Portable printers pros and cons?

I am planning a couple weeks trip and sure will take a camera if not two with me, many a times I like to send my subjects prints but was thinking why not a portable printer, one of those 4x6 thermal ones, never seen one, never seen a print out of it, wondering about quality and costs to figure if a viable option.

Grazie

Hello,

I am using Canon Selphy CP1500 with external battery pack and a Fuji Instax.

The selphy is providing nice souvenirs prints and the quality can be set too.

The instax prints are more like a Polaroid-style. Keep in mind the instax camera itself is not a great sensor/camera. But the advantage is that you can also print any digital image of any source on the instax which makes it a portable printer too.

I plan on printing high res, I also thought of an Instax, I have a basic one which my son got me as a present, the funniest camera ever to use, the one which also serves as a printer is pretty, thought of getting one during the trip but won't use for pics to give away, rather have some close to a pro print quality and then eventually send the recipients a full size print.

What is the cost of the Canon's prints and what about quality?

Grazie

The Canon produces prints are tough, and rather durable. The quality, to me, is comparable to a very good quality 4 x 6 lab print. Sharp with color that is very close to my Iphone and camera Jpeg. Also, fascinating watch the print develop as it makes passes through the printer. No clogs. Cost in the USA is about .35 per print but can vary a bit. The Canon also has a variety of printing features that I have not explored.

Greg

I think the Selphy is the best bet for "real prints." Close to getting one myself.

I have never researched it, but the other option is possibly a small inkjet printer that could run off one of those power banks that has an AC outlet.

I have never tried it but I have run a small laptop off a power bank, and I think some of the entry level printers would draw way less power than a laptop, which might draw 70 watts max.

Here's an example of an extremely light weight printer (Canon USA Store for example) that uses the 2 integrated cartridge system. HP has nearly exact models, but I am not a fan of HP "control" of user. I actually have this printer, but it is USB only. It is the kind of printer that would be easy to pack on a trip in one's car if you need to print from somewhere like a motel room or vacation cottage.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/pixma-ts202?color=Black&type=New

It only draws 10 watts.

Good luck.

Liko others here I can recommend the Canon Selphy printers. I own and use one since 5 years. The only problem I had so far was with the paper feed not drawing the paper.

plantdoc said:

The Canon produces prints are tough, and rather durable. The quality, to me, is comparable to a very good quality 4 x 6 lab print. Sharp with color that is very close to my Iphone and camera Jpeg. Also, fascinating watch the print develop as it makes passes through the printer. No clogs. Cost in the USA is about .35 per print but can vary a bit. The Canon also has a variety of printing features that I have not explored.

Greg

Click to expand...

I agree with the print quality.

What I'm not found of is the paper itself I'd say.

I only bought the 108 pack so far. 1 cartridge is 36 prints and a full battery is lasting me 18 prints +/-

The OEM Canon battery is outrageously expensive compared to the price of the printer itself. So I bought one non OEM for around 40 euros.

Buongiorno,

you almost convinced me on the Selphy, 4x6 is a good size for a memory, the fact it can be run off a battery or, I guess, with a car plug makes it interesting for on the go (thinking of using it on a boat in summer when I take pics of my guests), also the cost per print is reasonable, is the paper a good quality/weight and durable?

I very much enjoy using an Instax for quick memories but kind of limited as sometimes people ask me for the print and I end up with none or other way 'round

Grazie

Giovanni_1968 said:

Buongiorno,

you almost convinced me on the Selphy, 4x6 is a good size for a memory, the fact it can be run off a battery or, I guess, with a car plug makes it interesting for on the go (thinking of using it on a boat in summer when I take pics of my guests), also the cost per print is reasonable, is the paper a good quality/weight and durable?

I very much enjoy using an Instax for quick memories but kind of limited as sometimes people ask me for the print and I end up with none or other way 'round

Grazie

Click to expand...

The paper is good. My first prints from 5 years ago show no signs of age. In the last step the printer seals the paper. You can even choose between a matte and a glossy finish (Glossy is the preset, I didn’t even know for a long time that matte is available, too).

For handing shots to subjects I actually prefer a Polaroid as a 2nd body. The small portable printer a somewhat slow, more for something you use in the evening after a day or shooting.

JK

Jk1002 said:

For handing shots to subjects I actually prefer a Polaroid as a 2nd body. The small portable printer a somewhat slow, more for something you use in the evening after a day or shooting.

JK

Click to expand...

You really have a point here. I didn’t measure it, but it’s about 2-3 minutes, I guess. But the quality is much better than a Polaroid. Others would disagree and say that the Polaroids have more charme.

I think the paper is rather durable and have even sent as postcards. Hard to judge what durable level is needed. I think prints handed out on boat would be fine. I have some prints done years ago and kept in an album or box that show no signs for fading, etc.

Greg

Giovanni_1968 said:

Buongiorno,

you almost convinced me on the Selphy, 4x6 is a good size for a memory, the fact it can be run off a battery or, I guess, with a car plug makes it interesting for on the go (thinking of using it on a boat in summer when I take pics of my guests), also the cost per print is reasonable, is the paper a good quality/weight and durable?

I very much enjoy using an Instax for quick memories but kind of limited as sometimes people ask me for the print and I end up with none or other way 'round

Grazie

Click to expand...

Greetings,

I've owned Canon Selphy's since the Cp300.

