The best photo printers. HP DesignJet Professional Photo-Quality Printers Best Compact Photo Printer

Printers have long since moved from the luxury category to being indispensable for work and everyday life. HP brand printers are a combination of excellent technical parameters and many years of experience to obtain the required results and fulfill all the printing duties.

Hewlett Packard printer. Varieties

The classification of printing devices from HP looks like in the following way.

By the principle of the printing mechanism, printers are divided into:

• jet;
• laser;
• sublimation

By chromaticity:

• to monochrome (black and white);
• colored.

By maximum format:

• Legal (sheet slightly larger than A4);
• 10x15

By productivity:

• up to 4 pages per minute;
• up to 12 pages per minute;
• more than 12 pages per minute. By interface:
• via wired channels;
• over wireless channels.

HP color printer. Main distinguishing features

HP printing devices are perfect for universities, small workspaces, government offices and schools. As a rule, their excellent resolution plays an important role in printing. Bright hallmark printers from Hewlett Packard is a good quality / cost ratio. After all, the prices of the devices are quite democratic, and the quality is decent. The compactness of the Hewlett Packard equipment cannot be ignored.

HP CISS Printer - Savings Available for Everyone

If you have not yet decided where to buy an HP (HP) printer, we can recommend the now popular TM Lucky-print online store in Russia. This store will allow you not only to purchase a high-quality device with the possibility of delivery in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia, but also to tremendous benefits in printing. After all, many users at the moment are among the supporters of economical file delivery. It is possible to print not only with high quality, but also invariably profitably due to the pre-installed direct ink supply device or slam-shut device. By the way, the direct ink technology supplied with the device is already loaded with photo ink of every shade! The same goes for reusable cartridges. At the same time, the quality of output of digital files is provided no worse than with the original "consumables", but much more accessible.

conclusions

So, it is definitely worth buying an HP printer (Hewlett Packard printer) if you decide to get the opportunity of universal operation, availability useful functions, small costs during operation.

In the days of film cameras, it took quite a long time to get the finished photo. Photographing, developing film, printing - and each step was extremely slow.

But at a certain point, the era of instant photographs came, and the name of the main manufacturer of such cameras became a household name - Polaroid. But nothing lasts forever and the time of instant photos quickly ended, the era of digital photography began, when you don't even need to print a photo to see the result. But humanity has a craving for retro things, in particular, someone once thought and revived instant photos.

Currently, the most famous instant-print cameras of one Japanese company whose name cannot be called. This means that there will be a comparison of the hero of our today's review, but it will be with some abstract company A. So, today I will introduce you to the compact photo printer HP Sprocket. It should be borne in mind that compact photo printers come in different sizes, if it comes about HP Sprocket and the like, then these are devices with a size slightly more smartphone printing on special paper.

The technology of such paper was called Zink, which stands for Zero Ink, that is, "without ink." There is also a kind of compact photo printers that print on plain paper with a size of 10 by 15 cm, but such "compact" photo printers tend to be more like laptops in size and will not be considered in today's review. One more thing - at the beginning I mentioned instant cameras, but in this case these are instant photo printers, the essence of them is about the same, you just select any photo on your smartphone or shoot right here and now, and then send it wirelessly to printer. By the way, this company has such compact photo printers, and it was on them that photographs were taken for comparison.

Specifications

Common parameters

• The main color is red;
• Print format - 50.8 x 76.2 mm;
• Maximum print resolution - 313x400 dpi;
• Print speed - 1 page / min;
• Interfaces - micro USB, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC;
• Complete set - ZINK Zero Ink photo paper 10 pieces;
• Features - battery operation;
• Dimensions and weight;
• Width - 75 mm;
• Height - 115 mm;
• Depth - 22 mm;
• Weight - 0.172 kg;

Packaging and equipment

In a small compact box in a plastic holder is the printer itself, a set of documentation, a charging cable and a pack of ZINK Zero Ink photo paper (10 pieces). The box shows appearance printer and basic specifications.

Appearance

Outwardly, the HP Sprocket printer most resembles a small PowerBank. A small parallelepiped with beveled corners, the body is made of glossy plastic, which quickly collects fingerprints, dust and other dirt. The front of the printer displays the company logo and model name. On the back is a website with promotional materials. The only control element, the power button, is located on the side edge. At the ends there is a charging connector (standard microUSB) and a slot for outputting the finished photo.

The HP Sprocket is available in black and white for a stylish and interesting look.

Loading paper from the top - the top panel is a small cover, removing which you can access the paper compartment. The printer allows you to load 10 sheets of paper at a time. All printer control is carried out through a smartphone application, iOS and Android operating systems are supported.

The HP Sprocket Printer uses 5 x 7.6 cm (2 x 3 inches) ZINK Zero Ink Paper. The paper tray holds 10 sheets, in fact, this is just one pack. The photo is printed without borders, i.e. occupies the entire surface area of ​​the sheet. To use the photo printer, you need to download to your smartphone special application- Sprocket. After installation, you should follow a few simple and logical steps, and the printer is ready to work. When you start it for the first time, the application will show you tips on how to use the printer and how to load paper correctly in the tray. The process of selecting and printing a photo is extremely simple. The photo source can be a gallery of your smartphone or data from Instagram, Facebook or Google accounts.

The application allows you to edit photos before printing, the process and capabilities are similar to those of Instagram - small photo corrections, adding frames or inscriptions, and more. After editing the photo, if necessary, simply press the print button and the photo will start printing. You can view the print queue, including reprinting the last photo printed. Printing takes less than a minute, and the photo is immediately ready for viewing, unlike other similar photo printers that I have used before, there is no need to wait a while for the picture to appear.

