8 best photo printers

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

A regular color printer is not suitable for printing photographs. Requires a device with high resolution (dots per inch) and compatibility with common paper sizes such as 10 x 15 or 20 x 30 centimeters. But photo printers differ from conventional printers not only in print density.

We have compiled a rating of the 8 best photo printer models that will be an excellent assistant for both beginner and professional photographers.

How to choose a photo printer: what to look for

When choosing a photo printer, it is recommended to pay attention to three parameters:

1. Compatible paper sizes;

2. Type and density (quality) of print;

3. Additional functions.

Compatible paper sizes

Almost all photo printers intended for home or semi-professional use can print on paper sizes up to and including A4 size. If necessary, you can purchase a device that displays images on large prints. But such photo printers are much more expensive than home and semi-professional ones.

Print type and quality

By type of printing, photo printers are divided into sublimation and inkjet.

1. Laser is poorly suited for displaying detailed images, as their resolution rarely exceeds 2400 × 2400 dpi. Sublimation and inkjet photo printers, in turn, are capable of printing up to 8000 dots.

2. Sublimation technology creates images with realistic color reproduction and high color saturation. These prints are durable, fade resistant, and detailed. But at the same time, sublimation printers are more expensive than inkjet printers, consumables for them are also high in price, and the process of printing on A4 sheet takes 3-4 minutes. In addition, sublimation photo printers are usually designed for a single paper size, most often the standard 10 x 15 centimeters.

3. Inkjet photo printers are cheaper and more economical, and print faster. However, in order to obtain high-quality images, it is worth choosing models that use 5-8 shades of toner. Conventional 3-4 toner photo printers are not capable of transmitting a wide range of tones and halftones.

The resolution of the image affects its detail and visual 'smoothness'. The higher it is, the better. Optimal for home use is 4800 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch).

Additional functions

Additional features of the photo printer make it practical. Among the most useful are:

1. Wi-Fi network interface for connecting a printer wirelessly;

2. Direct Print mode, also called Picture Bridge – for sending photos to the printer directly from your smartphone;

3. External USB connector for connecting a camera;

4. Card reader for installing memory cards from the camera.

5. Some photo printers are equipped with a touch screen, which makes it easier to select pictures for printing.

Rating of the best photo printers

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best inexpensive printers for printing photos – budget up to 10,000 rubles.	1	Canon PIXMA G1400	RUB 11,864
	2	Epson L312	RUB 9 390
	3	Canon PIXMA TS5040	RUB 4,790
The best photo printers of the middle price category (up to 15,000 rubles)	1	Canon PIXMA iX6840	RUB 14,290
	2	Epson L486	RUB 14,340
Best semi-professional photo printers	1	Canon PIXMA PRO-1	–
	2	Canon PIXMA PRO-100S	34 410 rub.
	3	Epson Stylus Photo 1500W	RUB 37,996

The best inexpensive printers for printing photos – budget up to 10,000 rubles.

Canon PIXMA G1400

Rating: 4.9

Why First Place: Four-color continuous inkjet photo printer.

Description: The Canon PIXMA G1400 printer ranks first in the ranking due to its economy. It is equipped with a continuous ink supply system, with the toner containers displayed on the front panel. Therefore, you can see how much paint is left.

The photo printer uses thermal inkjet printing and has a resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi for color images. It takes 60 seconds for the device to display a 10 × 15 cm photo. The printer is four-color, dye-based color toner and pigment black are used. The resource of one cartridge is enough for 6-7 thousand pages, then it is refilled.

Since the photo printer belongs to the budget segment, it does not have a Picture Bridge function – only communication with a computer is used for printing. There is also no native network interface, but can be configured via public access at Windows.

Advantages

• Continuous ink supply system with fast refueling;

• High resolution printing;

• Inexpensive ink and economical maintenance;

disadvantages

• Sensitive to paper quality;

• No native network interfaces and Picture Bridge functionality;

• Replacing the Waste Ink Pad – Canon Service Center only;

Epson L312

Rating: 4.8

Why second place: Four-color continuous ink printer, but only compatible with paper weights up to 180g / m2.

