(Credit:
Joshua Goldman/CNET)
Sony will be bringing its S-Frame DPP-F700 printer to the U.S. in January, the company announced Thursday. It's basically a dye-sub snapshot printer, but with a 7-inch LCD. The screen can be tilted up when the printer is in use and then folded flat against the printer so that when you remove the paper tray, you can stand the unit up horizontally or vertically.
I had a chance to play around with one and, well, it's a photo printer with a larger-than-usual LCD on top. The extra screen real estate is nice, though, especially when using the F700's editing options such as cropping and adjusting brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness. And, of course, it's better than looking at just a photo printer.
Check out the slideshow below for more details or just because you're bored and/or love looking at pictures of tech products.
Also, quick poll, how long till point-and-shoot cameras are primarily set to shoot in wide-screen resolutions? Has anyone stopped shooting 4:3 in favor of 16:9?
(Credit:
Epson America)
Epson is replacing its Stylus Pro 3800 medium format (17x22) printer with the 3880, rolling its latest set of technologies down the product line from the Stylus Pro 4880, as well as introducing a new version of its screening architecture.
The 3880 is getting the 8-color UltraChrome K3 Vivid Magenta ink set that's already been incorporated in most of Epson's other pro graphics printers, plus the same ink-repellent coating on the printhead to minimize nozzle blockages. With this model, Epson introduces Accuphoto HD2, an update to its screening technology with look-up tables co-developed with RIT; the new LUTs go a step beyond choosing the appropriate color for any given dot to selecting the appropriate color with the lowest metameric index (i.e., the least likely to change appearance under different lighting conditions).
The 3880 is also greener than its predecessor, built from identified (labeled) plastic for easier recycling, and with smaller ink packaging.
Much from the 3800 remains: essentially the same 3.5pl-drop printhead, ink cartridges are still 80ml capacity (though there's a new ink set), and Advanced Black and White Photo mode. And like its predecessor, the 3880 uses only cut-sheet paper; for roll feeding you'll have to move up to the 4880, or down to the smaller R2880.
None of this comes cheap. The 3880 debuts at the same price as the 3800, $1,295; a Graphic Arts Edition bundled with the ColorBurst RIP will run $1,495. The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 will ship in mid October.
The DPP-FP67
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)LAS VEGAS--Sony's pre-PMA 2009 press event wasn't just about cameras. It was also about things you can buy to go with your camera.
The two new photo printers from Sony aimed at the average point-and-shoot camera owner are the (horrifically monikered) DPP-FP67 and DPP-FP97, updates on last year's DPP-FP75 and DPP-FP95.
The FP67 is the smaller of the two, with a 2.4-inch LCD screen. It can print out 4X6-inch photos, as well as index prints, photo IDs, and calendars. The printer will also do you the favor of fixing red-eyes and evening out the photo's exposure for $120.
The FP97, at $200, has a slightly larger 3.5-inch LCD screen. It prints all the same size photos as its cousin the FP67, as well as a variety of printing templates like calendar, scrapbooks, and frames. This printer can also do something Sony calls "auto dodging," a darkroom technique used for fixing the contrast on specific areas of a photo. White balance, skin smoothing, and red-eye correcting are also within the FP97's power.
Both will be available in May.
Sony DPP-FP97 photo printer
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)Tuesday, Canon announced six new printers that are sure to appeal to a variety of users including small- to mid-size business professionals, photography enthusiasts, students, and creative hobbyists. This new release includes four new Pixma printers and two new Selphy compact photo printers. Let's take a closer look at the offerings:
Pixma iP3600
- $80
- 9600x2400 color dpi resolution
- Dual paper trays for plain and photo paper
- Five color individual ink cartridge bay
- Bundled with one ChromaLife100+ ink set and Easy-PhotoPrint EX software
Pixma iP4600
- $100
- 9600x2400 color dpi resolution
- Reported print speeds of up to 26 pages per minute for black, and up to 21 ppm for color
- Auto-duplexer with two separate paper trays
- Easy-PhotoPrint EX software includes Auto-Photo Fix for easy edits
... Read more
The PoGo inkless printer produces wallet-size pictures that can be turned into stickers.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News.com)Polaroid, the company that brought the world the iconic snap-and-print camera, is ready to introduce a new instant-photo product fit for the Digital Age. The PoGo, a mobile, inkless printer with a cute name, is small enough to fit in a pocket and prints wallet-size pictures that can be turned into stickers.
The company--which continues its attempt to transition from an analog past to a digital future--hopes the Polaroid-on-the-go will revolutionize instant photo printing.
The PoGo is small enough to fit in a pocket.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News.com)Polaroid showed the little 8-ounce PoGo to CNET News.com on Tuesday. The product receives images via Bluetooth from a camera cell phone or through a USB cord from any digital camera. Then it uses inkless Zink technology to heat up the photo paper and bring out the colors embedded in the paper's dye crystals.
Without ink heads, printers can be smaller and save money on ink. However, the Zink paper will still cost extra--an average of 35 cents per print. Future plans include larger prints that rely on the the same mobile, inkless concept.
Jon Pollock, vice president and general manager of product planning and new technology at Polaroid, said the product is aimed at teens and young adults who want to print from their cell phone cameras and get instant access to their shots.
The back side of the photos can be peeled, turning pictures into stickers--perfect for slapping on an unsuspecting victim's back, but ideally used for decorating or making collages.
Although Polaroid sells digital cameras and other gadgets, it almost missed the digital wave. Pollock admitted the company suffered about five years ago when it still dealt with analog cameras, but it appears ready to climb back to the top of the photography world. By 2009, the classic instant Polaroid camera will finally fall by the wayside. Pollock said the PoGo is its replacement.