Testing print quality

Naturally, you should not wait for print quality, even close to stationary photo printers or specialized laboratories. The HP Sprocket has a very different positioning, in fact, it is a printer for entertainment. Take a printed photo immediately after shooting as a souvenir after a party or memorable event. A separate problem, practically for all color printers, is printing black and white photos. Accordingly, we will check the quality of color printing and the accuracy of color reproduction, as well as the possibility and quality of printing black and white images. Before each use of the printer, a special, complete blue calibration card is loaded into the printer to eliminate the influence of various factors on the print quality.

Color print.

First, we will print a special calibration table. The next table in the table will be the original image on the left, and the scanned version of the printed image on the right.

Impressions

Not all photographs lend themselves to printing correctly on the HP Sprocket. There is a feeling that the higher the quality of the photo, the more dynamic range, the worse the print will turn out. The paper used in the HP Sprocket simply cannot reproduce the full range of colors and smoothness of the gradient. There is also a problem with the transfer of skins, and to a greater extent than competitors. Obviously, this is the limitation of Zink paper, the competitor uses its proprietary technology, with a different type of both cartridges and paper, which can be seen even with the naked eye. Although the form factor of paper for HP Sprocket itself is more convenient, and printing is done without borders, which looks more advantageous, and the printed image is large in area.

It's worth noting that high-contrast photos print better than those with little toning or low contrast. When printing, choose photographs that will not show bright highlights or sharp gradients. Black and white pictures are printed with a slight toning. The black color is closer to dark brown, somewhat resembles black on ordinary TFT screens, the real color depth cannot be achieved. Actually, this is the problem of all such printers, although the competitor has a special cartridge with paper specifically for black and white photographs, i.e. there, shades of gray are not obtained by mixing three colors, but a dye is originally laid down, intended specifically for printing gradations of black.

Autonomous work

The manufacturer does not declare the capacity of the built-in battery. The battery was fully charged during testing. Printing one ream of paper (10 sheets), calibrating before each print, used up almost 50% of the charge. Accordingly, with standard use, a fully charged battery is guaranteed to last for 20 photos or more.

Printing cost

At the time of writing the review, the cost of the HP Sprocket printer was 9,999 rubles. The cost of paper is about 500 rubles. for a pack of 10 sheets or 950 p. for a pack of 20 sheets, thus, if you do not take into account the cost of the printer, the cost of one print is approximately 50 rubles. On the one hand, the cost of the printer, as well as of the final images, is on a par with competitors, but if you look at the cost of printing photos in professional photo labs, it becomes clear that the cost of one photo turns out to be extremely high. But, it's worth remembering that in the case of the HP Sprocket, you get photos instantly, and all from a device slightly larger than a standard smartphone.

conclusions

The compact color photo printer HP Sprocket does not pretend to be a full-fledged photo printer, and here it is not even a matter of print quality, but of the size of the resulting image and the total cost of printing. The HP Sprocket's mission is to have fun, to give emotions at holidays, parties or just while walking. And if we consider it in this way, then such a device can slightly decorate your birthday, wedding or just a vacation with friends, give you a little more smiles and a small photo to remember such a wonderful day. Demand similar devices there is, as well as there is, a demand for various photo booths in which you can print any photos, for example, from Instagram, and at the cost of printing, such a photo printer looks more profitable in the future.

Pros:

• Compact dimensions;
• Convenient printing application;
• Convenient paper size;
• Borderless printing.

• Printing cost;
• Accuracy of rendering colors, gradients;
• Low dynamic range of printed images.

Even one and a half to two years ago, portable inkjet photo printers seemed to many users nothing more than fun, exotic entertainment, or even a misunderstanding. But time has dotted all the "i's", and has shown not only viability, but also an increase in interest in this kind of products. Almost all major brands already have interesting, promising and new models of mini photo printers. But today we will not talk about all at once, but about a specific product, a novelty from HP, the Photosmart A618 inkjet photo printer.

What is interesting about this printer, what new can it offer us? And is it worth the money they ask for? We will try to answer these and other questions in the format of this article.

Acquaintance

The HP Photosmart A618 can be called a light version of the Photosmart A717, which is the top model of the modern line of HP portable photo printers. Of the main differences between the A618 and the more "advanced" A717, I would single out only three - this is the size of the LCD screen (it is slightly smaller, 2.4 "versus 2.5"), the inability to connect to TV receiver and absence hard disk for storing photos. These simplifications, of course, are significant, but at the same time they made it possible to reduce the cost of the printer without depriving it of its attractiveness.

Brief technical characteristics (declared by the manufacturer)
Printing technology	Thermal inkjet printing HP
Printhead nozzles	600 color ink nozzles
Print quality (color, best quality)	Printing from a computer up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi and 1200 input dpi
Print speed (color photo, best quality on photo paper, 10 x 15)	Up to 98 sec
Print speed (color photo, draft on photo paper, 10 x 15)	Up to 39 sec
Print speed footnote	Approximate values. Depends on the type of document and print mode. The exact speed will vary based on system configuration, software application, and document complexity.
Attached software	HP Photosmart Essential and HP Photosmart Premier
Standard paper trays
Recommended media	HP Advanced Photo Paper: 10 x 15 cm and 13 x 18 cm
Media sizes	10 x 15 cm, 10 x 30 cm, 13 x 18 cm
Recommended print media weight	HP Photo Paper up to 280 gsm
Standard RAM
Compatible operating systems	Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, XP Home, XP Professional, XP Professional x64 Edition; Mac OS X v10.3.9 or higher
Standard connectivity	USB port (compliant with USB 2.0 specifications), PictBridge support, memory card slots, wireless connection with HP bt450 integrated Bluetooth wireless printing and PC
Acoustic power of noise emission	5.5 B (on the A scale)
Dimensions (W x D x H)	252 x 116 x 129 mm
Dimensions with trays raised (W x D x H)	252 x 118 x 126 mm
The weight	1.57 kg
Power consumption	Average 14W printing, less than 3W standby, less than 1W off
Equipment	HP Photosmart A618 Compact Photo Printer, HP 110 5-ml Tri-color Inkjet Print Cartridge CB304AE, HP Photosmart Software
Printing system share with HP 110	Approximately 55 photos 10 x 15
Battery recharge time	~ 2.5 h

We won't talk much about the appearance of the device, everything is clearly visible in the photographs.

