Photo printers no. Photo quality professional HP DesignJet printers. Expert: Sergey Vorontsov

A photo printer is a device designed primarily 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 really be called the best photo printers. We have compiled a rating, adding to it the best technique for taking photos at home and in specialized salons. Perhaps he will help you make the right decision.

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

Hewlett Packard is one of the most popular and prestigious companies in the production of office equipment. She doesn’t have any cheap products in her assortment, here are devices of the middle price range and premium models. Basically, it produces jet-type units, which are suitable for both home use and office use by a small team. This 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 it, it is not concentrated on the production of any one type of printer. He has inkjet, matrix, and laser models of office equipment. They are interesting because of their good resource, versatility in relation to the use of various types of paper and because of their ease of use. There are convenient control panels, capacious ink tanks, large paper trays with automatic feed. Some of them can even be connected to a PC remotely via the Internet. There are also products suitable for synchronization with mobile devices.
Ricoh- This Japanese company is not as widely known in the Russian market 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 compare favorably with an intuitive interface, economy of ink consumption, automation of work, which makes their use comfortable. Basically, we are talking about laser models, and therefore the price for them cannot be called low. However, high quality fully compensates for this drawback, the photos are clean, clear, bright, like professionals.

Rating of the best photo printers

The reason for adding office equipment to the rating was numerous positive customer reviews, 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;
The 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. Also, 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 were taken into account. Not the last place in the analysis of goods, as one of the selection criteria, was given to the reputation of manufacturing companies, which, due to fame, often raise prices for their products.

The 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. Based on print quality and ease of use, we have selected one of the best photo printers 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 almost flawless print quality and excellent color reproduction make things clear. Of course, you can’t print large pictures on it, but it produces standard ones (7.6 x 7.6 cm) easily. The feature of this technique is the ability to send photos to it from a smartphone or tablet without connecting to a PC, which expands the user experience and saves time. Despite the small dimensions, 10 sheets of photo paper are inserted here without problems.

HP Sprocket, Black is quiet enough and consumes not too much power, 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 thoughtful design and smart software. On the left is the power button, on the back is a charging indicator, a place for a cable and a reset button.

Advantages:

No drawer;
Good print speed
One year warranty;
The presence of Bluetooth;
Accepts photo paper with a sticky layer;
High resolution images.

Disadvantages:

Does not feed paper automatically;
Limited photo size.

The best professional photo printers

These devices allow you to print not only photographs, but also various advertising booklets, brochures, flyers. 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 part because of the fact that it has built-in large ink tanks. In total, 6 containers are available here, which are located as conveniently as possible and are not visible to others, being hidden under the lid. At one refill, you can print about 1,500 color photographs in a format of 10x15 cm. They are not smeared, the paints dry quickly and, before use, they do not need to be dried on purpose, as in the case of many other models.

When the ink runs out, compared to cartridge devices, the Epson L1800 inkjet photo printer can be replaced quite easily, and the cost of the service is significantly reduced. The reviews also write about the economical consumption of inks thanks to the 1.5 picoliter “drop” printing technology. Transportation of 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 density - 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;
A complete set for instant application.

Disadvantages:

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

This is the best photo printer in terms of functionality, which boasts a combination of high print quality and ease of use. Yes, the price is not low, but it is fully justified by the good results of use. Here, the unique Vivid Magenta color formula is taken as the basis, which allows you to get bright, saturated, 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, cyan, black, magenta light and saturated), gray shades are also used. Due to this, a wide color gamut is provided, which, when printed, conveys exactly the original tones. The device looks even more attractive because of the impeccably high output speed of prints - up to 150 seconds versus 191 seconds, which are observed in the previous version in the rating.

Advantages:

Function of the press on CD/DVD;
The presence of a special tray for creating layouts;
Good print head resource;
Meniscus control for precise positioning;
Two USB ports.

Disadvantages:

A little noisy when working.

