UK Digital Cameras Blog

Polaroid is looking to build on its reputation for creating instant prints by putting together a new model, it has emerged.

Emily Price notes on the Photo Blorge website that the manufacturer is working on a new model that will recall its range of instant cameras that first became popular in the 1960s.

It is thought that the “point and print” digital camera will make use of Polaroid’s recent PoGo Bluetooth printer technology which will sit at the base of the model and generate prints.

“In theory you will be able to take photographs with the digital camera and then immediately print them out using the attached print in Polaroid fashion,” it states, adding that the expected size of the photographs will be similar to those of Polaroid’s original cameras.

For those with Canon cameras looking for an instant photo printing solution, the Canon Selphy CP740 Photo Printer could be one option.

The classic Polaroid brand now has a sidekick in the form of the PoGo, an inkless printer, reports Crave at CNet.

Although the report suggests that the printer will only be on sale in the US this year, it is potentially exciting news for UK lovers of the camera, which was famous for printing photographs immediately after they had been taken.

Crave reports that the PoGo is small enough to be carried in a pocket and weighs eight ounces. Pictures - which are also stickers - are printed when the gadget receives information via Bluetooth from a mobile phone or via a USB cable from a digital camera.

When the photos are printed, the back can be peeled off, turning the image into a sticker.

Vice president and general manager of product planning and new technology at Polaroid, Jon Pollock, was quoted as saying by the blog that the PoGo is aimed at teenagers and younger adults who want instant access to their shots and mobile phone photos.

The Polaroid Corporation was originally organised in Delaware, US, in 1937.

Polaroid is offering a new photo printing solution in the form of a mobile ink-free mini-printer.

Described by tech.co.uk as a “snazzy” product for “keen snappers on the move”, the Polariod Digital Instant Mobile Photo Printer can be connected to either a camera or mobile phone. It is Bluetooth compatible - connections can also be made via USB cable - and operates on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

In addition, ephotozine. com estimates that the printer is about the size and weight of a deck of cards.

It features the use of zero-ink technology (ZINK), which uses heat to produce 2-inch x 3-inch prints in around 30 seconds. The heat activates a series of embedded magenta, yellow and cyan dye crystals and is touted by Polaroid as being “100 per cent inkless”.

According to the blog, the printer uses sticky-backed paper, which it claims could make the device a fun gadget for parties.

It is scheduled to be launched in the UK in June 2008.

The new Canon Selphy ES20 printer, released this month, has a number of features that make it ideal for printing digital snaps.

Among the features of the camera are an 2.5 inch colour LCD so that photos can be edited and reviewed before they are printed and a red-eye removal function so people can have their natural eye colour in the shots.

Photos can also be personalised, as the Canon Selphy ES20 printer has a creative print function, which allows things such as speech bubbles to be added to images.

Images that are printed are covered in a protective coating which helps keep the images clear for a number of years. The manufacturer claims the images will remain vivid for up to 100 years.

Wireless compatibility also means that the photos from compatible mobile phones can be sent to print immediately.

The Canon Selphy ES20 printer also has a compact, vertical design, which means it can be stored in even the smallest of spaces.

In related news, the Canon Powershot SD950 IS this week received a positive review from PC Advisor, which noted the camera was “extremely well made”.

It has already received awards and won praise but the Epson Stylus Photo 1400 printer shows no sign of relinquishing its moment in the spotlight, as yet another reviewer has showers it in praise.

Epson bills the Stylus Photo 1400, which is capable printing images up to A3+, as “the perfect printer for photo enthusiasts” as well as a useful tool to have in the office, emphasising the high-quality images produced using its claria photographic ink.

Reviewer Jon Canfield, of photographyblog.com, said that as is “typical” for Epson printers, installation is easy and that photographs are produced in reasonable amount of time and to a good quality.

“The printer uses variable drop sizes with a minimum size of 1.5 picoliters and a maximum resolution of 5760×1440 dpi. The end result is excellent reproduction with smooth tonal gradations and no visible banding on prints,” he said.