With no structural differences from the very first HP portable printers, the A618 is sleek and stylish. It is quite difficult to ignore this lacquered handsome man, and the dark color of the case only gives the device additional seriousness. The new Photosmart doesn't seem like just a pretty toy anymore. And the ability to print photos of the now popular 13x18 cm format takes it one step higher than its small-format classmates.

The printer is interesting, first of all, for its capabilities - direct printing from memory cards and flash drives, support for the PictBridge standard, the aforementioned maximum media format of 13x18 cm, support for panoramic printing on 10x30 cm photo paper, and, of course, built-in support for Bluetooth technology. There is good news for the trendy iPod users too. A618 can not only print photos from iPod devices, but also export images from memory cards to these devices.

Installation, menu, operation

Everything that I said about the installation and driver in the previous article on can be addressed to the A618 as well. The only difference is in limiting the maximum print size, which is 13x18 cm. Otherwise, everything has remained practically unchanged.

The system defines a new device as follows:

The printer menu, as usual, is multi-stage, with a large number of different settings, but, nevertheless, it is quite understandable. Even without familiarity with the instructions, many of its points do not raise questions or ambiguous interpretation.

In order not to dwell on each of the menu items separately, I will give only its structural diagram, which will allow you to evaluate the autonomous capabilities of the printer.

Menu structure diagram:

• Print options;
• Edit;
• Instruments;
• Bluetooth;
• Reference;
• Preferred options.

1. Print options

- Print everyone. Print all photos from the memory card installed in the printer;
- Printing of video frames. Printing nine frames of a video clip;
- Print range. Printing a range of photos;
- Print catalog page. Printing a catalog of all photos on the memory card;
- Panoramic photos. Enable or disable panoramic printing mode; this mode is disabled by default. When set to On. all selected photos are printed with an aspect ratio of 3: 1. When printing directly from a digital camera connected via USB cable, panoramic printing is not supported;
- Photo stickers. Enable or disable label printing mode; this mode is disabled by default. Selecting On prints 16 photos per page;
- Stickers for CDs / DVDs;
- Photos for documents.

2. Edit

- Rotate photo;
- Add a frame;
- Add color effect(Black & White, Sepia, Antique, or No Effects (default);
- The brightness of the photos.

3. Tools

- Photosmart Sharing (Instant Share). Transfer photos to other users from the memory card inserted in the printer. The printer must be connected to a computer with the printer software and Internet access;
- View 9 photos;
- Demonstration of slides;
- Print a test page;
- Print a test page;
- Cleaning the cartridge;
- Alignment of the cartridge.

4. Bluetooth

- Device address;
- Device name;
- Password;
- Availability;
- Reset parameters.

6. Preferred parameters

- Print quality.(Best (the default and produces the highest print quality), Normal, Fast Normal;
- Type of paper;
- Date Time. Date / time stamp on photos;
- Color space.(Adobe RGB, sRGB and Auto Select);
- Borderless;
- After printing. Indicates whether photos are deselected after printing; the following values ​​are provided;
- Preview with animation;
- Improving the quality of the video image;
- Restore default values;
- Language;
- Password;
- Availability;
- Reset parameters.

There were no complaints about the operation of the printer in offline mode. Everything is clear and smooth, except for the lack of information about the amount of ink in the cartridge (which I will talk about below). And working in tandem with a computer revealed two drawbacks of a particular instance.

These problems are most likely associated with a specific sample that was tested with us, and are "treated" by updating the printer's firmware.

Seal

It is quite difficult (if not impossible to say) to get an excellent print quality on the three-color system, which is still used by HP portable photo printers. The conspicuous bitmap is the main reason I only rate this printer as very good. Good color rendering, high detail and realistic print are the main advantages of this model. And don't forget about print speed. A maximum quality print in two minutes (from a PC) is a very good indicator for this system, which can be further reduced by changing the print settings.

Three types of photo papers were used in the test: HP Premium Photo Paper (glossy), HP Premium Photo Paper (semi-gloss), and HP Glossy Photo Paper (HP Advanced). Everything that has been said about color reproduction in the article applies to this printer as well. That is additional customization in the driver, when printing on new HP Advanced paper, you will need.

Conclusion

It's time to summarize.
What do we get for $ 200? Let's compare the "old" and the new A618, especially since not only the cost, but also the technical characteristics of these devices are very similar.

The marking of the used cartridge has changed, but we still have the same version of the second generation: a three-color system, 200 nozzles per color, with a minimum drop size of 4-5 picoliters. As a result, the print speed and quality are within the limits of the already available values. The situation is similar with filling the cartridge. VIVERA ink, used in the new HP 110 cartridge (CB304AE), has been successfully used and applied for cartridges 134, 135. That is, there were practically no changes in the printing system. But in fairness, I must admit that the lack of black density, which affected the results, did not appear in the A618. In terms of realism and color rendition, the photos of the A618 are noticeably better.

The printer driver has changed to make it more convenient and intuitive. The same can be said for the design of the device. It has become more modern, elegant and attractive, but if you remember, the main advantage of the model was the built-in HDD 1.5 GB and the ability to connect the printer to a television receiver. And the A618 does not have this.

In return we get autonomous work from a battery (up to 75 photos from one charge), and a built-in Bluetooth adapter, which, most likely, will not be used often, due to the presence of a card reader and a USB port.