Description: The Epson L312 photo printer ranks second in the ranking, because it is intended more for home use than amateur or semi-professional use. The device also features a continuous ink supply system that uses four toners – dye-based color and pigment black. It uses an inkjet piezoelectric printing technology, it takes 69 seconds to display a 10 × 15 cm photo.

The print resolution is the same for black and white and color images and is 5760 × 1440 dpi. This is enough for high detail of the 'picture'. The cartridge lasts 4,500 pages for each color toner and 7,500 pages for black. Containers with 'ink' are located in a special block outside the body.

The printer does not have its own network interface, card reader, or Picture Bridge function. Works only with a computer.

Advantages

• High speed printing of low-detailed images and texts;

• Good color rendering despite the fact that four shades are used;

• Continuous ink supply system;

disadvantages

• Compatible with paper no thicker than 180 g / m2;

• No network interfaces and Picture Bridge;

• Undeveloped printer drivers and software;

Canon PIXMA TS5040

Rating: 4.7

Why third place: Photo printer with Picture Bridge, scanner and copier modes, high print resolution … but poor head design.

Description: Closing the rating of budget photo printers, the Canon PIXMA TS5040 device is not quite a photo printer. Rather, it is an MFP that can print pictures on paper. For these purposes, a four-color cartridge with pigment black and color toners based on dyes is used, as well as piezoelectric inkjet technique. It takes 39 seconds for a printer to print a 10 × 15 cm photo.

Image resolution on paper is 4800 x 1200 dpi. The printer prints at up to 12.6 sheets per minute, but only in black and white. In color, performance drops to 9 pages.

The printer supports Wi-Fi connection and quick setup as a network; prints photos from mobile devices using Picture Bridge technology. Equipped with a scanner and operates in copier mode. Supports IRDA (infrared) data transmission.

Advantages

• MFP;

• High resolution printing;

• Fast printing;

disadvantages

• Small volume of cartridges;

• When printing images with high coverage, you can see a 'grid' of printhead marks;

• Cartridges do not support refilling;

The best photo printers of the middle price category (up to 15,000 rubles)

Canon PIXMA iX6840

Rating: 4.9

Why first place: Thermal inkjet and 9600 x 2400 dpi.

Description: The Canon PIXMA iX6840 photo printer tops the rating of devices in the price category thanks to its high resolution for color printing – it is 9600 × 2400 dpi. In addition, the device uses thermal inkjet technology that produces realistic and rich colors on paper; and five shades of the cartridge. Besides magenta, yellow and cyan toners on dyes, it uses two shades of black – on dyes and pigment. Thanks to this, dark shades are rich and realistic, with transitions and gradients.

The printer can print on glossy paper. It takes 36 seconds to display a 10 × 15 cm image. And the print speed is up to 10.4 full color images per minute and up to 14 black and white.

The printer connects to a local network via Ethernet and Wi-Fi; Supports Picture Bridge and AirPrint for mobile printing; Equipped with a USB port for communication with cameras.

Advantages

• Vivid, rich, detailed and lifelike prints;

• High printing speed;

• High resolution printing;

disadvantages

• Sensitive to paper quality;

• Requires regular maintenance, including daily flushing of cartridges;

• Low resource of cartridges, not refillable cartridges;

Epson L486

Rating: 4.8

Why second place: Piezoelectric inkjet MFP with lower print resolution than the leader in the ranking.

Description: Epson L486 is a versatile MFP that is also suitable for printing photos. The maximum resolution for color images on paper is 5760 x 1440 dpi, which is sufficient to display detailed 'pictures'. The main advantage of the MFP is its high print speed, which for black and white layouts is up to 33 pages per minute, and for full color – up to 15 pages. However, the print time for a photo on glossy 10x15cm paper is 69 seconds.

