In the past few years the world has seen a digital revolution that promises a lot. Now people have the freedom to share their incredible experiences with the world and it can be made possible with just a phone and an Instagram or Facebook account.
Alas, something has been lost along the way. It’s the ability to turn your images into physical artifacts as people used to do in the past. Photos were preserved in the form of paper and shared with the friends and family members, however it’s been largely absent for a long time in this digital age.
But, now again, those days are back with the introduction of compact and convenient photo printers. These printers come with the ability to instantly convert your photos into real and physical copies without affecting the quality and also you don’t have to wait 24 hours or set up a dark room. Let’s take a look at some of the best photo printers that are currently available on the market.
1. HP Sprocket
Hewlett-Packard’s Sprocket is small enough to conveniently fit in your pocket. Despite its small size, this photo printer offers great resolution. The built-in Bluetooth allows it to connect to multiple different devices, while its sleep mode ensures the battery doesn’t drain when not in use. With a single charge, you can get 35 to 40 pictures.
The printer uses the ZINK ink-free development process, and you can load up to ten papers into this mini printer. It has a printing speed of about 42 seconds per photo.
External features include only a printing slot, a charger port, and a status light but the HP app comes with a lot of cool functionalities. Pairing the printer with your device is fast and automatic and it enables you to directly print photos from social media accounts. Moreover, this little printer is packed with some basic photo editing features. Some cool Augmented Reality features are also there.
2. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000
Canon’s imagePrograf is a professional-grade photo printer aimed at serious photographers and professional offices. It offers great print quality, and when it comes to grayscale images, it exceeds expectations. It’s one of the best Inkjet photo printers on the market, but don’t expect it to be something you can get at a low price.
However, it packs some great quality features from Canon, so your money won’t be wasted. The Lucia Pro 11-color along with Chroma Optimizer produces great quality prints of photos with vibrant colors.
Anti-clogging technology reduces the chance of error while printing larger batches, and a 1.28″ wide print head speeds up the process of printing without affecting the details and color accuracy of the photos.
3. Kodak Mini 2
The Kodak Mini 2 is a direct competitor of Hewlett-Packard’s Sprocket printer. Their stature, features, and functionalities in-app, they are almost similar to each other. Both are designed keeping the same audience in mind.
Kodak offers its pocket-sized photo printers at incredibly low prices compared to the Sprocket, but it doesn’t include the high-tech features that the Sprocket has. For instance, unlike HP’s photo printer, the Kodak Mini 2 uses traditional thermal dye ink to print the photos, and printing time isn’t as impressive as the Sprocket.
The app is great and has the same amazing features as the HP. It’s compatible with six different social media platforms and you can connect the printer to your device via Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, or NFC. You will get a number of basic editing options here as well.
4. Epson Expression Photo XP-8500
If you are looking for a laser printer but not willing to spend too much on a professional model like the Canon’s imagePROGRAF, then the XP-8500 can be a great option for you. It’s a compact photo printer that won’t take up much space.
It’s the best all-in-one photo printer available for non-professionals. You can directly connect it to a computer to take the prints, but it also includes the USB and SD card slots, meaning you have some extra options to print photos from a USB drive or a memory card. The setup is plug and play, but it doesn’t take much effort to connect your PC over a wireless network.
The results you are going to get out of this printer may not be as impressive as a professional model offers, but they are certainly good enough to catch the attention of any serious photographer. It comes with scanning, copying and faxing options, which makes it a pretty versatile option.
5. Fujifilm Instax SP-3
The Fujifilm Instax SP-3 is a compact photo printer, which comes with a sleek and futuristic design. It won’t fit in your pocket, but you can easily put it into a small purse or your backpack. Unlike other models of the same category, it features a rechargeable battery which keeps it running for quite some time on long trips.
It allows you to reprint the last photo with just a single click of a button. In addition, you can also take the prints of photos that you didn’t capture with your phone. That means if you have the photos in your phone taken by a mirrorless camera or a DSLR, you can also print them. The printer is compatible with the Instax SHARE app and allows you to connect with a variety of social media platforms.
6. Epson HD XP-15000
If you need the best photo printer for your home, the XP-15000 probably is the right option. Its control panel is easy-to-use and there are plenty of connectivity options such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct. They are supported by a USB port and USB host, and are more than enough to fulfil your needs.
Another good thing is the Epson Connect platform, which gives you numerous cloud based options to manage, edit, and print your photos. With the help of a 2.4-inch LCD screen, you can navigate through your gallery without the need for a separate device. The results you get out of the XP-15000 are of excellent quality.
Picking the Best Photo Printer
If you feel the need to print your photos and share them with friends and family, this has been made possible again with the invention of photo printers. From casual to professional, people have a variety of options to choose from.
A lot of manufacturers are competing and introducing several models into the market. Each model has its own significance and comes with a specific set of features. We have recommended some of the best photo printers that exist on today’s market. Choose any of them and start printing your photos now!