This optimal solution for both small offices and home use. This technique deserves attention due to high-quality and at the same time economical printing. It easily handles a large stream of jobs, issuing about 20 pages in one minute. Equally convenient here is the fact that the printer supports 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 photo printer 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 clear and bright images.

Advantages:

Power consumption in print mode up to 58.3 W;
Withstands a load of up to 30,000 prints per month;
First page out in 14 seconds in any color;
Can connect with smart devices;
It is not difficult to refill the cartridge with the masters;
Doesn't damage sheets.

Disadvantages:

Weight at 23.8 kg;
A little noisy.

The best photo printers for home use

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

This is a multifunctional device with an 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, inkjet cartridges are used here, 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, it still has a wireless connection, which means that it is not necessary to keep it near the computer. Communication between them can be provided using Wi-Fi, and it is configured quite simply using a special adapter. For one price, the buyer receives, along with a photo printer, a scanner with a copier, which is very profitable. But in this model, the load per month should not exceed 1200 pages in A4 format, otherwise it may fail prematurely.

Advantages:

Color print resolution - up to 4800 x 1200 dots;
Black and white images are produced at 1200 x 1200 dpi;
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 provided by yourself.

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

HP is one of the best photo printer brands out there, so you expect a lot from it right 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. own production, which guarantee a professional quality print, accurate color reproduction, durability and brightness.

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

Advantages:

Tray for 225 sheets;
Paper does not jam;
Withstands production 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 the Canon Pixma G1410, we came to the conclusion that it is suitable for printing photos on both plain and glossy paper…

Expert opinion

Externally, this model is very similar to the HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter, it is also an inkjet version. With its help, you can get fairly bright pictures with a resolution of up to 1200 × 4800 dpi. There is no smearing in the images and there are no complaints about color reproduction. Such an effect is possible, in particular, due to the support of 4 colors.

Paint is not consumed as sparingly here as in previous models, since the minimum drop size is 2pl. However, even with these figures, this is one of the best photo printers for the home on the market, and ink replacement is often not required. For the price offered, this is just a gift!

Advantages:

Color water-soluble ink;
Can print borderless;
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 top position.

Disadvantages:

At high temperatures, small streaks 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 ease of printing, it is better that the device can connect to a PC wirelessly via Wi-Fi. Equally relevant is the ability to transfer images directly from the phone, which is ideal for selfie lovers. Those who want to receive prints of various sizes should consider buying office equipment that supports A3, A3 +, A4 paper formats.

Here are some models to choose from for different purposes:

For quick printing of selfie images, you can buy HP Sprocket, Black.
For use in a photo salon, for example, in order to obtain prints for a passport and other documents, the Epson L1800 is well suited.
If you also need to print advertising brochures, in addition to photos, you should pay attention to the Epson SureColor SC-P600.
For paper of different types and sizes, the Ricoh SP C260DNw is the best choice.
Amateur photographers can limit themselves to non-professional options - HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C and HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter.

Even if we are talking about the best photo printers, no one can guarantee the complete absence of their shortcomings. 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!

A year and a half or two years ago, portable inkjet photo printers for many users seemed nothing more than fun, exotic entertainment, or even a misunderstanding. But time has dotted all the "i", and showed not only viability, but also an increase in interest in such 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 new product 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 it? We will try to answer these and other questions in the format of this article.

Acquaintance

The HP Photosmart A618 is a lighter version of the Photosmart A717, which is currently the top model in HP's current line of 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 "against 2.5"), the inability to connect to a television receiver and the absence hard drive to store photos. These simplifications are, of course, significant, but at the same time they made it possible to reduce the cost of the printer without depriving it of its attractiveness.

