Photo Printers

Inkjet vs. thermal dye (dye-sublimation) photo printers

Most portable photo printers produce 4 x 6-inch photo prints, smaller wallet and passport sizes and some go a little larger. The HP Photosmart printers print a variety of sizes. Several models print 5 x 7-inch photos and those and other HP models can also print 4 x 8-inch and 4 x 12 panorama photos. The new Canon Pixma mini320 (*est. $120) can also print 5 x 7-inch photos. All snapshot photo printers are portable to some degree (some can run on batteries and all can be plugged into an outlet), which allows you to take them on vacation or to a family reunion.

Many portable photo printers are able to read a variety of memory cards and/or hook up directly to your camera using PictBridge or a similar technology. However, before buying a photo printer, even if it's PictBridge compatible, be sure to verify that your camera is compatible or that your printer accepts the camera's memory card. Printers come with internal basic photo-editing tools, but for more elaborate adjustments, you need to use computer-based photo-editing software. Some photo printers allow you to print wirelessly with Bluetooth and other wireless technologies, but this often requires separately purchased accessories.

Two types of ink technology are available in photo printers: inkjet and thermal dye. Inkjet printers use ink cartridges containing three or five colors -- and often black. If you print a lot of black-and-white photos, inkjet printers are the better choice because they are better at grayscale images. Although prints from some inkjet printers, like the HP Photosmart A-series and Epson PictureMate models, can be nearly water and smudge-proof, many older models are not. It depends partly on whether or not the ink is dye or pigment-based.

In thermal-dye (also known as dye-sublimation or dye-sub for short) printers, the dye is embedded in a roll of transparent film, called a ribbon. Heat causes the dye to sublimate (change from solid to gas) and transfer to the surface of a special, glossy photo paper, where it becomes solid again. Most thermal-dye printers use four passes to print -- three to lay down the primary ink colors and a fourth to add a protective coating. As a result of the coating, thermal-dye prints are said to be waterproof and resistant to both smudges and UV fading, but manufacturers also make these claims for most inkjets.

Experts say both printing methods are capable of photo-lab-quality output. Inkjet printers can be faster since they only have to feed the paper through once. Most reviewers indicate that image quality is a matter of personal preference. Dye sub printers produce greater saturation (some say over-saturation), but inkjets are generally capable of finer detail.

Best photo printers

Printers in the Epson PictureMate series earn the most top-ratings in reviews. This is especially impressive considering Epson just introduced new models in August 2007. The previous generation of Epson PictureMate printers topped many reviews in the past year. The PictureMate line consists of three models: the Snap PM 240 (*est. $85) , Dash PM 260 (*est. $100) and Zoom PM 290 (*est. $200). Although still widely available, the Snap has officially been discontinued.

The Epson PictureMate Snap PM 240 includes a 2.5-inch color LCD preview screen. It has resolution up 5760 x 720 dpi (dots per inch). The higher-end models have 3.6-inch displays and 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution. The top model adds a CD burner.

The PictureMate photo printers use Epson's latest inks, which are smudge-resistant and waterproof -- a fact confirmed in tests by PC Magazine and The Star Online, both of which ran water on prints without damaging them.

The Epson PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Snap models are both PictBridge compatible, with slots for every major memory card format. They each weigh about 5 pounds. The Epson PictureMate photo printers are PC and Mac compatible and support an optional battery pack (*est. $50) that lasts for about two hours per charge.

The PictureMate Dash not only ranks first on PC World's rankings of portable photo printers, it tops the nearest competitor by 5 points. The magazine rates performance as superior. In a review for The Baltimore Sun, Mike Himowitz admits he was predisposed to think printing without a computer was pointless. This printer changed his mind. He concludes, "Given its reasonable upfront cost, superb images and economy of operation, it's hard to find much fault with the basic PictureMate Dash." CNet.com likes everything about the Dash except print quality. However, testers for The Star Online discovered that a little manual adjustment converted good quality into superior quality. The Star measured speed at about 48 seconds per photo.

PrinterInfo.com and Webuser.co.uk give top ratings to the Snap. Tom Warhol of PrinterInfo.com says, "The Epson PictureMate Snap (aka the PM240) is a compact, durable ink jet printer that produces excellent quality prints at slightly cheaper cost per print (as reported by the manufacturer) than many of its competitors." Webuser gives it 5-star ratings for performance and value. Macworld gives a top rating to the PictureMate Zoom.

The Epson photo printers use the same type of ink used in Epson full-size inkjet printers. By contrast, Canon printers use thermal-dye technology. In direct comparisons, most reviewers think the Epson printers produce the most accurate prints, but The Star Online thinks the Canon Selphy ES1 (*est. $140) is a hair better. The Star's reviewers cite the easy permanence of the dye-sub prints as an advantage. However, all reviewers note that the Canon photo printer is slow.

