhance button instantly corrects under- or over exposed images, a common problem with camera phones.
Canon recently introduced a pair of dye subs that turn out 4x6 prints in 58 seconds. The SELPHY CP510 ($99) has a retractable USB cable so you don't have to carry around a length of wire to make prints. For $50 more, the SELPHY CP710 has a 1.5-inch LCD screen and memory card slots. Canon plans to offer an optional BlueTooth adapter so you can beam images from your cell phone or PDA to the printer and turn out snapshots. With the wild popularity of cameraphones, many printers accept Bluetooth adapters, no matter if it's inkjet or dye sub.
Sony's DPP-FP50 PictureStation printer ($199) is another dedicated, compact photo printer that uses dye-sublimation technology to create durable prints. It also has Memory Stick, CompactFlash and SD media card slots, as well as two USB ports - one in the front for connection to a digital camera or camcorder and one in the back for connection to a PC. In addition, the DPP-FP50 supports PictBridge technology that lets you transfer pictures from a digital camera or camcorder enabled with the technology to a printer with a USB cable -- without a PC or image editing software. You simply connect the unit to the printer via a USB cable and then use the camera's LCD display to select the image and start printing. With a supplied video cable, you can view images on a television, select that image to print and, with the press of a button, produce a print in about 60 seconds. Each print is sealed with SuperCoat 2 laminate, resulting in the durability required to withstand fading, spills, moisture and fingerprints, according to the company.
The DPP-FP50 printer comes with built-in editing options, such as a red-eye reduction tool. When partnered with a TV, it helps you identify any red-eye problems to be removed and then the printer makes the correction automatically. There are other editing tools for adjusting image sharpness, contrast, brightness and size. It also comes with a wireless remote. The printer also has built-in creative options for adding personalized messages, changing images to black and white or sepia, and adding artistic borders to any print. It delivers 4x6 and 3.5x5 print sizes. Prints cost around 60 cents each when you buy a 40-pack of 4x6 paper and ribbon.
One of the most interesting new dye sub printers is Kodak's Professional 1400 Digital Photo Printer ($549). It can crank out 8 x 12, one 8 x 10, two 6 x 8, two 5 x 7 or four 4 x 6-inch photos per sheet, and the water-resistant photos last a lifetime, according to the company. Like all dye subs, the Professional 1400 paper and ribbon consumables are bundled in matched volumes for the best color density for every print, eliminating worries associated with low ink levels. Consumables—including paper available in 50- and 25-sheet packs—are priced competitively to similar offerings on the market.
Why The Low Prices?
The main reason printers are so affordable is simple: printer manufacturers make their money on your ongoing need to buy ink and paper. No, you're not being ripped off; this is a standard business model for the industry and if ink/paper prices were lower, printer prices would be higher. Still, the cost and availability of ink and paper should be an integral part of your purchase decision.
Printers come bundled with a full set of ink cartridges so you can start printing right away (as long as you make sure you have that USB cable!). Although manufacturers provide a guesstimate of how many photos (or pages of text) you can expect from a full set of cartridges, this figure is truly an estimate. Some photos—like those with large expanses of sky or water—will use up more of one or two colors than other photographs. What this means is that the color ink cartridge may run out of one color before it runs out of another. And, when one color is depleted, you have to replace the entire color cartridge.
On the other hand, if you purchase a printer that has individual ink cartridges, you only have to purchase and replace the color that has been depleted. This is another reason you should seriously consider higher-priced printers.
Compatible or third party ink cartridges are available for most printers and usually cost less than manufacturer-branded inks. Third party vendors also offer refill kits so you can fill your own cartridges, which is a messy, time-consuming but economical method of meeting your ink needs. Definitely check the warranty before using inks other than those made by the printer manufacturer since any damage—such as clogged printer nozzles—caused by third-party inks may void the warranty. That's a big-time ouch so be very careful.
With so many types and sizes of paper (or media) to choose from, it's difficult to determine your paper/media costs. You may want to use glossy finish for some pictures, matte finish for others or you may expand your paper collection to include watercolor paper, card stock, sticker paper, puzzles, silk, t-shirts or magnets. Just keep in mind that if you use plain ol' 20-pound paper for anything other than testing, results will be disappointing. Generally look for photo papers that are designed for use with inkjet printers. Some media—like watercolor paper—may not be targeted for use with inkjet printers but produce beautiful prints, so don't count them out.
The best results usually come from papers made by the printer manufacturer. Printers don't all use the same technology to lay ink on paper, so these papers are designed to work with that brand printer and ink. The driver software that comes with your printer is also optimized for using the manufacturer's paper. Companies like Kodak even offer guidelines on their web sites if you use their paper with a competitor's printer. This is a great service and saves a lot of headaches.
Using third party papers—whether they're photo papers or novelty media—may require experimentation to determine what works best for your printer and your taste. Although the results are less predictable and may add a few dollars to your budget, trying out new and different media is one of the most fun aspects of making prints from your digital camera.
Common inkjet papers are sold practically everywhere—Wal-Mart, Costco, drug stores, photo retailers—you name it. Buying in bulk—50 or 100 sheet packages—is the way to go but when you find they really great photo you want to frame for everyone to see, check out brands such as Bergger, Ilford or Inkpress and try their best papers. You'll be amazed at the results.
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