Brief specifications (declared by the manufacturer)
Print technology	HP Thermal Inkjet
Print head nozzles	600 color ink nozzles
Print quality (colour, top quality)	Print 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 mode on photo paper, 10 x 15)	Up to 39 sec
Footnote for typing speed	Approximate values. Varies depending on document type and print mode. The exact speed varies depending on system configuration, software, 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 media weight	HP Photo Paper up to 280 g/m2
Standard RAM
Compatible operating systems	Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, XP Home, XP Professional, XP Professional x64 Edition; Mac OS X v10.3.9 and above
Standard connectivity	USB port (compliant with USB 2.0 specifications), PictBridge support, memory card slots, wireless connectivity with built-in HP bt450 Bluetooth adapter for wireless printing and PC connectivity
Acoustic power of noise emission	5.5 B (A-weighted)
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
Weight	1.57 kg
Power consumption	Average 14W printing, less than 3W idle, less than 1W off
Equipment	HP Photosmart A618 Compact Photo Printer, HP 110 (5 ml) Tri-color Ink Cartridge CB304AE, HP Photosmart Software
HP 110 Print System Total Yield	Approximately 55 photographs 10 x 15
Battery recharge time	~ 2.5 h

We will not talk much about the appearance of the device, everything is clearly visible in the photographs.

In the absence of structural differences from the very first HP portable printers, the A618 turned out to be very elegant and stylish. It is rather difficult to ignore this varnished handsome man, and the dark color of the case only gives the device additional seriousness. The new Photosmart is no longer just a pretty toy. 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 maximum media format mentioned above is 13x18 cm, support for panoramic printing on photo paper sized 10x30 cm, and, of course, built-in support for Bluetooth technology. There is good news for users of trendy iPods. A618 can not only print photos from iPod devices, but also export pictures 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. The difference lies only in the limitation of the maximum print format, 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 various settings, but, nevertheless, quite understandable. Even without familiarity with the instructions, many of its points do not raise questions or ambiguous interpretations.

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

Menu block diagram:

Print options;
Edit;
Instruments;
bluetooth;
Reference;
preferred options.

1. Print options

– Print all. Print all photos from the memory card installed in the printer;
– Printing motion pictures. Printing nine frames of a video clip;
– Print range. Printing a range of photos;
– Print a catalog page. Printing a catalog of all photos on the memory card;
– Panoramic photos. Enable or disable panoramic printing; this mode is disabled by default. When set to On. all selected photos are printed in 3:1 aspect ratio. When printing directly from a digital camera connected via USB cable, panoramic printing is not supported;
- Photo stickers. Enable or disable the 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 frame;
– Add color effect(Black & White, Sepia, Antique, or No effects (default);
- Brightness of photos.

3. Tools

– Photosmart Sharing (Instant Share). Transfer photos to other users from a memory card inserted in the printer. The printer must be connected to a computer that has the printer software installed and Internet access;
– View 9 photos;
- Slideshow;
- Printing a test page;
- Printing a test page;
- Cartridge cleaning;
- Cartridge alignment.

4.Bluetooth

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

6. Preferences

– Print quality.(Best (default and provides the best print quality), Normal, Fast Normal;
– Paper type;
- Date Time. Print date/time stamp on photos;
- Color space.(Adobe RGB, sRGB and Auto Select);
– No borders;
- 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 without failures, except for the lack of information about the amount of ink in the cartridge (which I will talk about below). And work in tandem with a computer revealed two shortcomings of a particular instance.

These problems are most likely related to a specific sample that we tested, and are "cured" by updating the printer firmware.

Seal

It's quite difficult (if not impossible) to get great quality prints on the tri-color system that HP's portable photo printers still use today. The prominent bitmap is the main reason why I only rate this printer as very good. Good color reproduction, high detail and realism of the print are the main advantages of this model. And don't forget about print speed. A maximum quality print in two minutes (from PC) is a very good value 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 was said about color reproduction in the article applies to this printer. That is, an additional setting in the driver will be required when printing on new HP Advanced paper.

