Printer docks and the PictBridge system
Week of July 4, 2004
Q: I have seen the Kodak printer docks that make it very easy to make prints because the digital camera plugs into the dock and you can print directly from the camera. I would like to use a printer dock to make small prints but I do not have a Kodak camera, but a Canon SD100. What can I do, is there an adapter available?
-Judy Frank, Ridgeland, SC
A: You can make prints directly from your camera, though it does not work with a docking system. What you need is a printer that supports the PictBridge system.
PictBridge is an open standard supported by many manufacturers of digital cameras and photo printers. PictBridge allows you to connect your camera directly to a printer with a USB cable, select the picture on the camera’s LCD display, and print with a push of a button. The system is very easy to use and produces excellent results.
In order for the system to work, both the camera and the printer must support PictBridge. You can check for PictBridge compatibility by looking for the PictBridge logo, or checking camera and printer specifications. If you have an older camera, you may be able to enable PictBridge support with a firmware update. You can download firmware updates from the camera manufacturer’s websites. Your Canon SD100 camera includes PictBridge support, so all you need is a PictBridge printer.
PictBridge printers come in all types and sizes. Most current inkjet printers support PictBridge, but most printers that produce small prints exclusively, such as the Kodak Easyshare printer docks, are dye-sublimation, or dye-sub printers. Dye-sub printers make prints by transferring ink from a ribbon to the paper, then coating it with a protective laminate layer. Dye-sub prints are more durable than inkjet prints and closely resemble prints from a photo lab. Dye-sub printers are also easier to maintain than inkjet printers as there are no inkjet nozzles to clog or clean. Buying supplies is convenient as paper and ink ribbons are typically sold together in packages that produce 25 to 100 prints.
A drawback to dye-sub printers is cost as the per-print cost is higher than inkjet prints or a photo lab. Many feel the convenience of the small printers and the durability of the prints they produce is worth the cost.
An excellent dye-sub printer for making 4×6 inch prints is the Olympus P-10. The P-10 supports PictBridge and my testing has shown it to produce very sharp prints with good color, though some prints looked a little bit dark. The P-10 retails for $179.00. Supplies to make 40 prints retails for $34.95.
Another good choice in a small dye-sub printer is the Canon CP-220. Overall I preferred prints from the Olympus, but the Canon has the added benefit of producing 4×6 prints as postcards that are ready to address and send. Just enter an address and message, affix a stamp, and mail your picture anywhere!