The device will undoubtedly find its buyer, but, in my opinion, its price is still too high. With a printer cost of $ 150-170, success is guaranteed. So far, being in the same price niche as the A618, it has no noticeable advantages. This is a fashion model with a good technical component, and the support of the increasingly popular iPods is just another confirmation of this.

Updated: 01.11.2018 16:09:32

Expert: Sergey Vorontsov

* Review of the best according to the editors of the site. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute an advertisement, and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The American company Hewlett-Packard is one of the world's most famous and recognized manufacturers of computers, components and peripheral devices... HP brand printers take a significant position in the company's production volume. Based on the recommendations of our experts, the Expertology editors have prepared a special rating of the best printers produced by this technology giant. The overview of ten positions is divided into two groups based on the color of printing: the first group - color printers (regardless of technology), the second - only monochrome laser printers.

Rating of the best HP printers

Best HP color printers

In this part of the review, we take a look at the group of printers that received the highest ratings from our experts. Specific models have been selected to cover the needs of a wide variety of users. Therefore, printers differ significantly in printing technology - inkjet and laser, format - from the most common A4 to large format, productivity and, accordingly, cost.

Let's start traditionally with the most expensive model with ample opportunities. This is a color "laser" capable of printing on A3 media (this is not the least of all that determined it high cost).

The dimensions of the device are 545x338x599 mm and it weighs 40.9 kg. Despite such an impressive size and significant weight, the device implies desktop placement. In operation, it consumes up to 440 W of power from the mains, in standby mode - no more than 4.4 W. In terms of performance, this model is roughly designed for the average office with an approximate production of about 75 thousand prints in 30 days. Actual speed is 20 prints per minute in any color. The first print is issued after 17 seconds. Duplex is automatically activated.

Color printing is based on a 4-color base model using an appropriate number of individual cartridges. Highest level image quality in terms of resolution - 600x600dpi. The capacity of each color cartridge is comparable to the estimated 7.3 thousand pages, black - 7 thousand pages.

The dimensions of the trays are as follows: automatic feed reservoir - up to 850 sheets, standard - 350 sheets; output - up to 250 sheets; manual feed - up to 100.

In spite of large format and, accordingly, high cost, the presented model is surprisingly not distinguished by an outstanding electronic control part: a processor with a modest 540 MHz frequency; RAM-memory - 192 MB, however, it can be upgraded to 448 MB. However, such a technological profile cannot be considered a direct drawback, since redundancy in the processor and memory is not the rarest phenomenon that significantly affects the cost.

In this series, only a wire connection is provided - directly to a computer via USB or shared over a local network.

The software part of the printer includes support for PostScript and PCL, adaptation to operating systems Windows-families, Linux, MacOS.

Dignity

• large maximum format;
• fault tolerance;
• combination of speed and productivity;
• appearance.

disadvantages

• Complaints about driver issues causing Out of Memory error.

The second number in our rating is a model that is fundamentally different from all the others. It is a large format printer with an exceptionally large maximum working format - A0. Principle of printing - thermal, inkjet, full color.

The dimensions of the device are 1292x932x530 mm, weight - 27.7 kg. These dimensions imply installation on the floor. Consumes 35 W of mains power in operation. Normally, the noise level should not be higher than 48 dB. There is also a little noise in standby mode - 16 dB. The control panel is equipped with a 4.3 ”color LCD display.

The color image is formed by combining inks of four basic shades, each from a separate cartridge. Black ink - pigment, color - water-soluble. The quality of prints in terms of resolution is 1200x1200 dpi in color and 2400x2400 dpi in b / w.

Let's consider the most important features of the device, which are important in the context of the purpose of large-format printers. Print speed can be illustrated with line charts in b / w and color in A1 format in draft mode - exactly 70 prints per hour (or 35 seconds per page). Line printing accuracy varies within 0.1% with a line width of at least 0.07 mm. Carriers can be sheets (paper, photographic paper, films) with a width of 210 to 914 mm or rolls with a width of 279 to 914 mm with an outer roll diameter of up to 10 cm. The maximum carrier thickness is 0.3 mm, density is from 60 to 280 g / sq. meter. Photo printing is possible - a separate tray is provided for the media supply. No stand provided.

The hardware and software part of the device includes the following features: wired and Wi-Fi connection; equipped with 1 GB RAM; AirPrint technology; availability of a web interface; availability of drivers for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS; no PostScript support.

Dignity

• reliability;
• speed;
• fault tolerance;
• wireless connection;
• quality of graphs, arbitrary images and photographs.

disadvantages

• not marked.

Further in the rating, we will consider a more ordinary model - a color A4 laser with a very decent performance, which, according to conventional estimates, is enough to cover the needs of an average office - 50 thousand copies in 30 days.

Printer dimensions - 470x295x411 mm, net weight - 18.9 kg. The level of power consumption of the mains is up to 570 W during normal operation, in standby - 17.6 W. The declared noise level is no more than 48 dB. Structurally and in terms of dimensions, it provides for desktop placement.

The quality of prints in terms of resolution is up to 600x600dpi regardless of the color mode. Duplex mode (2 sides) is activated on the fly. Actual speed is calculated at 27 prints per minute in any color. The first copy is issued after 8.90 sec in b / w and 9.50 sec in color. The color image is formed from four basic shades, each of which is supplied from a separate cartridge. The capacity of each cartridge corresponds to the conditional 2.3 thousand pages.

The system of feeding / discharging media in this series is organized as follows: a tank for automatic feeding with a capacity of 300 sheets; place of output - 150 sheets; manual loading - 50 sheets. Recommended paper with a weight of 60 to 200 gsm. meter.

