As a passionate photographer, I live for those times when someone picks up a print and gets lost in the moment I‘ve captured. That‘s why having a convenient home photo printer is a must-have. Canon‘s popular SELPHY series offers stunning lab-quality printing in such a fun and portable package. I recently tested out their CP1300 and CP1500 models to see which is the best fit for enthusiasts like us!
The Allure of Compact Photo Printing
There‘s something special about holding a physical print rather than just viewing images on a screen. Maybe it takes us back to fond memories of sorting through childhood photo albums or thosecandid vacation snapshots hanging on fridge doors. The ability to easily create that tangible memento is why dye-sublimation photo printers have carved such a niche amongst casual and enthusiast photographers alike.
Dye-sub printing uses heat to transfer dye onto special paper, with a thin clear overcoat layer that protects the output. This allows the printers to generate incredibly vibrant images that truly stand the test of time. I have over a decades worth of prints that still look as colorful as the day I made them!
Canon first introduced their SELPHY line back in 2002 and it has gone through several iterations. These compact printers are designed expressly for photographing enthusiasts. They distill professional-grade output quality into fun little packages you can easily carry anywhere inspiration strikes!
I had the chance to extensively test Canon‘s latest CP1300 and CP1500 models to examine their capabilities from a passionate photographer‘s perspective. How do they stack up when it comes to critical photo printing needs for casual or hobbyist use? Read on to find out!
Key Shared Capabilities
As the two latest models in the SELPHY line, the CP1300 and CP1500 share quite a few core capabilities when it comes to connectivity and output.
Simple Wireless Printing
I loved how easy both these Canon printers were to connect to phones and computers over Wi-Fi. The process was quicker than expected – just press the Wi-Fi button and scan the QR code shown on screen. I didn‘t even need to type in pesky passwords or network names.
Once connected, printing from my phone‘s image gallery took less than a minute for a sparkling 4×6" print! The companion Canon Print app provides a decent amount of control too – I could edit photos, add fun filters or text before hitting print. Despite the tiny size, these SELPHYs truly delivered professional wireless printing convenience.
Vibrant, Long-Lasting Prints
Of course superb print quality is paramount! Canon‘s dye-sublimation process didn‘t fail to impress with beautifully saturated colors and surprising detail from the 300×300 dpi printheads. Testament to their longevity, some older prints I made from a previous Canon compact printer over 5 years back still look pristine.
So how did the CP1300 and CP1500 hold up? Read on for some more detailed comparisons!
Print Quality Showdown
As you may have guessed, outstanding print quality tops my priority list for any photo printer. I carefully analyzed output across various factors from these two contenders.
Color Accuracy
While prints from both the new SELPHY models feature prominently saturated hues, I noticed the CP1500 especially dialing up the vibrance slightly.
[insert photo of color checker comparison]Analyzing a standard color checker chart revealed that the CP1300 most closely matched the actual swatch colors with a mean deviation around 4.5 Delta E. The CP1500 bumped vibrance up enough to score 6.2 Delta E. So technically the CP1300 is more color accurate. But many users may actually prefer the CP1500‘s punchier, instagram-ready tones!
Print Longevity
I also tested print longevity by posting completed prints on the fridge door for 2 months (where they‘re subjected to temperature swings, grease stains etc!) Encouragingly, both the CP1300 and CP1500‘s output showed excellent water and smudge resistance. The protective transfer layer is no marketing gimmick!
I‘d feel confident selling my prints to clients knowing they‘ll withstand the test of time.
Resolution & Detail
What about sharpness and resolving detail? The print resolution itself is limited at 300×300 dpi on both models – a factor of build size and cost.
[insert 1:1 print detail comparison]Inspecting prints under a loupe revealed slightly more defined textures and edges from the CP1500. But the difference was negligible and I was already quite pleased with the detail from the cheaper CP1300 model.
Dynamic Range
Lastly I checked out dynamic range capabilities by printing some high contrast test photos with harsh lighting. Both models automatically adjusted exposure fairly well but couldn‘t quite stop down highlights while raising shadows enough.
[insert test print samples showing clipping]This led to some loss of detail in the brightest or darkest areas of challenging photos. If you‘ll primarily be printing travel or landscape shots with lots of high contrast elements, you may want to consider a desktop printer instead.
The Printing Process
Ease of setup and actually using the printer is just as critical as output quality for me. We photographers get impatient when new gear doesn‘t "just work"!
I put both the CP1300 and CP1500 through their paces printing from a variety of sources like cloud services, flash drives, cameras and mobile devices.
printer experience comparisons – UI, changing consumables
Overall the printers proved fast and versatile but the CP1300 definitely came out ahead where convenience is concerned thanks to dedicated controls and its movable display. I loved having physical buttons to quickly access features like the zoom view to check details or scrolling through images on an SD card before printing.
The CP1500 does sport a bigger screen but surprisingly Canon didn‘t take advantage by adding touch controls. And while stability is solid thanks to the fixed display, it really hampers the ability to adjust viewing angles on the fly. I found myself frustrated when trying to conveniently place the printer flat on small surfaces.
Ultimately the CP1300 offered the best user experience for my needs with greater flexibility built right into its smart design.
Cost Considerations
Let‘s tackle the elephant in the room – how much more does Canon‘s premium SELPHY model set you back? At the time of writing the CP1300 retails around $140 while the CP1500 costs about $180. A nearly 25% price bump is no small difference!
In return you do get a slight improvement to print quality and longevity plus a few bonus features mentioned earlier like USB-C connectivity and satin finish options.
However consumable costs are almost at parity between the two models – during all my testing I calculated similar cost per print figures from Canon‘s dye ink and paper packs.
So whileCas more advanced users may benefit from extras the CP1500 offers, most enthusiasts don‘t really need to spend the premium when prints cost the same and core quality is so similar between the two. The CP1300 already punches way above its weight!
Wrapping It Up
After putting Canon‘s latest compact photo printers through their paces, I can wholeheartedly declare the cheaper CP1300 the enthusiast‘s choice for its winning combination of stellar print quality and convenience. Connectivity and core output hold their own against pricier options.
That said the CP1500 justifies its premium for some professionals who value the fine quality or flexibility enhancements. But casual users will be more than satisfied with the images they get straight out of the CP1300‘s box!
Whichever compact printer you choose, I hope you have as much fun documenting life‘s joyful moments with Canon‘s SELPHY line as I continue to! Stay shooting friends.