I only get the 108ea print packs. I have a CP1300 that 'lives' in my RV. It can be powered by a small DC-2-DC converter (12-24V) or small inverter.

Prints are like postcards (and early versions actually had markings on the back for where to place a stamp and address's) with the front of them virtually indestructable (recipients can spill their party drink on the front without harming the image!).

Granted the 6x4" (1800x1200 @ 300DPI) is a mere 2MP. When I 'develop' I set the file names on export to have a "_6x4" along with the 1800x1200 @ 300DPI. Larger outputs are resized at larger amounts of dots.

The only 'downside' if there was one is that dust & dibre if it gets on your media BEFORE printing it can cause strange color shifts on that area of the print.

The newer CP's have 'wireless' built in and are Apple 'air print' compatible which can be handy.

Yes, I'm a fan.

Giovanni_1968 said:

I am planning a couple weeks trip and sure will take a camera if not two with me, many a times I like to send my subjects prints but was thinking why not a portable printer, one of those 4x6 thermal ones, never seen one, never seen a print out of it, wondering about quality and costs to figure if a viable option.

Grazie

Click to expand...

Let me state I've had Aga AP1100 for 18 (!) years and still have 2 full (75 prints) boxes of ribbon and paper (started with 20+). It is essentially Selphy printer engine but no interface - it uses (outdated) DPOF on cameras or PC, an no battery but AC adapter. I used to take it to the summer camp and print photos of my kids meeting other kids (and us parents having a beer in the shade). And it's great, prints are durable and still as printed yesterday (and protective coating doing the job).

Anyway, have to ask - where would you go and what would you use the prints for? Because (for example here, in Australia) you have many, many places where you can rock up with your files, sit at the 'kiosk' and while having a coffee, place the 'order' for your prints and they will be ready by the time you finish your coffee. For 3-4 times less you'd pay for consumables (ribbon/paper are dedicated to Selphy so you pay what Canon ask you to pay) not to mention the printer itself.

So, if by a chance your ways brings you down under, you have about 4200+ places to print 4x6" for AUD 0.15 or less. But, it does not stop you in getting 5x7 for 0.35 or all the way up to 12x18" for some $10-14 should you wish. And while this is a BIG place, with many whoop whop places, I don't think the printing there would be your priority, But, wouldn't surprise me that across EU the number of places would be even greater or at almost walking distance apart....

I'm inviting you to think about that option - plan your trip and check 'photo-kiosk' availability and cost while at it....

The idea is that I could share a physical photo with my guests rather than "hey, would you send me those?", back in time I got the insane idea of a Mamiya RZ67 with a Polaroid back and a couple lenses, well, insane doesn't really describe it uh?!

I told my son about the idea and he got me, for xmas, an Instax which is a lot of fun, zero settings but lot of fun and people like to have the little thing developing in their hands so I thought to step up the game and get either a better Instax camera or a portable printer.

I work on boats, always taking a camera with me, my guests see the big camera and think "oh, that's the real deal..." and then ask to have the photos sent over, I always do but it would be funnier to be able to retouch (with modern ML camera I can send the photo to my iOS device very easily) the file on a mobile then send it to the printer while, say, having lunch stop.

Selphy looks like a good candidate, I hope I can see one from close and then eventually get it

Grazie

Giovanni_1968 said:

The idea is that I could share a physical photo with my guests rather than "hey, would you send me those?", back in time I got the insane idea of a Mamiya RZ67 with a Polaroid back and a couple lenses, well, insane doesn't really describe it uh?!

I told my son about the idea and he got me, for xmas, an Instax which is a lot of fun, zero settings but lot of fun and people like to have the little thing developing in their hands so I thought to step up the game and get either a better Instax camera or a portable printer.

I work on boats, always taking a camera with me, my guests see the big camera and think "oh, that's the real deal..." and then ask to have the photos sent over, I always do but it would be funnier to be able to retouch (with modern ML camera I can send the photo to my iOS device very easily) the file on a mobile then send it to the printer while, say, having lunch stop.

Selphy looks like a good candidate, I hope I can see one from close and then eventually get it

Grazie

Click to expand...

Then go for it! It's also fun to watch puling the paper in and reversing a few times, revealing a YMC layers. Dye sublimation is a great technology and wish these small printers use all 4 colours (like my old big ones). Although, the last clear coat is very important so one cannot have it all...

ZorSy said:

Giovanni_1968 said:

The idea is that I could share a physical photo with my guests rather than "hey, would you send me those?", back in time I got the insane idea of a Mamiya RZ67 with a Polaroid back and a couple lenses, well, insane doesn't really describe it uh?!

I told my son about the idea and he got me, for xmas, an Instax which is a lot of fun, zero settings but lot of fun and people like to have the little thing developing in their hands so I thought to step up the game and get either a better Instax camera or a portable printer.

I work on boats, always taking a camera with me, my guests see the big camera and think "oh, that's the real deal..." and then ask to have the photos sent over, I always do but it would be funnier to be able to retouch (with modern ML camera I can send the photo to my iOS device very easily) the file on a mobile then send it to the printer while, say, having lunch stop.

Selphy looks like a good candidate, I hope I can see one from close and then eventually get it

Grazie

Click to expand...

Then go for it! It's also fun to watch puling the paper in and reversing a few times, revealing a YMC layers. Dye sublimation is a great technology and wish these small printers use all 4 colours (like my old big ones). Although, the last clear coat is very important so one cannot have it all...

Click to expand...

…and you can even choose between glossy and matte