Key indicators of the technical and electronic part of the device: 256 MB of RAM, a processor with a core frequency of 1.2 GHz. Connection - direct USB or shared LAN. AirPrint is supported. There is a direct print function or via a web interface.

Dignity

• simplicity of settings;
• availability of branded cartridges and ease of refueling;
• favorable price against the background of characteristics;
• elegant design.

disadvantages

• high quality"Pictures" only on new original (expensive) cartridges.

Further in our rating is another interesting model color "laser" A4 format from Hewlett-Packard. In terms of estimated productivity, it is slightly inferior to the previous model - 40 thousand copies in 30 days, and already falls into the conditional category "for a small office". However, its price completely covers all these conventions, and the technical characteristics are quite at the level.

Printer dimensions - 392x247x435 mm, net weight - 13.8 kg. Obviously, with such dimensions, the installation is meant to be a desktop one. In operation, it consumes up to 381 W of electrical power and produces noise up to 50 dB. While waiting, the power consumption is minimal - no more than 7.5 watts.

The full color image is formed according to the same principle as in the previous model - four basic colors, each from a separate cartridge. The capacity of the black cartridge corresponds to the conditional 1.4 thousand pages, of any color - 1.3 thousand pages.

The print quality in terms of resolution is up to 600x600dpi in both color modes. The speed of work in both modes is 21 copies per minute, the first print is issued after 10.70 s in b / w and 12.10 s in color. Duplex mode is automatically enabled.

Feeding / output of carriers: reservoir for automatic paper feeding on 251 sheets; output - 100 sheets; manual feed - 1 sheet. Recommended paper for weight - 60 to 220 gsm. meter.

In terms of the electronic technical part, this model has both advantages over the previous one and weaker points. So, random access memory half as much - 128 MB, weaker processor - 800 MHz. But in terms of connection, this model has a noticeable plus - in addition to wired connection via USB and local network, connection is also possible via Wi-Fi. The package of "native" drivers includes support for operating systems Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS.

Dignity

• there is a Wi-Fi connection;
• attractive price against the background of decent performance;
• ease of installation and operation;
• reliability and reliability.

disadvantages

• expensive original cartridges, difficulties with refueling.

In terms of dimensions, this model is comparable to the above-described laser version - 464x145x385 mm, but in terms of weight - it is expectedly incommensurably lighter - 5.1 kg. In operation, it consumes up to 33 W, in standby - 1.16 W. Placement - desktop. Printing technology - inkjet, thermal. Estimated productivity - about 15 thousand copies in 30 days. The input tray holds 225 sheets of paper; the output tray holds 60 sheets.

This model takes a very careful and thoughtful engineering approach to print quality. So, there are five modes in total: draft, normal, high quality, photo printing and maximum resolution... In b / w mode, draft printing provides a resolution of 300x300dpi, high quality and photo printing - 600x600dpi, the highest quality - 1200x1200dpi. In full color, the first three modes, according to the official data of the manufacturer, are in the "Auto" mode, which implies optimal adjustment of the resolution, photo printing - 600x600dpi and the top-end mode - the optimized quality of 4800x1200dpi. The last "outrageous" figure is the result of a complex imaging algorithm, and not a resolution in its purest form.

The layout of print speeds is as follows: draft - up to 29 copies per minute in b / w and up to 24 copies in color; standard ISO-printing - up to 18 copies in b / w and up to 10 in color; 2-sided auto mode- up to 8 copies in b / w and up to 5 in color. The first print is issued after 16 seconds in b / w and after 18 seconds in color.

As for an inkjet printer, this model has quite remarkable electronics on board: a 500 MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM. With the possibilities of connection paths, the situation here is the most attractive among all the models in the selection - in addition to wired methods via USB and a local network, you can also connect the printer via Wi-Fi and even FireWire. AirPrint is supported too. There is no PostScript support. There are standard drivers for Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS operating systems.

Dignity

• affordable cost;
• high quality printing with flexible engineering approach;
• speed;
• many connection methods, including wireless;
• the "entry" is installed on all compatible systems.

disadvantages

• quite noisy.

Best HP black and white printers

Now let's move on to the second selection in our rating, which was made only by laser printers HP with monochrome printing.

First of all, we will present the most powerful, productive and expensive model, the capabilities of which are laid down by the developers on the basis of the most intensive operation in large offices or at enterprises of operational printing. The most important point is the maximum format - here it is A3.

Device dimensions - 568x392x596 mm, net weight - 38.5 kg. Operating power consumption - 786 W, while waiting - no more than 22 W. The declared maximum noise level is 56 dB.

The printer is capable of printing at 1200x1200dpi quality. Speed ​​- 20 ppm for A3 and 41 ppm for A4. The first copy is issued after 10.50 s. Duplex mode is automatically activated. The approximate capacity of the cartridge corresponds to approximately 17.5 thousand copies.

Media feed and output of finished prints are organized as follows. The auto-feed reservoir is very large at 4,600 sheets, but this maximum capacity, and the recommended is 600 sheets. The output section holds 250 sheets. Manual feed slot - 100 sheets.

As central processing unit uses an ARM Cortex chip with a core frequency of 800 MHz. Standard equipment with RAM-memory - 512 MB, available upgrade up to 1 GB. Connection is possible directly to a computer / server via USB or to a local network via the RJ-45 port.

Other features of the model: support for PostScript, direct printing, embedded web-interface, availability of drivers for operating systems Windows family as well as for macOS.

Dignity

• huge auto-feed tray;
• speed;
• capacious cartridge, no problems with refueling or analogs;
• large maximum media format.

disadvantages

• no pronounced disadvantages were found.

The second number in this collection of ratings is another high-performance model for the large office. Estimated performance is more than impressive - 275,000 copies in 30 days. At the same time, the printer is more than two times cheaper than the previous one, and the main factor of this is already the limitation on the A4 format.

