How good are these small printers, just for photos ?

I'm looking into my printing options and a friend suggested these little printers, only ment for photos. So I gave it a thought, and well would like your opinion. How well are these printers, will I get good print quality out of one of these ? Any comments ?

I never print at home, as it isn't cost effective for me. I just upload to Mpix and get superior results from them.

liza wrote in post #3275220
I never print at home, as it isn't cost effective for me. I just upload to Mpix and get superior results from them.

Due to the fact I can't get glossy prints from them, is the main reason I have to look for other options.

90blackcrx wrote in post #3275325
Due to the fact I can't get glossy prints from them, is the main reason I have to look for other options.

www.yorkphoto.com does very nice gloss photos dirt cheap for 4x6.

strmrdr wrote in post #3276516
www.yorkphoto.com does very nice gloss photos dirt cheap for 4x6.

Hows the quality ?

quality is ok for quick handouts to family members not going to recommend for presentations

I have one of those little printers that you put your memory card into. it prints really good. on glossy 4X6. I seriously cant tell that its not from a photo lab. the problem is, they sell ink and paper in a package, and the ink is supposed to print like 150 photos which is how many comes in the pack. but... it only does about 30-40 before it starts to look ****y and have lines in the photo. so basically in the long run its a total rip off. but if you want a photo done then and there, it will do it.
I would suggest getting MOST of your prints done at a lab, and just use the home one when you really want/need a print right away.

I have the Epson PictureMate and it produces very nice 4X6 pictures.
Here is a link for one ... with a price of $45.00 how can you go wrong?
The nice thing I like is the way Epson packages the paper and ink.
You get 100 sheets of paper and enough ink to drive those 100 prints (Approx.)
http://www.geeks.com …sp?invtid=B351A​-R&cat=PRN

i have the epson that goes for $150 and i have gone through about 600 prints and its still performing like a champ. it beats driving down to the photolab to get them printed and i also use it for on location printing

HoRnYTuRbO wrote in post #3285730
i have the epson that goes for $150 and i have gone through about 600 prints and its still performing like a champ. it beats driving down to the photolab to get them printed and i also use it for on location printing

I agree with you on this part HornyTurbo... I have an old Epson R200 and it's fabulous... Epson glossy paper is very good. I get the ink from B&H and I was told Walmart has the ink kits for a good price. Anyway, this little Iron Horse of a printer never let me down!! However, i don't remember the amount of prints (8x10 , 5x7,etc...) usually comes out with these 6 ink cartridges.

When I'm taking pictures on the weekends at birthday parties or special event, I need to print on location. Only when someone orders an album (book), I usually go and print them at the cheap Duane Reade or CVS Stores. The prints are great, awesome, and last forever... It's so cheap I don't know why some peole won't use this service.... Anyway, the editing features really suck! hahaha..

By little printers, I guess, your friend thought about Dye-Sublimation printers. Personally, I went with one just for small prints. Though more expensive per print than lab, I find quality of the prints way higher than ordinary lab prints, not to mention full control over the PP if you're not satisfied with outcome. I have an older version of Canon, Selphy-510, and only problem so far that I had are the dust particles that are usually found on the first paper in the cassete. This printer retracts paper 4 times (in and out of printer - doing layer by layer of the colour) therefore allowing dust to stick on the paper before adding another layer over it. But, as I've said, usually I find "dust scratches" on the first paper only, and the rest comes without any noticable problems.
I think newer versions are doing whole process inside of the printer, but I've might be wrong.
Otherwise, it's great little tool which you can take on the shoot, print some samples for clients, do TFP and so long. Actually, 4x6 I do only with this printer since I have it For me, it's irrepleacable.
Cheers
Vlad

I use an HP Photosmart printer (model 375 ?) and I use HP premium photo paper in it. This thing only prints 4x6 pictures, but, for snapshots of the kids that might go on the refrigerator, etc. it is very convenient. The quality is fine.

I have it connected to my laptop, but it can also print from a memory card. It also can run on batteries. Like all of these printers, the real cost is in the ink.

I have 3 labs that I FTP files to. Prices for 4x6 (4x5) range from .19 cents to .29 cents per print. NO WAY can I even come close to this price point in studio.

I have 2 Picturemate Deluxe printers and 1 Canon 220 printer. The Canon is old, but takes the cartridge and retracts the paper 4 times. The Picturemate is strictly ink jet, but both are excellent. Although I print on site for events, I don't enjoy it. The two Picturemates accept CF and SD cards and you can do a little PP (lightening, sharpening, etc.) on the printer, but I like to connect them to the laptop and do some PP if I can. If not and I can get shots right out of the 5D or 20D, I go for it! The cost is around $.25-$.28 per shot, but the color and accuracy are really good for just 4x6's. In an emergency, they are very convenient. Otherwise, I send all images to the lab either on line or just bring the disk to Costco or Sam' Club. At Costco I can spend $.17 a picture so if I am printing over 200 pictures, it does add up. But with the cost of gas, I just have the lab mail them back to me. It's just the way to go these days.

I have an older Canon Selphy dye-sublimation printer (CP 400) that came free with my Canon Ixus point and shoot camera. It only prints up to 4x6. Its great for the odd print but photo labs work out much cheaper per print.