The Selphy ES1 sits vertically and photos pop out the top rather than out the front. American Photo names the Canon Selphy ES1 as one of its top rated products. The editors are impressed with the numerous built-in photo-editing tools.

TrustedReviews.com gives a ‘Recommended' award to the Canon Selphy ES1. Reviewer Simon Williams asserts that the printer proves that dye sublimation printers can outperform inkjet photo printers. Laptop Magazine also found alot to like with the Canon ES1, but could not forgive the long (by thermal-dye printer standards) time it takes to produce a photo -- up to 74 seconds in the magazine's tests. Reviewer Anthony Losanno does compliment the quality of the prints produced, however, and likes the ES1's portability. An optional battery (*est. $100) is available.

Canon offers seven other models in the Selphy line, but none thrill reviewers. Those that draw high marks from one reviewer are average at best according to others.

Other photo printers worth consideration

One advantage of HP snapshot printers is that they can print 4 x 12 panoramas, in addition to 4 x 6-inch and 4 x 8-inch prints, and some can also produce 5 x 7-inch photos. The HP Photosmart A626 (*est. $180) is top rated by PC Magazine. Reviewer David Stone says it displaces the HP Photosmart A716 (*est. $70) as the best in its class, He claims the cost per print is 29.2¢. He doesn't think this printer excels in any regard, but believes that its combination of strengths, value and many features are unequalled.

The Photosmart A716 is still available, but we found ridiculously low prices for it, which suggests that while you can still get one, it is an exceptional clearance value. The printer recently sold for $180. A radically larger and touchscreen (4.8-inch vs. 1.5-inch) display is the biggest advantage of the newer HP Photosmart A626. However, the A716 has a 4GB hard drive, which the newer model lacks. The hard drive allows you to store and organize up to 4,000 photos on the printer itself. You can off-load digital photo files from your camera to the A716, freeing space on your memory card. Photosmart models have memory card slots for most formats and are PictBridge compatible.

The step up from the HP Photosmart A626 is the also new HP Photosmart A826 (*est. $250) . It's a mini photo kiosk without a trip to a drugstore. The Photosmart A826 is distinguished by a huge 7-inch touchscreen. PC Magazine's David Stone enjoys its uniqueness, but sees the A626 as a better value. CNet.com chooses the Photosmart A826 as an Editor's Choice, even though Felisa Yang wonders who would "spend $250 for a dedicated photo printer." Yang likes a multitude of features and praises print quality and speed. USA Today personal tech reviewer Edward Baig generally agrees, but he encountered many issues using the printer in real-world testing. Baig says, "You can almost envision it waddling off like a penguin." That might be helpful, because at 5.8 pounds (plus power supply), portability isn't as easy as with most competing photo printers.

The new models and the older HP Photosmart A716 and A616 (*est. $120) have the ability to print up to 5 x 7-inch photos -- a real plus if you like this print size. The HP Photosmart A616 has a larger 2.5-inch LCD than the A716. However, the A616's color reproduction disappointed reviewers at PC World by delivering only "so-so quality in skin tones and other respects." On the other hand, owners generally give the A616 high marks for its crisp, detailed photos.

Bluetooth USB 2.0 wireless adapters and battery packs are additional options for most Photosmart A-series HP photo printers. All models are PC and Mac compatible.

Canon's previous generation Pixma mini260 garnered nice reviews, but the replacement model -- the Canon Pixma mini320 (*est. $120) -- hasn't been reviewed much yet. Unlike Canon's Selphy line, the Pixma mini320 is an inkjet photo printer. PrinterInfo.com has an excellent review; reviewer Tom Warhol says the mini320 has "better color range and accuracy than is found on most competing models." He describes it as a good value, but believes the Epson PictureMate series has equal or better quality and better value.

The Pixma mini320 offers the same 1-picoliter droplet size found on Canon's top-rated full-size Pixma printers and uses Canon's Chromalife inks, rated to last 100 years without fading (in archival conditions). Features include a 2.5-inch LCD, compatibility with most memory card formats (though popular xD cards require an adapter) and PictBridge compatibility.

Last year, Kodak introduced its portable EasyShare G600 Printer Dock (*est. $75) thermal-dye photo printer. The G600 has a PictBridge port for direct printing from any compatible camera, but it also works with any ImageLink-compatible camera (made by Kodak, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus). You plunk your camera onto the dock and the dock's controls allow you to navigate on your camera's LCD screen. Critics say this system works very well and is easy to use, but it works best with Kodak cameras.

Only 2.6 pounds, the EasyShare G600 also has an optional battery (*est. $50), in case you want to take the printer on the road. It spits out 4x6 prints in a little over one minute, says PrinterSpot.com, and it's easy to set up. Photos had "fairly good color accuracy," says the same review. Paper jams are a common complaint of owners posting at Amazon.com, however.