The linear dimensions of the device are 431x380x466 mm, the net weight is 21.6 kg. In active operation mode, it consumes up to 780 W of electricity, in standby - no more than 15.3 W. The nominal noise level declared by the manufacturer is not higher than 55 dB.

As far as the quality of the "picture" is concerned, this model has exactly the same capabilities as the previous one - up to 1200x1200dpi resolution. As for the print speed, in this case it is much higher - up to 61 copies per minute. The first print is issued after 5.40 sec. Duplex turns on "on the fly". The capacity of the cartridge corresponds to the conditional 11 thousand copies.

Media feed and output of finished prints are structured as follows: Automatic feed reservoir for 4400 sheets maximum; compartment for output - up to 1300 sheets; manual feed - up to 100 sheets. It is recommended to use paper with a weight between 60 and 199 gsm. meter.

The standard RAM-memory of this model is 512 MB and there is also a very decent "gap" for an upgrade - up to 1536 MB. The processor is also quite serious - with a core clock speed of 1.2 GHz. Connection methods - the local network(RJ-45 interface) or direct connection to PC via USB. It has its own web interface, AirPrint and PostScript support, direct printing. Native drivers allow you to install the printer on Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS systems.

Dignity

• extremely high speed;
• one of best combinations productivity and cost;
• fault tolerance;
• powerful electronics.

disadvantages

• many users are sorely lacking in wireless connectivity.

The rating continues with a medium-sized A4 printer with more modest productivity indicators - up to 80 thousand copies in 30 days. However, in terms of other characteristics, the device is of a fairly decent level, and at a price more than half the price of the previous one.

The dimensions of the case are 381x216x357 mm, the net weight of the printer is only 8.58 kg. Power consumption under workload - up to 591 W, standby - 6.1 W. Noise declared by the manufacturer is not higher than 54 dB.

The print quality in terms of resolution is equal to the two previous solutions - 1200x1200dpi. The speed of production of prints - up to 38 copies in 60 seconds, the first is issued after 5.70 sec. Duplex mode is automatically activated. The volume of toner in a cartridge is calculated for an average of 3.1 thousand copies.

Submission of source codes and delivery of copies is organized as follows: auto-feed reservoir with a capacity of 900 sheets (recommended - 350), an output slot with a capacity of 150 sheets; manual loading - 100 sheets. Recommended paper weights between 60 and 175 gsm. meter.

The standard RAM in printers of this series is four times less than that of the previous solution - 128 MB and cannot be upgraded; but the processor is exactly the same in terms of power - 1.2 GHz clock frequency kernels.

The dimensions of the device body are 365x191x247 mm, the net weight is minimal and commensurate with inkjet printers- only 4.7 kg. Maximum power consumption in operating mode - 380 W, while waiting - no more than 1.7 W. Noise declared by the manufacturer is not higher than 51 dB. The speed of production of prints - up to 22 pages in 60 seconds, the first copy is issued after 7.30 sec.

In this model we already see a noticeable drawdown in image resolution - the maximum is 600x600 dpi. But that's to be expected given its affordable cost. What is extremely remarkable is that the printer is equipped with cartridges. There are as many as three of them with standard toner refilling. This is more than a noticeable advantage, but one point distresses. The DRUM chip built into the printer maintains its own count of printed copies and, after the nominal value has expired, "makes a decision" about the need to replace consumables, at a time when both the toner can still remain an impressive volume and the imaging drum is in almost perfect condition.

The feeding / dispensing system is structured as follows: a tank for auto-feeding with a capacity of 160 sheets; output slot - 100 sheets; manual loading - 10 sheets. Recommended paper is 60 to 163 gsm. meter.

The amount of RAM here is the same as in the previous model - 128 MB and cannot be expanded. The processor is twice as weak - 600 MHz. Connectivity provides for communication via Wi-Fi generation 802.11n and over the wire over USB. Network connection no. PostScript is not supported, only PCL 5e. Compatible for "native" drivers with operating Windows systems, Mac OS, iOS. There is support for AirPrint.

Dignity

• three cartridges included;
• compact and lightweight;
• wireless connection;
• the toner is separate from the print head.

disadvantages

• The DRUM chip negates the advantage of having three cartridges as standard.

Completing this selection of ratings, and at the same time the whole review, is a budget A4 printer with a relatively modest performance - about 10 thousand prints in 30 days, which, nevertheless, is in great demand due to all other characteristics.

The dimensions of the device are 365x332x467 mm, the weight is as minimal as that of the model above - 4.7 kg. Working power consumption - up to 380 W, while waiting - no more than 1.7 W. At maximum load, it emits a noise of no more than 51 dB.

Many parameters of this model completely coincide with the previous one: print resolution maximum 600x600 dpi; speed - up to 22 pages per minute; first print out after 7.30 s; organization of trays - 160/100/10 sheets; recommended paper 60 to 163 gsm density meter; memory / processor - 128 MB / 600 MHz, respectively; Wi-Fi and USB connection; AirPrint; no PostScript support; driver package for Windows, Mac OS, iOS.

Another point in which this model loses out to the previous one is the nominal toner cartridge life. Here it corresponds to the conventional 1400 copies.

Dignity

• attractive cost;
• compact and lightweight;
• appearance;
• wireless connection.

disadvantages

• there are complaints about problems with standard drivers.

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.

A photo printer is a device primarily designed for printing images on special paper. That is why it is always colored and uses at least 3 shades. There are many such options on the market, but only a few can truly be called the best photo printers. We have compiled a rating, adding to it the best technique for obtaining photographs at home and in specialized salons. Perhaps he will help you make the right decision.