Conclusion

It's time to sum up.
What do we get for $200? Let's compare the "old" and 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 second generation version: a three-color system, 200 nozzles per color, with a minimum droplet size of 4-5 picolitres. And as a result, the speed of printing and its quality - within the existing values. With the filling of the cartridge, the situation is also similar. The VIVERA inks used in the new HP 110 cartridge (CB304AE) have been successfully used and are being used for cartridges 134, 135. That is, there were practically no changes in the printing system. But in fairness, we must admit that the lack of black density, which affected the results, did not manifest itself in the A618. In terms of realism and color reproduction, the photos of the A618 are noticeably better.

The printer driver has changed: it has become more convenient and clearer. The same can be said about 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 battery operation (up to 75 photos on a single 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, he is guaranteed success. So far, being in the same price niche with, the A618 has no noticeable advantages. This is a fashion model with a good technical component, and support for the increasingly popular iPod players is another confirmation of this.

Fastest high-quality industrial printing¹ on 42" and 60" devices using 8 HP Vivid Photo inks.

Print speed up to 212 sq. ft/h on glossy and 548 sq. ft/hr on plain paper²
Accurate color reproduction with HP Professional PANTONE® Color Emulation Technology
500 GB hard drive
Built-in spectrophotometer and HP Color Center for color consistency and accuracy³
Built-in take-up roll for automatic printing
HP Applications Center for creating content and submitting print jobs

1 Compared to widescreen inkjet printers for printing graphics up to $25,000. Based on manufacturer's claimed maximum print speeds as of June 2017. Test methods may vary.

2 When using glossy paper in normal mode on the HP DesignJet Z6810 Industrial Printers, print speeds of 212 sq.m. ft/h Using plain paper in normal mode on the HP DesignJet Z6810 Industrial Printers, print speeds of 548 square meters can be achieved. ft/h

3 The HP DesignJet Z6810 Series industrial printers have an i1 spectrophotometer from X-Rite. A close collaboration between HP and X-Rite has resulted in a thoroughly tested solution that meets customer needs for ease of use, quality and reliability.

Compare HP DesignJet Z6810 Production Printer series (21355100) 21355100 HP DesignJet Z6810 Industrial Printers

HP DesignJet Z9⁺ PostScript® Printer Series

24" and 44" professional photo printers for the highest quality prints. Fast and easy printing.

One or two rolls with automatic switching¹
Built-in spectrophotometer for color stability and accuracy²
Better quality with fewer inks - 9 HP Vivid Photo Inks, Gloss Enhancer option
Built-in vertical cutter¹
High-definition HP printheads with variable droplet technology
Adobe PostScript, PDF Print Engine, and HP Professional Pantone® Emulation Technology

1 Vertical cutter and dual roll hardware included with the HP DesignJet Z9⁺dr 44" PostScript® Vertical Cutter Printer only.

2 HP DesignJet Z9⁺ printers have an X-Rite i1 spectrophotometer installed. A close collaboration between HP and X-Rite has resulted in a thoroughly tested solution that meets customer needs for ease of use, quality and reliability.

Compare HP DesignJet Z9+ PostScript Printer series (21158678) 21158678 HP DesignJet Z9⁺ PostScript® Printer Series

Updated: 11/01/2018 16:09:32

Expert: Sergey Vorontsov

*Overview of the best in the opinion of the editors of the site. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. 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 peripherals. HP brand printers occupy 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 review of ten items is divided into two groups based on the color of printing: the first group - color printers (regardless of technology), the second - only laser monochrome.

Ranking the best HP printers

Best HP color printers

In this part of the review, we will look at a 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 wide-format, performance and, accordingly, cost.

Let's start traditionally with the most expensive model with ample features. This is a color "laser printer" capable of printing on A3 format media (this is not the last thing that determined its 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 conditionally designed for an average office with an approximate production of about 75,000 prints in 30 days. The actual speed of work is 20 prints per minute on any color. The first print is issued after 17 seconds. Duplex is activated automatically.

Color printing is based on a 4-color base model using an appropriate number of individual cartridges. The highest level of image quality in terms of resolution is 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 tank - up to 850 sheets, standard - 350 sheets; output - up to 250 sheets; manual feed - up to 100.

