Works Very Well

I just got this printer for my wife. I am very happy with the quality of the prints and the ease of use. I have been taking digital photos for about 3 years now, but rarely print any due to the hassle and cost of photo quality inkjet printing. Until a week ago, I had never heard of dye-transfer or dye-sub printing, but now I think it is the only logical way to get great quality photos.

I found the CP-200 to have the features I desired, that is, to print snapshot size pictures at home, or occasionally on trips. I was surprised at the ease of use. I have printed from my camera and from my computer, and both ways were pretty simple.

I noticed that the quality of the image seems perfect when printing from my PC, but slightly less than perfect when printing directly from the camera. I am using a Canon A20, for which I had to download a firmware upgrade to be able to print with this printer. Perhaps this particular camera is not really designed to produce the maximum output of the printer. The exact same pictures look better when printed from the computer. Not to say that they are awful when printed directly from the camera, they just seem a little hazy.

The paper and ink from Canon is excellent quality. It looks and feels like standard glossy photo paper. A big plus is that the photos come out dry and ready to handle immediately. Even though I have printed about 15 photos with this printer, I still find myself hesitant to touch the paper when it comes out of the printer. My inkjet prints take a little time to dry or else they will smudge. There is absolutely no smudging here. Also, the protective overcoat that is applied protects the print from water and fingerprints.

The printer itself is light and small, easy to carry around, or to store. I think I will take it to the hospital when our baby is delivered so I can print a couple shots for the family and the nursing staff. They'll think that is great! This could also be used at parties, weddings, trips, business functions, or almost like a Polaroid to take "instant" photos.

I paid about $118 for this printer before shipping, and I think it is worth it. I already have a good inkjet printer for my standard color printing needs, i.e. web pages, documents, lower quality photos on standard paper. I also have an old (old!)laser printer for higher volume monochrome printing.

I found a 108 pack of 4x6 paper and ink for approx $40.00, shipping included. That comes out to $0.37 per print. I think it is a good deal because you can print anywhere and anytime you want, without sacrificing quality.

If you are looking for a high quality photo-only printer that is light, small, and portable, that is capable of print sizes up to 4x6, this may be what you are looking for.