This TOP includes companies that have been on the market for a long time and have already won the trust of buyers. Basically, it describes the products of firms operating in the middle price range and premium segment. Each of these brands is quite popular in the market and has earned a big name for itself. The following brands are in the top three:

• Hewlett-Packard Is one of the most popular and prestigious companies in the field of office equipment production. She has no really cheap products in her assortment, here are devices of the middle price range and premium models. Basically, it produces jet-type units that are suitable both for home use and for office use by a small team. It is one of the few companies that offer compact photo printers. They differ from similar options in bright colors and ease of use.
• Epson Is the main competitor of Hewlett-Packard, but, unlike her, it is not concentrated on the production of any one type of printers. In stock he has inkjet, matrix and laser models of office equipment. They are interesting because of their good resource, versatility in terms of use different types paper and due to ease of use. There are convenient control panels, large ink tanks, large trays for sheets with automatic feeding. Some of them can even be connected to a PC remotely over the Internet. There are also products that are suitable for synchronization with mobile devices.
• Ricoh- this Japanese company is not so widely known in the Russian market as compared to Epson and Hewlett-Packard. However, in recent years, its photo printers have been recognized as some of the best. She has models for printing in A3 and A4 format, they are favorably distinguished by an intuitive interface, economy of ink consumption, automation of work, which makes them comfortable to use. Basically, we are talking here about laser models, and therefore the price for them cannot be called low. However, the high quality fully compensates for this drawback, the photos are clean, clear, bright, like those of professionals.

Rating of the best photo printers

The reason for adding office equipment to the rating was numerous positive reviews buyers, the successful results of our tests and high marks from experts in this field. When analyzing the characteristics of all models, we relied on the following points:

• Ease of use;
• Efficiency of use;
• Profitability;
• Versatility of operation;
• Life time;
• Value for money;
• Type - for professionals or amateurs;
• Dimensions and design;
• Duration of the warranty.

Among the characteristics, we paid attention to product life, print speed, number of colors, noise level, print resolution, and wireless connectivity. We also took into account the warm-up time (for laser models) and the first page out, the volume of the tray, the type and thickness of the paper used. Not the last place in the analysis of goods, as one of the selection criteria, was given to the reputation of manufacturing firms, which, because of their fame, often raise prices for their products.

Best compact photo printers

There are very few such models on the market; they include devices that can be carried with you and connected to phones or tablets. With their help, it is allowed to print photos of limited sizes, on average, 7x15 cm. Despite their small dimensions, their cost is not low. With a focus on print quality and ease of use, we have selected the best photo printer out of 10 models.

HP Sprocket, Black

Looking at the small size of this device, you do not immediately understand why it is so expensive. However, the near-flawless print quality and excellent color reproduction make things clear. Of course, you can't print large pictures on it, but standard (7.6 x 7.6 cm) it gives out easily. The feature of this technique is the ability to send a photo to it from a smartphone or tablet without connecting to a PC, which expands the capabilities of users and saves time. Despite its small size, 10 sheets of photo paper can be inserted here without problems.

The HP Sprocket, Black is quiet enough and doesn't consume much power at 15.91 watts. It is convenient to carry it in a bag and use it not only at home, since the weight of the product does not exceed 260 g. The device is easy to operate due to a well-thought-out design and smart software. On the left there is a power button, on the back there is a charging indicator, a place for a cable and a reset button.

Advantages:

• Lack of a pull-out tray;
• Good print speed;
• One year warranty;
• The presence of Bluetooth;
• Accepts sticky photo paper;
• High resolution images.

Disadvantages:

• Does not feed paper automatically;
• Limited photo size.

Best professional photo printers

These devices allow printing not only photographs, but also various advertising booklets, brochures, leaflets. Naturally, the cost of such products will be higher than average. Such devices usually work not only with A4 and A3 formats, but also with stickers. Of all the options available on the market, 3 units have been added to the rating. The reason for this was their efficiency in work, economy, ease of use.

This photo printer is the best for printing photos, in particular, due to the fact that it has built-in high capacity ink tanks. In total, 6 containers are available here, which are located as conveniently as possible and are invisible to others, being hidden under the lid. One filling station can print about 1,500 color photographs of 10x15 cm. They are not blurry, the paints dry quickly and, before using, they do not need to be specially dried, as in the case of many other models.

At the end of ink, in comparison with cartridge devices, they are replaced quite easily in the Epson L1800 inkjet photo printer, and at the same time the cost of the service is significantly reduced. The reviews also write about the economical consumption of paints thanks to the technology of printing "drops" in size of 1.5 picoliters. This printer, which prints photos in almost any conditions, is carried out without any problems, although its dimensions are considerable.

Advantages:

• Wide range of paper weights - from 64 to 300 g / m2;
• Can print in black and white;
• Large resource - up to 75,000 pages;
• Good tray capacity - up to 100 sheets;
• Compatible with OS X, Windows;
• Complete kit for instant application.

Disadvantages:

• Supports only A3 paper size;
• The output speed of the finished photo is lower than that of the text (191 sec.);
• Considerable weight at 12.5 kg.

It is the best photo printer in terms of functionality and boasts a combination of high print quality and ease of use. Yes, the price for it is not low, but this is fully justified by the good results of use. It is based on the unique color formula Vivid Magenta, which allows you to get bright, rich, contrasting photos. This is what makes it possible to call this model professional.

This is one of the few devices in which, in addition to the main ink (6 colors - yellow, cyan, turquoise, black, magenta light and saturated), gray shades are also used. This ensures a wide color gamut, which, when printed, reproduces the exact original tones. The device looks even more attractive due to the impeccably high speed of output of prints - up to 150 seconds versus 191 seconds, which are observed in the previous version in the ranking.

Advantages:

• CD / DVD printing function;
• The presence of a special tray for creating layouts;
• Good resource of the print head;
• Meniscus control for precise positioning;
• Two ports for USB connection.