Despite the large format and, accordingly, the high cost, the presented model surprisingly does not shine with 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 disadvantage, since processor and memory redundancy is not the rarest phenomenon that significantly affects the cost.

In this series, only wired 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 of Windows families, Linux, MacOS.

Advantages

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

disadvantages

complaints about problems with drivers that cause an "Out of memory" error.

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

The dimensions of the device are 1292x932x530 mm, weight - 27.7 kg. Such dimensions imply installation on the floor. Consumes 35 W of mains power in operation. Noise level should not exceed 48 dB. Also, a small noise is present in standby mode - 16 dB. The control panel is equipped with a 4.3” LCD color display.

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

Let's consider the most important features of the device, which are important precisely in the context of the purpose of wide-format printers. The speed of printing can be illustrated by the example of line graphs in b/w and color on A1 format in draft mode - exactly 70 prints per hour (or 35 seconds per page) are obtained. Line printing accuracy varies within 0.1% with a minimum line width of 0.07 mm. The media can be sheets (paper, photo 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 media thickness is 0.3 mm, density is from 60 to 280 g/sq. meter. Photo printing is possible - a separate tray is provided for media supply. Stand not included.

The technical and software part of the device includes the following features: wired and Wi-Fi connection; equipped with 1 GB RAM-memory; AirPrint technology; presence of a web-interface; availability of drivers for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS; without PostScript support.

Advantages

reliability;
speed;
fault tolerance;
wireless connection;
the quality of graphs, arbitrary images and photos.

disadvantages

not marked.

Further in the rating, we will consider a more ordinary model - a color "laser" A4 format with a very decent performance, which, according to conditional 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. Designed and sized 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. The actual speed of work is calculated by the production of 27 prints per minute in any color. The first copy is issued after 8.90 s in b/w mode and 9.50 s in color. The color image is formed from four basic shades, each of which is fed from a separate cartridge. The capacity of each cartridge corresponds to the conditional 2.3 thousand pages.

The media feed/eject system in this series is organized as follows: 300-sheet auto-feed tank; output place - 150 sheets; manual loading - 50 sheets. Paper weights between 60 and 200 gsm are recommended. meter.

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

Advantages

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

disadvantages

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

Next in our rating is another interesting model of a color "laser" A4 format from Hewlett-Packard. In terms of estimated performance, 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 up to par.

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

A 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 meets the conditional 1.4 thousand pages, 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 enabled automatically.

Media input/output: 251-sheet auto-feed tank; output - 100 sheets; manual feed - 1 sheet. Recommended paper weight is 60 to 220 gsm. meter.

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

Advantages

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

disadvantages

expensive original cartridges, difficulties with refilling.

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

This model shows a very careful and thoughtful engineering approach to ensuring print quality. So, there are five modes in total: draft, normal, high quality, photo printing and maximum resolution. In black and white mode, draft printing provides a resolution of 300x300dpi, enhanced quality and photo printing - 600x600dpi, top quality - 1200x1200dpi. In full color, the first three modes, according to the manufacturer's official data, are in the "Auto" mode, which implies optimal resolution adjustment, photo printing - 600x600dpi and the top-end mode - optimized quality 4800x1200dpi. The last “outrageous” figure is the result of a complex imaging algorithm, and not pure resolution.

The layout of print speeds is as follows: draft - up to 29 copies per minute in black and white 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 - up to 8 copies in b/w and up to 5 in color. The first print is delivered 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 LAN, you can also connect the printer via Wi-Fi and even FireWire. AirPrint is also supported. There is no PostScript support. There are standard drivers for operating systems Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS.

Advantages

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

disadvantages

quite noisy.

The best black and white HP printers

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

First of all, let's present the most powerful, productive and expensive model, the capabilities of which are laid down by the developers based on the most intensive use in large offices or at operational printing enterprises. 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, in standby - no more than 22 W. The declared maximum noise level is 56 dB.

