One of the more specialized classes of printers is the consumer-level dedicated photo printer. These printers are typically limited to a maximum paper size of 2 by 3, 4 by 6, or 5 by 7 inches (or panoramic variations on these sizes), but the category isn't defined just by its limits. Dedicated photo printers are relatively small and portable. They're also much less computer printers than they are standalone consumer electronics products, with an emphasis on ease of use. If you're in the market for one, here are the questions that will help you home in on the right choice.
Do You Need Just a Printer or Something More?
There's no such thing as a dedicated photo printer all-in-one, but some models add functions beyond printing. Most include menus with basic editing to crop an image, remove red-eye, and the like. A few add so many editing choices that they're essentially home photo kiosks, even adding a large touch screen to let you enter commands easily.
Some include enough memory to store hundreds of photos so you can bring the printer with you, show the photos, and print them. Some include an optical drive to let you archive photos from memory cards without a computer. And some, finally, are built into other kinds of devices, like a photo frame or a camera.
Do You Print Black-and-White Photos?
With most printer categories, you should consider whether you really need color. Photo printers turn the question on its head, so you should consider whether you need black and white, which many of these printers can't handle well. The most common flaw is a visible tint, or different color tints for different shades of gray. If you print black-and-white photos, you'll need to check out black-and-white photo quality quite apart from the printer's color photo quality.
How Big a Printer Are You Comfortable With?
Sizes for inexpensive dedicated photo printers range from small enough to fit in a pocket to too large to carry very often. If you want to bring a printer with you to events like parties or Little League games, pick a size you won't mind carrying. Also consider whether you'll need to run it from batteries. If so, make sure there's a battery available, if only as an option. In addition, find out how many photos you can print on a full charge.
How Are You Going to Connect?
Or, more broadly, what do you want to print from? Most dedicated photo printers can print from a computer over a USB connection, but they're really designed as standalone devices. The majority print directly from PictBridge cameras and memory cards. (Check for the memory-card format you want to use.) Nearly as many can print from USB keys. A few print from optical disc or internal memory (but you need to transfer the files to the memory first, so find out what connection you need to use to transfer the photos). Finally, some can connect by Bluetooth to print from cell phones and other Bluetooth devices.
What Level of Output Quality Do You Need?
Almost any inkjet or thermal-dye printer will at least match the output quality you'll see typically in drugstore prints. A newer technology called ZINK, which is currently limited to printers with a 2-by-3-inch print size, offers lower-quality output, which is best described as good enough for wallet-size photos. Whatever printer you're considering, be sure to check on the output quality before buying.
Two other issues fall loosely under the heading of quality: ruggedness and lifetime. Photos from most printers today are reasonably waterproof and scratch resistant, but some fare better than others. If you can't get samples to test yourself, you can find information on both features in PCMag.com reviews. Claimed photo lifetimes also vary, with longer lifetimes obviously preferred. As a point of reference, traditional silver-halide color prints last about 20 years when exposed to air.
How Much Speed Do You Need?
Don't worry too much about speed. For photos, quality matters more, and even the slowest printers today offer tolerable print speeds: In our latest round of testing, the worst speed for printing a 4-by-6 was 1 minute 27 seconds. Keep in mind, too, that measured speeds are typically slower than claimed speeds, and (as we note in our reviews where applicable) the speed for any given printer can vary depending on the source you're printing from.
How Much Do You Print?
The usual rule for printers is to find out the printer's monthly duty cycle (the maximum you can print per month) and its recommended duty cycle, and make sure the recommended duty cycle is more than you plan to print. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible with dedicated photo printers.
Most manufacturers don't rate the duty cycle for these printers. That's as inexcusable as a car manufacturer not telling you how often to change your oil, but, for now at least, it's what you have to live with. The rule of thumb for these printers is: If you'll be printing enough so you're concerned about the duty cycle, don't buy a consumer-level dedicated photo printer. Look instead to printers aimed at professional photographers and for use in retail stores. (PCMag.com does not review professional-level dedicated photo printers.)
How Much Does It Cost?
Finally, check the running cost and total cost of ownership. The cost per photo is typically easy to find out for this class of printer, because most manufacturers sell print packs with enough ink and paper for a given number of photos. To get the cost per photo, simply divide the cost of the print pack by the number of photos it'll print. To get the total cost of ownership, multiply the cost per photo by the number of photos you expect to print over the printer's lifetime, and then add the printer's initial cost. This total is the best basis for comparing prices.
Fortunately, there are plenty of good dedicated photo printers for consumers to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites.
Featured in this Roundup
Canon Selphy CP780 Compact Photo Printer ($99.99 direct)
Although the Canon Selphy CP780 Compact Photo Printer is a step below the top tier of dedicated photo printers for photo quality, it's good enough for most casual photographers.
Canon Selphy ES3 ($199.99 direct)
Despite a problem printing diagonal lines (think: spokes on a wheel), the Canon Selphy ES3 is one of the most impressive small-format photo printers on the market.
Dell Wasabi PZ310 Mobile Photo Printer ($149 direct)
Only the second printer in the U.S. to use ZINK technology, the Dell Wasabi PZ310 Mobile Photo Printer is small enough to carry with you everywhere.
Epson PictureMate Dash ($99.99 direct)
The Epson PictureMate Dash delivers high-quality 4-by-6 photos at a fast speed and a low cost per photo.
Epson PictureMate Zoom ($199.99 direct)
The Epson PictureMate Zoom archives photos to disc and prints an index sheet for reference. It also prints high-quality 4-by-6-inch photos at warp speed.
HP Photosmart A636 Series Compact Photo Printer ($149.99 direct)
The HP Photosmart A636 Compact Photo Printer is strong on convenience, with a kiosk-like touch screen and effortless installation.
HP Photosmart A826 Home Photo Center ($249.99 direct)
The HP Photosmart A826 Home Photo Center is literally a home photo kiosk, with a 7-inch touch screen and no need for connecting to a computer.
Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer ($150 street)
The Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer is strong on gadget appeal, but it's limited to a 2-by-3-inch photo format, and it offers less-than-ideal-photo quality.
Smartparts SP8PRT Digital Picture Frame and Printer ($300 street)
The name says it all: The Smartparts SP8PRT Digital Picture Frame and Printer lets you view pictures on the frame's LCD and print them out as well.