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Editor's Choice 2006: Snapshot Printers

Slide in a memory card, plug in your digital camera, or send images wirelessly to these compact printers and you get snapshot-sized prints without a photofinisher -- or your computer.


July/August 2006


Editor
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BEST BUY: Samsung SPP-2040

We didn't have great expectations for this little dye-sub model, since Samsung is a newcomer to the snapshot printer market. But the compact, 2.4-pound SPP-2040 turned out to be the best deal of the bunch. It outputs good-looking 4x6 glossy prints at 300dpi (JPEG only) from memory cards, from a USB-connected imaging device, or by wireless Bluetooth with an optional adapter. Despite its low price it features a two-inch color LCD for selecting and adjusting images. The printer lets you cycle through photos quickly on the screen, without stalling on large files as some competitors do. While the default settings gave us prints that looked a little yellow, we rebalanced them easily with color controls that include black-and-white and sepia modes. We wish the paper were heftier and didn't leave rough edges when you remove the two tabs that permit borderless printing, and that prints cost less than 42 cents apiece. Then we remember the price. About $100.

Kodak EasyShare Photo Printer 500 medKodak EasyShare Photo Printer 500

This stand-alone dye-sub model makes glossy 300dpi 4x6 (and smaller) prints from JPEG files, at a low 29 cents apiece. You preview and select your images on an ample 3.5-inch color LCD. The 500 offers a range of color adjustments, black-and-white and sepia modes, and even a red-eye-correction button that works well. Light and portable, it produces good-looking prints. We found it slow to cycle through images on a card or connected device, but you can speed things up by attaching it to a computer and using the included EasyShare software to browse and prepare photos. Otherwise, in addition to printing from memory cards, it can receive photos via Bluetooth, USB-connected camera (with PictBridge support) or flash drive, or an optional Wi-Fi adapter. About $200.


Editor's Choice 2006: Snapshot Printers Next: Hi-Touch S400, Canon Selphy DS810 & Olympus P-11
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