Disadvantages:

• Slightly noisy during operation.

it optimal solution both for small offices and for home use. This technique deserves attention due to high-quality and at the same time economical printing. It easily copes with a large flow of jobs, producing about 20 pages per minute. Equally convenient here is the fact that the printer supports work in Mac, Windows and Linux environments. The device warms up almost instantly and is ready for use within 30 seconds after switching on.

The Ricoh SP C260DNw laser printer for printing photos works with A4, A5, A6, B5, B6 paper, and therefore allows you to get more than just pictures. It is very convenient here that 150 sheets can be loaded into the tray at once, and their density can be completely different, in the range of 60-160 g / m². As with all models, the resource of cartridges is strictly individual for different colors, of which there are four - yellow, cyan, magenta, black. However, this is sufficient to produce crisp and vivid images.

Advantages:

• Power consumption in printing mode up to 58.3 W;
• Withstands a load of up to 30,000 prints per month;
• The first page comes out in 14 seconds in any color;
• Can connect with smart devices;
• It is not difficult to refill the cartridge from the masters;
• Does not spoil the sheets.

Disadvantages:

• Weight 23.8 kg;
• A little noisy.

Best Photo Printers for Home Use

Such products are usually sold in the middle price range, they can have an automatic paper feed and a volumetric tray. Most often, they are characterized by support for 4-6 colors, but the brightness and clarity of image transmission are acceptable. They differ from professional devices by a lower print output speed and not the same good resource... These devices form the basis of the market. We looked at 10 different options and selected 3 of the best photo printers based on their parameters.

it multifunction device with the optimal combination of quality and price, which is interesting primarily because it allows you to print photos and documents directly from your smartphone. For this, here are used inkjet cartridges, however, they must have a special microcircuit, other options are not suitable here. But it is precisely because of this that the high quality and accuracy of the print is ensured.

Despite the fact that the device is not very large, there is still a wireless connection, which means that it is not necessary to keep it near the computer at all. The connection between them can be provided with using Wi-Fi, and it is configured quite simply with the help of special adapter... For one price, the buyer receives, together with a photo printer, a scanner and a copier, which is very profitable. But in this model, the load per month should not exceed 1200 A4 pages, otherwise it may fail prematurely.

Advantages:

• Color printing resolution - up to 4800 x 1200 dots;
• Black and white images are produced at 1200 x 1200 dpi;
• Works not very noisy;
• Convenient control panel;
• Relatively lightweight;
• Doesn't take up much space in the house.

Disadvantages:

• Does not independently determine the type of paper;
• Consumables must be submitted by yourself.

The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C is a premium model, but it cannot print and scan at the same time.

HP is one of the very best photo printer brands out there, so you expect a lot from it from the start. This model also did not disappoint, although outwardly it does not differ from its predecessors in the ranking. Its advantage lies in the use of original pigment inks of its own production, which guarantees professional quality, accurate color reproduction, durability and brightness.

This option is very beneficial for those who want to save on paper use, as it can be cut in half by printing borderless on both sides. Moreover, you can send a photo to it from any device that can be synchronized with it, including remotely. All this is possible with the Ethernet 10/100 option, and the HP All-in-One Printer Remote app lets you scan photos even from your mobile device.

Advantages:

• 225-sheet tray;
• Paper does not jam;
• Withstands production of up to 15,000 pages per month;
• Finished prints do not fade in the sun and are stored for a long time;
• Easy to refill cartridges;
• Excellent performance
• Automatic shutdown when idle.

Disadvantages:

• Supports not all sizes and types of paper;
• Works with Mac and Windows OS only.

Canon Pixma G1410

... Having tried Canon Pixma G1410, we have come to the conclusion that it is suitable for printing photos on both plain and glossy paper ...

Expert opinion

Outwardly, this model is very similar to the HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter, it is also an inkjet version. With its help, it is possible to obtain bright enough pictures with a resolution of up to 1200 × 4800 dpi. Images are smudge-free and color complaints do not occur. This effect is possible, in particular, due to the support of 4 colors.

The paint is not used as economically as in previous models, since the minimum drop size is 2pl. Even so, it is one of the best home photo printers on the market, with no ink changes required. For the offered price it is just a gift!

Advantages:

• Colored water-soluble ink;
• Borderless printing;
• Reliable FINE ink system.
• One set of inks is enough for 7000 pages;
• Resource - up to 6000 pages;
• Low noise level;
• Ease of use;
• Tray location on top.

Disadvantages:

• At high temperatures, slight drips of paint may be noticeable.

Which photo printer is better to buy

When choosing the best office or home photo printer, first of all, you need to pay attention to its color formula. It is desirable that there is a cartridge or ink tanks of at least 4 shades. Standard set- black, yellow, magenta and cyan. However, if there are more colors, the print is usually even brighter and more interesting.

For the convenience of printing, it is better that the device can connect to a PC wirelessly via Wi-Fi. No less relevant is the ability to transfer images directly from the phone, which is ideal for selfie lovers. For those who want to receive prints different sizes, it is worth considering buying office equipment that supports A3, A3 +, A4 paper formats.

Here's what model you can choose for different purposes:

• For quick print Selfie images are available for purchase HP Sprocket, Black.
• For use in a photo studio, for example, for the purpose of obtaining prints in a passport and other documents, the Epson L1800 is well suited.
• If you also need to print advertising brochures, in addition to photographs, you should pay attention to the Epson SureColor SC-P600.
• For a wide range of paper types and sizes, the Ricoh SP C260DNw is the best choice.
• For amateur photographers, the non-professional options are the HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C and the HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter.

Even when it comes to the best photo printers, no one can guarantee that they are completely free from flaws. Therefore, we advise you to familiarize yourself with them in advance and understand whether they are important to you. In any case, this rating will help you make your choice!