Canon Card Photo Printer CP-10

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By Wayne Siew
May 25, 2001

Canon's new Card Photo Printer CP-10 is probably the best thing to happen to digital photography since high-capacity memory cards were introduced. Gone are the days when the PC ruled supreme and dictated how digital images were to be printed. All that is presently needed is to juice up the CP-10 via any available AC power supply, connect the Canon digital camera, and hit "PRINT" for instant 300 x 300 dpi prints!

At A Glance
Decked out in a cool, blue, iMac-like plastic body, the CP-10 sports a small 10.8 x 12.5 cm footprint , fitting unobtrusively into the smallest workspace. By itself, the CP-10 is a rather mindless entity. It relies on the new range of Canon Digital cameras, such as the IXUS 300, A10 and A20, to tell it what to do. Change the camera to review mode, select the desired picture, make any last minute changes via the camera's LCD menu, and click print. The CP-10 then takes over and out pops a full-color card-sized print in photo quality. Using a dye sublimation thermal transfer printing system, the user may choose between standard prints and an index sheet of eight prints.

Who's In, Who's Out
For Canon digital cameras released prior to this range, Canon has plans to release an optional expansion kit to allow usage of the CP-10 via interface from a PC. We presently do not have any details about what this interface could be, but given Canon's strong understanding of consumer needs, this will definitely be an easily available standard. Can this similarly mean that non-Canon cameras will benefit from the convenience of the CP-10? I certainly hope so.

Anyone With A Couple Of Volts To Spare?
Although the CP-10 Photo Printer will most commonly be powered with an AC power supply, there is an optional car battery kit which could serve as an alternative for those of us on the go. Future versions of the CP-10 may even sport their own batteries, offering true mobility and the option to print anytime, anywhere.

Hold Your Horses
It must be noted that the CP-10 Card Photo Printer does not enjoy the deftness of a photocopy machine. Every card-size sheet needs to undergo three successive passes to lay the necessary pigmentation for the photo, and a fourth pass to add on a protective sheet. The usual high costs associated with purchasing the proprietary Canon color ink cartridges and paper made especially for the CP-10 may make some cringe, but this is the price for the convenience of obtaining photo-quality pictures so quickly.

What Will They Think Of Next?
The CP-10 will be a most logical companion for owners of Canon's IXUS 300, A10 or A20. The CP-10 is ready for print volumes associated with most home users. Will other major players in the digital photography arena follow suit and offer compatible printers that will help lower the associated costs for the end consumer? For our sake, we can only hope so.