Canon PIXMA MP530 All-In-One InkJet Printer
172 Stores $69 - $263
Inkjet Photo Printer Buying Guide
Now that you have taken hundreds of shots with your digital camera, and logged in a few hours of photo editing time at your computer, do you want to create the best quality prints? Next to putting those photos on CD and taking them to a photo lab, inkjet printers are the best way to turn digital images into actual photographs. Pronto’s Photo Printer Buying Guide takes you through the key points to consider when buying an inkjet photo printer. The great thing about these printers is that they also produce quality graphics and close to professional quality text (see also Laser Printer Buying Guide, Inkjet Standard Printer Buying Guide and Multifunction Printer Buying Guide).
More »
the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
What Else Are You Printing?
What you’ll print, how often you’ll print and how much you need to print at a given time is best way to narrow down the selection of inkjet photo printers to the one that’s best for you and, as you’ll learn, the upfront cost to purchase an inkjet photo printer means less than the ongoing cost to operate one (i.e. ink cartridge replacement).
Print Quality
Inkjet photo printers print by spraying tiny dots of ink through even tinier holes onto the page. The more dots thrown per inch, the better the printout or resolution. Today, most inkjet photo printers have maximum resolutions of 4800 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi), which make it possible to print high-quality graphics and photos without having to rely on professional printers or photo labs.
Ink Cartridge Replacement Costs
The price you pay for ink is the best determiner of what the printer will cost you over time. Two key things to learn before you purchase any inkjet photo printer are how much replacement ink costs and how many pages each cartridge can print. Ink cartridges can cost as little as $10 (black ink only) and as much as $50 for a three-color cartridge. Usually, the less a cartridge costs, the less ink it contains.
Print Speed. Printing speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm), but don’t be fooled by manufacturers’ claims: advertised printing speeds are faster than what users actually experience. The complexity of the print job—a black-and-white text-only letter versus an 8 x 10 color photo for example—is what ultimately determines printer speed.
Output Capacity
Most inkjet photo printers come with a single paper tray that holds standard 8 ½ x 11 paper. If you’ll be printing documents as well as photographs on a regular basis, consider printers that come with additional trays to hold the different papers you’ll be using. Inkjet paper trays typically hold 50-100 sheets, about the same number of prints you’ll get from the ink cartridge.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We like to encourage multi printer homes. Keep one printer for high speed text printing (at least a cheap laser model), and focus your photo printing on a dedicated photo printer. For around $200, our pick for dedicated photo printing is Cannon’s PIXMA iP5000. With outstanding 9,600 x 2,400 color dpi, this little baby will knock out a beautiful 4x6 borderless photo in less than 40 seconds. Anot...
more
experts say
Popphoto.com - 2007 Printer of the Year: Epson PictureMate Flash PM 280 Printer “Though still roughly the size of a toaster, albeit one with a bagel slot, this inkjet model is larger and heavier than most other snapshot printers. And for good reason: It incorporates a CD burner. That feature gives you even more freedom from your computer, allowing you to archive images on memory cards directly to CD-R and CD-RW discs.” Source: Popphoto.com
CNET Editors - With its affordable price, networkability, and decent print quality, The HP Deskjet 6940 Printer is a good choice for students in a dorm room and budget-conscious home office users. Source: CNET
PC World – “The Canon Pixma Printer generated top-notch text, graphics, and photo prints faster than any other model we tested.” Source: PC World
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of inkjet photo printers?
Can you say multi media and multi application? Printers can hit the road in portable versions, powered by battery. That means you can print pictures of Jimmy’s baseball game right on the field. Check out the affordable Canon i80 Color Bubble Jet Printer which has blue tooth capability for only $80 extra. Or if you have gone multi media already, and are using your TV to view pictures, you can print directly from your TV with Lexmark’s P450.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Inkjet Photo Printers) |
| $ | Budget inkjet photo printers ($100-$200) offer entry-level color resolutions (4800x1200 max resolution) and three-cartridge ink/toner configuration. GOOD PICK: Canon SELPHY DS810 Photo Printer |
Compare prices at 34 stores $79 - $190 |
| $$ | Mid-range inkjet photo printers ($200-600) deliver medium to high resolution prints, and faster print speeds in color and black and white and higher sheet tray capacity and six-cartridge ink/toner configuration. GOOD PICK: Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Inkjet Photo Printer |
Compare prices at 128 stores $120 - $450 |
| $$$ | High-end inkjet photo printers ($600+) will give you the highest print resolutions, sizes, and fastest speeds as well as more robust features and extras like handling thicker and paper stock like posterboard. GOOD PICK: Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Inkjet Printer |
Compare prices at 104 stores $540 - $1,550 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Dots per Inch (dpi)
Inkjet photo printers print by spraying tiny dots of ink through even tinier holes onto the page. The more dots thrown per inch, the better the printout or resolution. Today, most inkjet photo printers have resolutions up to 4,800 x 1,200 dpi, which makes it possible to print high-quality graphics and photos without relying on professional printers or photo labs.
Pages per Minute (ppm)
Printing speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm), but don’t be fooled by manufacturers’ claims: advertised printing speeds are faster than what users actually experience. The complexity of the print job—a black-and-white text-only letter versus an 8 x 10 color photo for example—is what ultimately determines printer speed.
PictBridge
Allows users to print photos directly from cameras to the printer without the use of a computer, regardless of brand. Nice-to-have if you don’t want or need to edit your photos first.Duplexing. A printer’s ability to print on both sides of the paper. Most printer models today do not have duplexing by default, but offer add-on hardware for duplexing. An add-on like this adds to the upfront cost, however, duplex printing may reduce costs over time by reducing the amount of paper you use.
guide tools
highest rated
Printers, Scanners, Copiers & Fax Machines
top brands
Printers, Scanners, Copiers & Fax Machines
Research Central
We've compiled this group of information links to help you further your research