The photo printer has a four-color cartridge that uses dye-based toners (including black). The MFP has a built-in continuous ink supply system, the volume of the ink container of each shade is 70 ml.

The printer supports a network connection via Wi-Fi, Picture Bridge and AirPrint mobile printing technologies, a USB port for communication with the camera and an SD card reader.

Advantages

• Easy to connect and configure;

• MFP;

• A fully refilled cartridge is enough for 4.5-6.5 thousand pages;

disadvantages

• PC cable is not included in the package;

• Requires regular (at least once a week) head cleaning;

• Small and inconvenient display with mechanical buttons;

Best semi-professional photo printers

Canon PIXMA PRO-1

Rating: 5.0

Why first place: 12-color inkjet printer.

Description: The Canon PIXMA PRO-1 photo printer has the largest number of print colors in the rating: 12 different shades. Traditional inkjet technology is used. This provides the most realistic gradients, transitions and halftones. Contrast on appropriate paper is 350: 1 – the limit for inkjet printers. The device can print on A3 sheets. The resolution is 4800 × 2400 dpi.

The printer also features fast print speeds. For example, it takes only 2 minutes 55 seconds to produce an A3 size print with lab-quality image. The printer prints on glossy, matte and photo paper up to 350 g / m2, as well as on discs.

The model is equipped with only one network interface – Ethernet (RJ-45). It also has a USB connector for direct printing of images from cameras and other external media.

Advantages

• Wide color gamut, high image depth;

• Quiet and fast printing;

• Realistic color reproduction, contrast ratio 350: 1, no bronzing effect;

disadvantages

• High ink consumption during startup and maintenance;

• Huge dimensions and weight of the printer itself;

• Expensive cartridges;

Canon PIXMA PRO-100S

Rating: 4.9

Why the second place: Fewer colors than the leader of the rating, but cheaper.

Description: Canon PIXMA PRO-100S – the youngest model in the PRO line. Unlike its predecessor, it uses eight colors for printing. The rest of the technical characteristics are similar – and the maximum resolution of 4800 × 2400 dpi, and the ability to output prints on paper up to A3, and close to the limiting contrast for inkjet technology.

Since fewer colors are used, the printer is slightly faster than its predecessor. It takes 1 minute 30 seconds to print a photo on A3 paper with laboratory image quality.

The printer connects to a wired LAN via the Ethernet port and wireless via Wi-Fi. Supports mobile printing technologies AirPrint and Picture Bridge. Compatible with branded app for Android and iOS. Equipped with a USB port for connecting cameras and external storage.

Advantages

• Close to professional print quality;

• Prints quickly and quietly;

• Wi-Fi connection;

disadvantages

• Expensive cartridges that won't refill or dump;

• No information screen;

• Difficult Wi-Fi connection;

Epson Stylus Photo 1500W

Rating: 4.8

Why the third place: 6-color, more expensive than all the others, but with a drop of 1.5 pl.

Description: The piezoelectric inkjet photo printer Epson Stylus Photo 1500W has the smallest drop volume in the rating – 1.5 pl. Thanks to this, it prints as smooth, neat and natural gradients as possible. The printer uses 6 colors. The maximum resolution for printing a full color image is 5760 × 1440 dpi; print size – up to A3 inclusive.

The printer prints on glossy, matte and photo papers, as well as CDs. The resource of the color cartridge is 470 pages, black and white – 810 pages. Print speeds up to 16 images per minute, but it takes 45 seconds to print a 10×15 cm photo onto paper.

The model is connected to a wired and wireless network. There is no support for AirPrint and Picture Bridge, as well as USB connectors or a card reader, all printing is done through a connected computer.

Advantages

• High resolution printing;

• Easy to connect and configure;

• Neat, smooth gradients thanks to small droplet size;

disadvantages

• No USB cable included;

• No AirPrint and Picture Bridge support;

• No display;

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.