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

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

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

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

Advantages

huge auto-feed tray;
speed;
capacious cartridge, no problems with refilling or analogues;
large maximum media size.

disadvantages

no pronounced cons were found.

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

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

In terms of image quality, 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 s. Duplex is enabled on the fly. The capacity of the cartridge corresponds to the conventional 11,000 copies.

The media supply and output of finished prints are built as follows: autofeed tank for 4400 sheets maximum; output compartment - up to 1300 sheets; manual feed up to 100 sheets. We recommend using paper weights between 60 and 199gsm. meter.

The stock RAM-memory for this model is 512 MB and there is also a very decent "gap" for upgrading - 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 a 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.

Advantages

exceptionally high speed;
one of the best combinations of performance and cost;
fault tolerance;
powerful electronics.

disadvantages

many users are severely lacking in wireless connectivity.

The rating continues with a mid-range A4 printer with more modest productivity indicators - up to 80 thousand copies in 30 days. However, according to the rest of the characteristics, the device is quite a decent level, and at a price more than two times cheaper than the previous one.

Case dimensions - 381x216x357 mm, net weight of the printer - only 8.58 kg. The level of power consumption during workload is up to 591 W, in standby - 6.1 W. The noise level 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 is up to 38 copies in 60 seconds, the first one is issued after 5.70 seconds. Duplex mode is enabled automatically. The amount of toner in the cartridge is designed for an average of 3.1 thousand copies.

The supply of source files and the issuance of copies is organized as follows: an autofeed tank with a capacity of 900 sheets (recommended - 350), an output slot with a capacity of 150 sheets; manual loading - 100 sheets. Paper weights between 60 and 175 gsm are recommended. meter.

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

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

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 price. What is extremely remarkable is the complete set of the printer with cartridges. There are as many as three of them with standard toner refills. This is more than a noticeable advantage, but it upsets one moment. The DRUM-chip built into the printer keeps 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 an impressive amount of toner can still remain, and the photoconductor is almost in perfect condition.

The system of giving/issuing is constructed as follows: the tank for automatic 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 includes 802.11n Wi-Fi and wired via USB. network connection no. PostScript is not supported, only PCL 5e. Compatible with "native" drivers with operating Windows systems, Mac OS, iOS. There is support for AirPrint.

Advantages

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

disadvantages

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

This selection of the rating, and at the same time the entire review, is completed by 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, in standby - no more than 1.7 W. At maximum load, it emits noise at a level 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; output of the first print after 7.30 s; organization of trays - 160/100/10 sheets; recommended paper 60 to 163gsm density meter; memory / processor - 128 MB / 600 MHz, respectively; Wi-Fi and USB connection; airprint; without PostScript support; driver package for Windows, Mac OS, iOS.

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

Advantages

attractive price;
compact and lightweight;
appearance;
wireless connection.

disadvantages

there are complaints about problems with standard drivers.

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

In the days of film cameras, it took quite a long time to get a finished photograph. Take a picture, develop the film, print - and each stage was extremely slow.

But at some point, the era of instant photos 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 look at the result. But humanity has a craving for retro things, in particular, someone once thought and revived instant photos.

Currently, the most famous instant cameras are from a Japanese company whose name cannot be named. So, 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 HP Sprocket compact photo printer. It should be borne in mind that compact photo printers come in different sizes, if we are talking about HP Sprocket and the like, then these are devices a little larger than a smartphone that print on special paper.

