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Best photo printer overall
- Excellent print quality
- Easy to set up and use
- Durable, long-life photos
- Low cost per print
- High up-front cost
- Heavy
- Cannot print from USB drive
- Battery and Bluetooth interface optional
Most reviewers say the Epson PictureMate Charm offers the best combination of features, performance and print quality among snapshot printers. Professional reviewers give it top marks for photo quality, praising its clear, sharp lines and vibrant colors. Most also say it produces these results quickly -- about 42 seconds per photo -- although a couple of experts report print times closer to a minute. Photos are water- and scratch-resistant, and Epson promises that its inks will last 200 years in storage or 96 years behind glass. The PictureMate Charm is PictBridge-compatible and can accept most types of memory cards, but it cannot print from USB drives. A Bluetooth interface (*Est. $40) and battery pack (*Est. $50) are optional. Professionals and users alike agree that the Charm is easy to set up and use, and the low cost of its supplies (about 25 cents per print) helps offset its fairly high price tag. If you don't want to spend as much, the Canon Selphy CP800 (*Est. $80) costs less initially, but its operating costs are higher.
Several computer publications discuss the PictureMate Charm in detail, including PCMag.com, PC World, Wired and ComputerShopper.com. About.com printer and scanner guide Peter Piazza offers a review, although his is less thorough. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.) ConsumerReports.org includes the Charm in its tests of photo printers, and we found a significant number of user reviews at Amazon.com and BHPhotoVideo.com.
| Epson PictureMate Charm Photo Printer (C11CA56203) | |
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Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
M. David Stone names the Epson PictureMate Charm as a PCMag.com Editors' Choice award-winner among dedicated photo printers, with an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Stone's review is comparative and thorough, with ample description of how the printer is tested, plus a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.
Review: Epson PictureMate Charm, M. David Stone, Oct. 28, 2009
In this detailed and lengthy review, Susan Glinert calls the Epson PictureMate Charm the best photo printer she has seen. In direct comparison to the now-discontinued Canon Selphy CP790, the Epson is the easy winner with better photo quality, higher speed and lower per-print costs.
Review: Epson PictureMate Charm, Susan Glinert, Nov. 2009
3. PC World
PC World is less enthusiastic about the Epson PictureMate Charm than most reviewers, giving it a score of only 3.5 stars out of 5. One reason is that PC World's tests found slower print times for the Charm than most -- between 54 and 70 seconds per photo. However, Melissa Riofrio does praise the Charm's photo quality and low cost per print.
Review: Epson PictureMate Charm PM 225, Melissa Riofrio, Nov. 18, 2009
4. Wired
Wired gives the Epson PictureMate Charm a score of 6 points out of a possible 10, which translates to "a solid product with some issues." Reviewer Dan Havlik says the Charm can print a lot of photos on a battery charge, and the prints are both cheap and durable. On the downside, it can print only 4-by-6-inch snapshots, it can't print from USB drives, and the battery and case aren't included.
Review: Lunch Pail-Sized Portable Printer Makes Pictures Pop, Dan Havlik, Aug. 26, 2010
5. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org includes the Epson PictureMate Charm in its tests of eight snapshot printers. Each is given an overall rating and evaluated on photo quality, speed and operating costs. However, these assessments lack the detail found in our top-rated reviews.
Review: Snapshot Printer Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
6. About.com
About.com printer and scanner guide Peter Piazza gives the Epson PictureMate Charm a score of 3.5 stars out of 5. He finds its print quality "fantastic," but says its interface is "clunky" and editing options are limited. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Epson PictureMate Charm Digital Photo Printer, Peter Piazza
This retail site specializing in photo, video and audio equipment has about 70 reviews for the Epson PictureMate Charm, with scores averaging 4.5 stars out of 5. Users say the Charm is easy to set up and use, with a compact size and quick print time. A few complain about the amount of ink it uses, and one owner says the heads clog when the printer is left unused too long.
Review: Epson PM225 PictureMate Charm Compact Photo Printer, Contributors to BHPhotoVideo.com, As of Oct. 2011
8. Amazon.com
More than 35 users review the Epson PictureMate Charm, giving it an overall score of 4.5 stars out of 5. Owners like its photo quality, low print cost and ease of use, although some find that colors come out dark and there's some loss of detail. The small viewscreen is also cited as a drawback.
Review: Epson PictureMate Charm Personal Photo Lab Inkjet Printer, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Oct. 2011