Polaroid's PoGo will be available at Best Buy on July 6 and in most department stores by the fall. The printer retails for $149.
Yesterday I posted about the Epson Stylus NX400, a printer geared toward people with a limited budget. Well, it looks like HP is also looking to ramp up their low-cost printer line--today, they released three printers designed to increase efficiency in the home. Let's take a look:
Let's start with the HP Photosmart C4480, an All-in-One printer, scanner, and copier for $99. This one looks like it will be a direct competitor to the aforementioned Epson Stylus NX400. Both have multifunctionality and an LCD screen, but the HP is only 1.5 inches and fixed in place, while the NX400 bumps it up to a 2.5-inch tilt screen. The C4480 is a refresher of last year's Photosmart C4280. We were dissatisfied with the C4280's omission of a Pict-Bridge port and the subpar print quality, so we'll see if HP listened to our complaints when designing this year's model.
The Photosmart C4480 and Deskjet D4360 are both available now on HP's Web site, and the Officejet J4680 will arrive in stores beginning in August.
Epson Stylus Photo R2880
(Credit: Epson America)Incorporating an amalgam of recent technologies that we've seen in other models, today Epson announced the Epson Stylus Photo 2880, a replacement for the 4-year-old Stylus Photo R2400, a popular printer among amateur and pro photographers.
The R2880 uses the same print engine as the higher-end Stylus Pro x880 models, including the same Ultrachrome K3 inkset, which replace standard Magenta and Light Magenta with a Vivid Magenta and Vivid Light Magenta in addition to the standard lineup of Cyan, Yellow, Light Cyan, Light Black, Light Light Black, and Matte or Photo Black. However, the R2880 also includes the Radiance halftoning lookup-table technology from the R1900, as well as comparable capability to print on optical discs, and incorporates the same mist-collection technology for minimizing print contamination. Though its 3.0 picoliter minimum drop size is smaller than that of the R2400 and the higher-end printers' 3.5pl, it's still larger than the R1900's 1.5pl spec.
Though I'm looking forward to testing the printer, I have some up-front reservations. For one, you still have to manually swap the Photo Black with the Matte Black, which is a huge annoyance. It also seems to use similarly small ink cartridges, which on the R2400 seem like they require constant replacement; hopefully, they'll last longer in this model. And though the printer has an additional USB port, there's still no networking; I'd start to feel a little nickle-and-dimed for my $799.99. But most distressingly, according to a company rep, the rated speeds are 2:19 for an 8x10 photo in Best Photo Mode and 3:55 for a 11x14 photo in Best Photo Mode. That's 130 percent slower than the R2400, based on Epson's stated spec of 1:47 for 11x14 on the R2400. Ouch.
The R2880 is slated to ship next month.
On Sale Now: $547.47 - $839.14
View the latest prices for Epson Stylus Photo 2880
(Credit:
Buy.com)
I've long been a fan of Casio's Exilim line of digital cameras, as I think they offer mucho bang for the buck. Buy.com has the 7-megapixel Exilim EX-Z75 on sale for $109.99, shipped, after a $20 mail-in rebate.
But wait, there's more! When you buy the Exilim (or any digital camera), you're also eligible for a $70 mail-in rebate on various Epson printers, including the Epson Stylus CX7400 multifunction. It's a color printer, copier, and scanner. And for all intents and purposes, it's free (okay, $4) when you buy the camera. Free shipping, too. Not a bad combo by any stretch.
(Credit:
Buy.com)
CNET had mostly good things to say about the EX-Z75, and readers were extremely positive, rating it about 8.3 on average. My only complaint is that you're limited to the silver model, even though it's also available in blue, black, and pink. But if you don't mind wrangling a couple rebates, this is quite a score on a camera and MFP.
Sony's latest crop of photo printers, the DPP-FP95 and DPP-FP75, have a 3.6- and 3.2-inch LCD display and a new icon-ridden graphic interface for PC-free image editing. They reportedly print a 4x6-inch photo at 300x300 DPI resolution in 45 seconds using dye-sublimation.
Finally, if LCD just isn't doing it for you, you can also hook it up to your TV via its HDMI output.
Wait, what? Yes, this will appeal to the following consumer:
1.) Has an HD TV
2.) Doesn't have a camera with HDMI-out
3.) Would rather not buy a camera with HDMI-out
4.) Has a $299.99 desperation to look at HD photo slide shows on a TV
I'm sure at least one person out there will pay to get this functionality, but I'm already scared. Wait, does this mean I'll have to start actually watching people's slide shows? My old excuse is about to be obsolete...
"I don't watch TV unless it's in HD."
Thanks, Sony.
(Credit:
Circuit City)
For about the price of a budget digital camera, you can snag a budget digital camera and portable snapshot printer to go with it. Circuit City has the Kodak EasyShare C613 6-megapixel camera and EasyShare G610 dock/printer for $129.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).
The camera's fairly basic, offering a compact design, 2.4-inch LCD, and 3x optical zoom; CNET readers rated it 6.2 out of 10, meaning it's probably fine for tossing in your bag for everyday use, but not the camera you want to rely on for the family photo that's going to hang over the mantle.
As for the printer, it docks and charges the camera and churns out 4x6-inch prints in about 60 seconds. Over at Amazon, users didn't seem to mind the slow performance: They rated it 4.5 out of 5.
This is new gear, no rebates required. If you really want to get crazy, Circuit City is also offering an Epson CX8400 photo printer for $9.99 (after rebate) with any camera purchase--including this one.