The technology of such paper is called Zink, which stands for Zero Ink, that is, “without ink”. There is also a variety of compact photo printers that print on plain paper with a size of 10 by 15 cm, but such "compact" photo printers are 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, they have about the same essence, you just select any photo on your smartphone or take it right here and now, and then wirelessly send it to printer. By the way, this company has similar 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;
The maximum print resolution is 313x400 dpi;
Print speed - 1 ppm;
Interfaces - micro USB, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC;
Complete set - photo paper ZINK Zero Ink 10 pieces;
Features - work from the accumulator;
Dimensions and weight;
Width - 75 mm;
Height - 115 mm;
Depth - 22 mm;
Weight - 0.172 kg;

Packaging and equipment

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

Appearance

Externally, the HP Sprocket printer most of all resembles a small PowerBank. A small cuboid with chamfered corners, the case is made of glossy plastic, which collects fingerprints, dust and other dirt very quickly. The front of the printer shows the company logo and model name. On the reverse side is a website with promotional materials. The only control element is the power button, located on the side face. At the ends there is a charging connector (standard microUSB) and a slot for outputting the finished photo.

HP Sprocket is available in black and white color options, which also look stylish and interesting.

Paper is loaded from above - 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 via a smartphone app, iOS and Android are supported.

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

The application allows you to edit photos before printing, the process and features are similar to the functions of Instagram - small photo corrections, adding frames or inscriptions, and more. After editing the photo, if necessary, just press the print button and the photo will start printing. You can view the print queue, including reprinting the last printed photo. 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 for a while for the picture to appear.

Print quality testing

Naturally, it is not worth waiting for print quality, at least close to stationary photo printers or specialized laboratories. HP Sprocket has a completely different positioning, in fact, it is a printer for entertainment. Take a printed photograph immediately after shooting as a keepsake after any party or memorable event. A separate problem, for almost all color printers, is printing black and white photographs. Accordingly, we will check the quality of color printing and color accuracy, as well as the possibility and quality of printing black and white images. Before each use of the printer, a special blue calibration card is loaded into the printer to eliminate the influence of various factors on print quality.

Color print.

First, let's print a special calibration table. Further in the table, the original image will go on the left side, and the scanned version of the printed image will go on the right side.

Impression

Not all photos lend themselves to proper printing 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 convey the full range of shades and the smoothness of the gradient. There is also a problem with the transfer of skintones, and to a greater extent than that of competitors. Obviously, this is a limitation of Zink paper, the competitor uses its proprietary technology, with a different type of both cartridges and paper, which is even visible to the naked eye. Although the paper form factor 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, you should select photos that do not have bright highlights or sharp gradients. B&W pictures are printed with slight toning. The black color is closer to dark brown, somewhat reminiscent of black on conventional TFT screens, but it is not possible to achieve true color depth. Actually, this is a problem with all such printers, although a competitor has a special paper cartridge specifically for black and white photographs, i.e. there shades of gray are obtained not by mixing three colors, but a dye was originally laid down, designed specifically for printing black gradations.

Offline work

The manufacturer does not declare the capacity of the built-in battery. During testing, the battery was fully charged. Printing one ream of paper (10 sheets), with calibration performed before each print, used up almost 50% of the charge. Accordingly, with standard use, a fully charged battery is guaranteed to be enough to print 20 photos and even a little 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 rubles. for a pack of 20 sheets, so if you do not take into account the cost of the printer, then the cost of one print is approximately 50 rubles. On the one hand, the cost of the printer, as well as the final images, is on 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 is extremely high. But, it is worth remembering that in the case of the HP Sprocket, you get photos instantly, and all from a device that is slightly larger than a standard smartphone.

conclusions

The HP Sprocket compact color photo printer does not claim to be a full-fledged photo printer, and here it’s not even about the quality of the print, but about the size of the resulting image and the final cost of printing. The task of HP Sprocket is entertainment, giving emotions at holidays, parties or just while walking. And if we consider it in this way, then such a device can decorate a little your birthday, wedding or just relaxing with friends, give you a little more smiles and a small photo as a memory of such a wonderful day. There is a demand for such devices, as well as a demand for various photo booths in which you can print any photos, for example, from Instagram, and in terms of the cost of printing, such a photo printer looks more profitable in the future.

Pros:

Compact dimensions;
Convenient application for printing;
Convenient paper format;
Borderless printing.

The cost of printing;
Color accuracy, gradients;
Low dynamic range of printed images.