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Canon's Selphy CP750 replaces last year’s CP730 and ushers in some handy new features for the photo enthusiast.
The most noticeable change is the 2.4in colour LCD - up from the 2in display of its predecessor.
The printer also introduces red-eye correction to the Selphy range; a one-touch function to counter those demonic eyes that plague flash photography. It’s a well-styled printer, although you do need a fair bit of desk space when the unit is in operation.
The paper cassette pokes out of the front and the dye-sublimation process means that the paper has to make several passes across the ink cartridge. As it does so, the sheet pokes out of the back, making for a hefty footprint.
Setting up is fuss-free - insert an ink cartridge, load the paper cassette and insert a memory card to display its contents on the screen. The printer has multiple card slots which accept all card common types, with the exception of Smart Media.
For those wishing to process photos on computer, there’s USB2 connectivity, while owners of Pictbridge-compliant cameras can hook up via a retractable cable that sits neatly out of the way behind a flap on the front of the casing. Further options include printing via IrDA and Irsimple, as well as Bluetooth - although this demands the acquisition of a Bluetooth adaptor.
The paper cassette accommodates a variety of paper sizes, from 86x54mm to 100x200mm prints. A three-colour ink system is used and the ink cartridge is bundled with the media. Tasked with printing a borderless 148x100mm postcard, the CP750 turns out a full-colour print in just under 70 seconds, which a little longer than Canon’s quoted print speed, but is still fairly sprightly for a unit of this type.
It’s possible to perform an amount of editing from the front panel, including cropping with the Trim button, and applying such effects as Sepia, Black & White, Vivid and even Positive Film. It’s curious, however, that you can’t preview the effects on the LCD.
The resulting prints on the supplied stock are impressive. An output resolution of 300dpi makes for photo-like detail and the unit’s colour handling is such that tones are good and rich, although darker areas in a composition suffer a little from a lack of crispness. Canon says prints are good for 100 years, if properly stored, so they’re durable.
A quick tour of online retailers reveals that a pack of 36 postcard-sized sheets will cost around £7.50, so that’s roughly 21p a print. And there’s no need to worry about ink - each paper pack includes a fresh ribbon.
Mac OS X and Windows, from 2000 SP4 to Vista, are supported, should you wish to use the CP750 in conjunction with a computer, and there are utilities for browsing and stitching images together for both platforms.
Niggles about the inelegant paper cassette aside, the CP750 is well built, easy to use and produces good-looking prints. It is, however, quite pricey for a 6x4 printer. While retailers offer welcome discounts, it still comes in at more than £100, and that’s without the optional battery and USB cable.
You’ll also have to factor in paper - as shipped, the printer is bundled with a measly five sheets. Dye-sub is usually more expensive than printing with an inkjet, but the technology does offer long-lasting prints that appear almost indistinguishable from traditional prints. Whether the CP750 is right for you depends on how much of a premium you’re willing to pay for lab-style hardcopy at home or on the hoof.
See also:
A stylish addition to the market with a wealth of features 20 Jun 2007
A4 photo printing on the hoof, but the battery costs extra 10 May 2007All Inkjet PrintersTags: Photo Printer
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