It’s true, but the one photo item I really, really want is listed at the end of this blog. But, getting back to the photo printers… if you are an avid photographer who is all about instant gratification, then you likely find it hard to live without an in-home photo printer.
For do-it-yourself photographers inkjet printers are the key to getting your pics ASAP. Fortunately, prices on photo printers have fallen steadily over the past few years. If you are in the market for one, there are three important factors you should consider before forking over the money to take one home: Resolution, paper-tray capacity and the cost of replacing ink cartridges.
I’ve shopped around and found most photo printers have a maximum color resolution of 4800 by 1200 dots per inch, with paper trays able to hold 100 to 150 pages. Some brands offer a maximum color resolution of 9600 by 2400 DPI.
I have various Canon products and recently checked out the company’s Pixma IP4500, which retails for about $125. It can print 24 pages per minute at a maximum color resolution, which is faster than some low-end laser printers. HP’s Photosmart and Epson’s Stylus lines are also good choices, according to the research I’ve done. I’ve seen the image quality the machines produce, but haven’t had the chance to demo them myself. Also, if you’ve been eyeing those low-priced Lexmark’s you should know that even though the printer itself is being offered at a bargain price, the cost of replacement ink cartridges is very high.
I also looked at some dye-sublimation printers, which use heat to transfer ink onto the printed page. They seem to be gaining in popularity, though I have a feeling that’s because manufacturers recently released compact models designed to work almost anywhere.
If compact photo printers intrigue you, consider Canon’s SELPHY CP740. It is a compact photo printer, which retails for less than $100 and doesn’t require a computer to operate. It uses a built-in retractable USB cable and connects directly to any compatible digital camera to produce high-quality 4-by-6-inch prints in less than 60 seconds.
Now, on to the photo item that is at the top of my Christmas wish list. It’s not a printer, but it is designed to help you capture some prize-winning shots. It’s the XShot telescopic photo rod. Have you seen it? It’s a retractable rod that can be attached to a still or video camera and allows the photographer to actually get in the shot.
It’s great for families who travel a lot and want group shots of themselves at various attractions, but don’t like to ask fellow travelers to help. When I hand my camera over to others I typically end up with images that include missing appendages and severely severed heads. With the XShot you don’t have to worry about handing over your camera. You simply attach your camera and hold the rod an arms length away. When you’re done the rod retracts and fits right in your pocket. And for $25 I consider a steal. Got that Santa?
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