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AnchorDesk

Jessica Kashiwabara
Photo printers: Are they worth the extra cost?

Jessica Kashiwabara
Contributing Editor, AnchorDesk
Friday, Dec. 19, 2003
TalkBack!Add your opinion
Digital cameras are great because they allow you to take lots of pictures without paying for film and to easily post pics on the Web. But what about when you want prints made?

Best all-around
If you want one printer for text, graphics, and photos--and don't want to spend a lot, take a look at this Epson model.




 
You could, of course, get prints from a professional developer. But if you're interested in doing it yourself, a photo printer is a viable option.

WHEN SHOPPING for a photo printer, the first thing you'll probably notice is that it can cost as much as $200 more than your average color inkjet. So what are you paying extra for? And is that a smart investment?

To get some answers, I talked to our resident printer expert, Robert Vamosi. He says the main things that distinguish photo printers from regular inkjets are the special ink cartridges they use. These inks are designed to provide better halftones, which are necessary to reproduce photographs. Standard inkjets, he says, "just aren't that sophisticated."

In addition, photo inkjets are better at reproducing detail and use more ink colors than standard printers; those extra colors will often include more than one shade of a basic hue, like black. Some also use specialized printer technologies that are optimized for photo output. Canon, for example, has begun to use dye-sublimation technology in some of its photo printers. This means the printer heats and applies layers of colored wax to the photo paper, instead of droplets of ink, creating a smooth, film-like look. The portable Canon CP-300 is one of the first models to use this technology.

Another perk: Many photo printers come with media card readers so you can print photos directly from your digital camera.

Of course, if you don't need the extras, a standard color inkjet is capable of printing decent photos. A photo printer will just do a better job.

BEFORE YOU BUY a photo printer, make sure it's compatible with high-quality inks and papers. Premium glossy finish or heavyweight matte finish papers will produce the crispest images. Also, check that the printer churns out high-resolution prints; a good inkjet should have a resolution of 2400 dots per inch (dpi), while a dye-sub model should offer 300dpi.

But don't rely solely on the numbers. Because other factors (such as color gradation) affect how your photos will look, you should evaluate the image-quality of prints made on a particular model whenever possible, or see what our testers say about real-world results in our reviews.

Photo printers aren't one-trick ponies. They can output text and graphics, too. In fact, most photo printers pass our labs' text and graphics tests with flying colors. It should be noted, however, that printer makers consider photo models to be used primarily for--as their name implies--photos, so they don't place as much emphasis on how well text and other graphics perform.

As far as cost, the extra dollars for the printer are not all you'll spend. You'll also have to pay for paper and ink, which historically aren't cheap. But they have come down in price somewhat. According to Vamosi, you can print 4x6-inch images with a photo printer for between 32 to 56 cents per image--close to what you'll pay at drug stores and other commercial developers.

Think a photo printer's right for you? Here are our top-rated models.

Epson Stylus C84 (a ZDNet Editors' Choice)
This is the best option if you want one printer for text, graphics, and photos--and with a price tag under $100, it fits into most people's budgets. The C84 delivers good output quality, fast print speeds, and low ink costs.
Read review | Check prices

HP Photosmart 7960 (a ZDNet Editors' Choice)
The industry's first eight-color printer, the 7980 is our pick for a photo specialist. It stands out for its superior photo print quality and extra features, such as a built-in LCD to preview images and direct printing from your camera.
Read review | Check prices

Canon i560 (a ZDNet Editors' Choice)
Like the Epson Stylus C84, this printer is both inexpensive and a solid performer. The i560 doesn't guzzle ink and offers something the C84 doesn't: the ability to print directly from a digital camera.
Read review | Check prices

Canon i70
The i70 is one of the speediest inkjets around--and it's small enough to carry along on trips or to and from the office. It connects directly to digital cameras and can churn out borderless photos and 8.5x11-inch prints.
Read review | Check prices

HP Photosmart 245
Another portable, lightweight option, the 245 costs less than the Canon CP-300, but doesn't come with a battery option. It produces nice-looking photos, but only in 4x6-inch and similar-sized formats.
Read review | Check prices

Canon CP-300
The most compact and sleek of the portables, it's also the most expensive. If you've got the money, it includes a battery and uses the dye-sublimation technology mentioned above. Because of its small size, it only prints 4x6's.
Read review | Check prices

What do you think of photo printers? Would you buy one? Which is the best? TalkBack to me below!

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