Giving the printer 4.5 out of five and labelling it “highly recommended”, Mr Canfield said it was “a solid replacement for the older line of dye printers and will be welcomed by anyone looking for rich saturation in colour prints, especially on gloss and lustre media”.

Samsung has launched a new colour printer aimed at small and medium sized businesses.

The CLP-350N colour laser printer measures 27×42x 39 cm and boosts 2,400 by 600 dpi print quality, as well as offering a specially designed toner bottle intended to be easier to change and a large paper tray capable of holding 250 more sheets than a standard printer.

 Jang-jae Lee, senior vice president of Samsung’s digital printing division, said: “With the CLP-350N, Samsung offers highly reliable and affordable colour printing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses.” 

He added that the new release was reflective of the company’s desire “to expand its business market by releasing compact but versatile products”.  The firm has also launched a new range of “high-end” printers for domestic users, the monochrome ML-1630 printer and the multifunctional SCX-4500, with Mr Lee commenting that the sleek designs were helping the company “take the printer to an entirely new level of artistic refinement, above the technology and functional competition”.

Electronics giant Mitsubishi has launched its latest high-end photo printer which it says is aimed at both amateur and professional snappers.

The new CP9800DW has been hailed for its broad range of features to suit photographers at all levels. Whether taking shots at a wedding, photographing something arty, or simply making some memories on holiday, the Mitsubishi offers plenty for everyone as well as borderless print sizes ranging from 6×4in, 7×5in, 8×6in and 9×6in.

It has also been made to last, with the manufacturer insisting that more than 40,000 prints can be made before the machine may be in need of a service - thanks to improvements which have been made to the print heads and cutter.

“The new CP9800DW is our most advanced photo printer to date with state-of-the-art technology in printer speed and accuracy,” Mitsubishi said in a statement. “Not only does it produce a print quickly, it does so without any sacrifice to the resolution quality of the print.” Available to buy at around £1,100, the CP9800DW also uses dye sublimation technology to ensure that photographs are dry to the touch as soon as they emerge. The start-of-the art colours are also resistant to water and less prone to finger marks and fading.

HP has released three new photo printers.
First off, the HP C4385 is an all-in-one printer, scanner and copier that issues photos without a PC. A 1.5 inch colour LCD screen wireless connectivity and smart web printing all come included with the product.

Users need simply to insert a memory card into the device and then preview the images on its display.

Next comes the HP D5360, which can print lab-quality photos and laser-quality black text. It does this using HP 6 ink colour Vivera inks. It is also capable of printing text, designs and personal photos directly on to CDs and DVDs. It too comes with a 1.5 inch display.

Finally, the HP Photosmart A440 camera and printer dock is an “easy-to-use, complete photo system”, reports photographyblog.com.

The system is compatible with PictBridge-enabled- and select HP Photosmart E- and M-series digital cameras and can print “exceptional” 4 x 6-inch borderless prints with the photo studio printer dock, says HP.

Epson has launched two new compact photo printers, the PictureMate Zoom and the PictureMate Dash.

The printers can complete a 4 x 6 inch borderless print in just 37 seconds. They incorporate a total of 18 different layout options, with five new portrait settings. Users can also automatically resize photos on the printers’ 3.6 inch colour LCD displays.

The printers are capable of colour, black and white, and sepia-toned printing - and photographs can be produced in passport photo, CD index and portrait package, digital, mini-wallet, wallet and jumbo wallet-sizes.

“If consumers are in the market for a compact photo printer or just want a simple way to get their photos out of their digital camera, PictureMate is it,” Kristi Fox, associate product manager for PictureMate at Epson, commented.

“With PictureMate, it’s easier and faster than ever to get beautiful family photos which last as much as two to four times longer than photos from a lab or kiosk and outlast prints from other dedicated 4″x 6″ printers. You won’t believe what amazing quality photos these cute little machines are capable of printing.”

All the layout options included with the new printers can be selected without the use of a PC.