Sony PictureStation DPP-FP70 (*est. $155) and DPP-FP90 (*est. $150) also use a thermal-dye ink ribbon and are PictBridge compatible. Prints are coated with Sony's SuperCoat 2, which makes the photos resistant to smudges. The printers are fairly speedy - 4 x 6-inch photos are done in about 45 seconds. The DPP-FP70 has a 2.5-inch LCD and the DPP-FPP90 has a larger 3.6-inch display. All major memory card formats are supported.

Although we didn't find any reviews for the PictureStation DPP-FP70, there's lots of professional feedback for the Sony DPP-FP90. PC Magazine's Stone says that the printer puts out high-quality photos and is quick at 50 seconds per photo, however, he down-rates the printer because it lacks a battery option and is troubled that Sony hasn't yet rated the photos for longevity. The printer fares better at Laptop Magazine, however, where Anthony Losanno says the lack of a battery option or Bluetooth support "aren't deal breakers." He says that the printer is fast and produces quality prints. The Sony DPP-FF90 photo printer is an Editor's Choice at American Photo, where Aimee Baldridge writes that it has "one of the best tool sets for adjusting and printing photos." At about 40¢, however, the Sony's per-print costs are quite a bit higher than the competition's costs, which hover in the 30¢ per-photo range.

Important Features: Photo printers

Experts say you should consider the following when deciding on a photo printer:

• Check your camera's compatibility. Photo printers can transfer data in three ways from your camera, but not every printer or camera has all three options. Printers can accept memory cards, hook up to a PictBridge-compatible camera and/or connect through your computer. If you want computer-free printing, be sure to choose a photo printer that's compatible with your camera's memory cards. This is especially important if your camera is not PictBridge-capable.

• Remember that ink and paper are part of the total cost. Manufacturers generally sell paper and ink as a kit that prints a specific number of photos, so you can easily figure out the cost per print. Buying ink and paper in larger packs will bring the per-photo cost down. Most of the reviews we found state cost per print for each printer. In too many cases, reviewers don't state whether the figure comes from testing or is the manufacturer's claim. At best, the cited figures are a snapshot of today's prices for ink and paper (and not necessarily the lowest prices).

• Photo printers use either inkjet or thermal-dye technology. Both can produce excellent photos. If you plan to go long periods without printing, then a thermal-dye (dye sublimation) printer, which doesn't use ink that can dry up, is better. The paper must pass four times through a thermal dye printer, however, so speeds are often a bit slower than with an inkjet photo printer.

• Consider print longevity. Manufacturers' claims vary regarding the longevity of their inks, so it pays to read the fine print. Epson claims that the inks for its PictureMate printers can last up to 200 years with the right paper and under perfect archival conditions -- around 100 years under normal, framed conditions. HP's Vivera inks, when used with HP's Premium Photo Paper, should last as long as Epson's prints, but Wilhelm Imaging Research actually says they will last only about half as long as the Epson PictureMate's ink/paper combo.

• Consider the need for print durability. Most thermal-dye photo printers apply a clear overcoat, which protects photos from smudges. Reviewer tests show that the best inkjet printer prints are water and smudge resistant as well.

• Many photo printers primarily print 4 x 6-inch snapshots. A few models print larger sizes and all print smaller wallet or passport-sized photos. If you need or might want larger prints, a full-sized printer might be a better choice. See our separate report on inkjet printers .

• Consider paper preferences. Photo printers often require special paper. If you prefer matte to glossy, be sure matte paper is available for your printer or vice versa. Also, check to see if the manufacturer offers an economy paper.

Keep in mind that using an online digital photo printing service is often less expensive than printing your own photos, provided you can wait a few days for the prints and don't require full creative control over them. See our report on digital photo printing for more information.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Epson PictureMate Snap PM 240 (discontinued)	details
3	Epson PictureMate Dash PM 260 (*est. $100)	details
2	Canon Selphy ES1 (*est. $140)	details
1 each	HP Photosmart A516 , Canon Selphy CP720 , Kodak EasyShare Photo Printer 500, Sony DPP-FP90 , HP Photosmart A716 , EasyShare G600 Printer Dock , HP Photosmart A626 , Epson PictureMate Zoom PM 290 , HP Photosmart A826

Experts and photographers have preferred the photo quality from Epson printers for many years and the newest generation of Epson portable photo printers is no exception. We also found many reviews that give top ratings to Epson photo printers that were discontinued during 2007. When reviewers prefer models from other brands, the reasoning is usually based on features. For example, the HP Photosmart A826 is marketed as a photo kiosk. It has a 7-inch touch screen and is simple to use.

If you prefer a dye-sublimation printer, reviewers like the Canon Selphy ES1. It’s slow, but the print quality is very good.

In general, HP printers fare best in features-oriented reviews. Kodak and Sony printers receive mixed reviews, but the Kodak models have some issues and are often recommended only for mating with Kodak cameras. Reviewers find polite ways of saying that all other brands produce better quality than Lexmark photo printers do.

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