The best Canon photo printer is hard to identify, especially with the many options that are available to choose from. But there are some criteria you can use to make the process easier; here they are.
Criteria #1: Type of Printer
What is the type of printer that is most ideal for you? Do you prefer an inkjet printer which is versatile in its functionality? Inkjet printers allow you to print both documents and photos in high quality. One example of such devices is the PIXMA iP4820 which is a photo inkjet printer. These can be used for the home, home office, and office. On the other hand, dye sublimation printers are much more preferable in terms of on-the-go photo printing, and they are especially devised to print photos exclusively. These devices cannot be used for other purposes than photo printing.
Criteria #2: Printing Resolution
The resolution varies from model to model, but for inkjet printers, the most ideal resolution is 9,600 dpi. However, there are some printers which also have good quality despite their lower resolution of 4,800 dpi. For dye sublimation printers, the maximum resolution of Canon models is 300 dpi, which for a thermal dye printer is already very good.
Criteria #3: Media Compatibility
How big or how small a photo can you print from such a device? For compact photo printers, you can print up to 4’’ x 6’’ borderless photos. Most inkjet printers have the same borderless capability but they can also print on up to legal size documents and letter size photos with borders.
Criteria #4: Printing Speed
Dye sublimation printers are not too speedy but they can print very well. On the other hand, some inkjet printers can print borderless 4’’ x 6’’ photos in as fast as 20 seconds. You may not need to consider the speed anymore if you opt for a compact photo printer.
Criteria #5: Direct Printing Features
Direct printing is very important especially if you want to be able to use the printer on its own. Most photo printers from Canon have PictBridge and USB connectivity, memory card slots, and optional Bluetooth connectivity. Some of them have built-in infrared and some of them are wireless-enabled. However, there are also some models such as photo inkjet printers which have no direct printing features whatsoever.
Criteria #6: Ease of Use
To make photo printing easy, a device should have its own LCD display and control panel. Many printers from Canon have these, and some of them even have touch screen displays. There are some models which don’t have these features, though, and they need direct computer connections before they can be accessed.
Criteria #7: Number of Nozzles
For inkjet printers, this is important, as the number of nozzles indicates the clarity, detail, and exactness of the photo printout as compared to the digital image. The more nozzles the printer has, the better its output becomes.
Criteria #8: Price
Of course, when it comes to judging a product, it is only right to include the price in the criteria because some products have the exact specifications and features as others but their prices vary significantly. In such cases, the device which has the most reasonable price may well win the judgment.
Conclusion
Using these criteria, you can better establish a more informed method of identifying which really is the best Canon photo printer. Use these criteria to find the right one for you!