The Canon Selphy CP1500 stands out as a premier portable Camera Printer, delivering surprisingly vibrant and sharp 4×6 inch photos. Unlike smaller, film-style instant prints, the Selphy CP1500 provides larger, borderless glossy prints reminiscent of professional lab results, all from a device you can easily take with you.
A front-facing, slightly angled view of the Canon Selphy CP1500 camera printer in black, showcasing its sleek design on a neutral background.
This camera printer isn’t just about size; it’s about quality. Utilizing dye-sublimation technology, the CP1500 meticulously layers colors, ensuring rich and natural tones without oversaturation. Both bright highlights and deep shadows are rendered faithfully, capturing intricate details with clarity. While the printing process involves multiple passes, unlike some competitors that suffer from banding issues, the CP1500 produces seamless, stunning images. And while instant film printers might seem faster initially, the CP1500 delivers a fully developed, ready-to-handle print immediately, bypassing the five-minute wait for film development.
One of the key advantages of this camera printer is its long-term cost-effectiveness. While the initial investment might be slightly higher than some instant cameras, the Canon Selphy CP1500 offers a significantly lower cost per print. Canon’s convenient ink and paper sets, priced around $30, provide supplies for 108 prints, bringing the cost down to approximately 27 cents per print. This makes it an economical choice for anyone who plans to print photos regularly.
A close-up shot of the Canon KP-108IN Color Ink/Paper Set, highlighting the packaging details and showcasing the ink cartridges and paper stack designed for the Canon Selphy camera printer.
Beyond print quality and cost, the Canon Selphy CP1500 excels in connectivity. As a versatile camera printer, it offers multiple printing options. You can easily print directly from your smartphone using the Canon Print app, but it also includes an SD card slot for direct printing from memory cards and a USB-C port for computer connection. This flexibility makes it an ideal camera printer for users who store photos across various devices.
The design of the CP1500 is both elegant and practical. Available in black and white, the black version we tested boasts a sophisticated matte finish. The controls are thoughtfully designed, with mostly flush buttons and a slightly raised ‘OK’ button for easy operation. The front-loading paper tray and conveniently located SD card slot and USB-C port behind a front panel ensure all functions are easily accessible from the front of the camera printer.
Wireless printing with this camera printer is consistently smooth and dependable. The Canon Print app provides two connection methods: direct Wi-Fi from the printer or through your home Wi-Fi network. During testing, we experienced stable connections without any frustrating dropouts, a common issue with some other portable printers.
Navigating the features of this camera printer is intuitive thanks to its built-in 3.2-inch screen. Unlike some camera printer models that rely solely on smartphone apps, the CP1500 allows you to preview images and access menus directly on the device. While the screen isn’t touch-sensitive, the buttons are well-placed and user-friendly. Although the menu system can occasionally feel a bit slow, and zooming to check image focus takes a few moments, the overall user experience is positive.
A photo showcasing two 4×6 inch prints from the Canon Selphy CP1500 camera printer, one depicting a pair of individuals outdoors and the other a scenic landscape, illustrating the bright and beautiful output quality.
The Canon Print app further enhances the capabilities of this camera printer by offering advanced editing tools. Users have greater control over their prints with options to crop, rotate, and fine-tune brightness, contrast, and saturation. The app also enables customization with borders, timestamps, and unique layouts like bookmark and ID photo templates, providing creative printing possibilities.
Despite its robust features, the Canon Selphy CP1500 remains portable. Weighing 2.4 pounds (or 3.1 pounds with the power cable), it’s more substantial than ultra-light instant cameras, but still easily transportable for events or travel. The included AC adapter ensures continuous power, and for true on-the-go printing, Canon offers an optional rechargeable battery, estimated to last for approximately 54 prints per charge, further solidifying its status as a truly portable camera printer.
In conclusion, the Canon Selphy CP1500 is an exceptional portable camera printer that balances print quality, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness. Its ability to produce durable, high-resolution 4×6 prints, combined with versatile connectivity and a range of creative features, makes it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable and high-performing portable photo printing solution.
