Hardcore Fans Apply; Not for the Sensible Buyer

Sony has always been one to do their own thing yet keep their customers based on reputation of name and quality. They've been pretty successful in each arena of electronic equipment that they've dabbled in, and have always been one to try and push the latest & greatest on customers. The DPP-FP30 photo printer is their latest model of portable photo printer that they've released into a photo printer market dominated by companies such as HP, Canon, and Kodak. Previous versions of their photo printer were highly unsuccessful due to low profile (hard to compete against companies that fill retail shelves with 8 models of printers & multifunction machines), proprietary nature, bulk for a "portable photo lab", and excessive cost of prints (around $0.78 per print). This time, Sony has managed to streamline their printer to put it in line with the leading manufacturer's printers in terms of size and cost per print.


Hardware
The Sony DPP-FP30 is about a quarter of the size of previous models, which were also oddly shaped. This new model is nicely sleek yet simple, with it's silver color & grey highlights. The top of the unit is flat with a single, solitary, silver power button. There are 3 indicator lights letting you know if the unit is turned on, if there is a PictBridge connection, or if there is some printer error. The front of the unit has a plastic door that folds down to let you insert the paper tray to print. The left side has another, similar plastic door that folds down to expose the cavity where the print cartridge is loaded. The cartridge slides in only one way, and there is a green lever that you press to release the cartridge when it needs replacement. The cartridge springs out half an inch upon pressing the button, to make the cartridge easy to remove. The right side of the unit has the PictBridge USB port. This port is used to connect PictBridge enabled digital cameras directly to the printer to PC-free printing. The rear of the unit has the USB port to hook the printer to the PC, and the power port.

The paper tray has an insert that will allow printing of a smaller paper size (3x5" postcard size). Otherwise, that insert will be left out for those wanting to do the standard 4x6" photo prints. The paper tray can load up to 20 sheets of paper, and fully encloses the sheets when it's separate from the printer. Part of the tray folds back like a lid to expose the portion that gets hooked into the DPP-FP30 and also serves as a catch for the finished prints. The remaining body of the paper tray can open up to facilitate the insertion and removal of the paper. Once everything is all hooked up and a photo is to be printed, the machine will whirr and pick up one of the pages and feed it backwards until 2/3 of the paper is sticking out the rear. The printer will then pull the paper forward as it layers on the first of the four print colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). You have to be sure that there isn't any obstruction to the paper pathway behind the printer or else it might mess up the finished product. It takes under a minute for the prints to be done, after the four passes it does through the printer. Prints done through the computer perform just the same. Unfortunately, the Sony DPP-FP30 doesn't offer any types of controls on the unit itself, nor does it offer any image-previewing. I guess it makes it really easy to use, since there isn't much extra that you can do with it at all. Printing standalone can only be done through PictBridge enabled cameras. Printing done through the computer is the same as any other PC printing.

Included in the box:
• DPP-FP30 printer
• AC adapter & cord
• Photo print kit (10 prints)
• Manual
• CD-Rom for software & drivers


Software
Sony uses Picturegear Studio for it's bundled software with the DPP-FP30. Picturegear Studio lets users import photos, create and manage binders of photos, view pictures through it's photo-well, manage photo albums, and print out your pictures. The binder feature is pretty robust and lets you explore as much creativity as you can throw into it. It lets you personalize the images that you include in each binder by giving you options to set a picture on each page and then add designs and text around the image. The design elements are pretty basic, but familiar for those who like to dabble with the paint program in the Windows OS. Each of the photos have a date stamp and a place where you can enter in a title. The binders themselves are a way to organize how you want to sort each of the images (whether or not you got creative with them through this software) with the way that you can create and label your own binders. All the changes that you do are independent to the pictures, so you're not actually editing the photo as you are using a software that is creating a "look" that the picture is included into. You can also choose to email and print these pages from this part of the software as well. The Photo Collection part of the software is your basic photo-well where you can import/export pictures, view slideshows, print, and sort your images. The interface is easy and lets you choose from different options of thumbnail sizes that you can view from. The printing options include standard prints, postcard prints, namecard prints, labels, calendars, and sketchbook prints. The step-by-step process is easy, as you choose the template you wish to use, pick the photo you want to print, include any additions to the photo, and then print. You get a good number of templates and options for design that is at your disposal. You can pick different pen types (crayon, neon pens, hem, pencils, texture pens, pattern pens, to name a few), different pen thicknesses, and different colors. There are also template stamps that you can add to the pictures, as well as shapes and postmarks. You can even add other images on top of the one that you're working on, text, and small calendars. All these stamps, calendars, text, and pictures can be moved around and resized to your liking on the photo you're working on. The sketchbook feature is open creativity where you can do what you will (like a paint program), though it's without templates. This is the basic program, so the namecard and label print types have no templates available, while everything else does. This isn't too bad, since the rest of the software comes with a lot that you can do for your pictures and print outputs. Overall, the software is pretty fun to use and has it's own special look, or flair, as you navigate through the steps to creating your projects.


Quality
The prints that come out of this Sony printer are good. You get 35mm quality prints that you can handle without fear of smudging or rubbing off. The blacks are well defined and overall the prints are comparable to what comes out of the Kodak Easyshare docks; a still-frame of reality. The major difference (problem) is that the Sony DPP-FP30 casts a reddish hue over each of it's pictures. This may not be so apparent or upsetting for those pictures that would benefit from the addition of a warm color, but it's quite noticeable when you have pictures that don't look good with such added coloring. Any picture that has subtle coloring, lots of whites, and natural skin tones just don't look quite right. The effect is probably not too bad when you're looking at the picture alone, but once you compare the same print to any other of the small photo printers you'll see the extra red in each Sony image while the others look a bit more natural. Die-hard Sony fans may overlook this small flaw in favor of everything else, but those who like their photos to be as accurate to real life as the camera intended to capture won't be as forgiving.


Supplies & Cost of Ownership
Sony has gotten a bit more reasonable in the cost of prints from their portable photo printers. Replacement print kits for older models had a cost of about $0.78 per print. The standard print pack for the DPP-FP30 retails for $24.99 for 40 prints, which puts the cost per photo to $0.62 each. There is a larger capacity, 80 count package that retails for $44.99 and puts the cost per photo to $0.56 each. The kits are self-consuming, so once you've used up the last bit of paper, the cartridge will be done for it's ability to print. The standard pack is pretty pricey when you compare it to the cost of alternative printing methods. There are many places that you can go (Longs, Walmart, Target, Costco, Walgreens, Staples, etc.) and get the same type of prints done for as low as $0.20 each. Traditional 35mm printing costs can be around a quarter per print, sometimes even less if there is a special. At-home printing offers the convenience of doing the prints on your own time, and without any unneeded trips and line-waits. Also, you're guaranteed the quality of the prints when you use the kits since it's branded by Sony. Not all places that provide a print service will use quality materials. Unfortunately, these prints will last only around 10 years or so (depending on how they're stored/displayed), so once they start to fade you'll probably want to print another again. Conventional 35mm prints can last twice as long, while prints done from quality inkjet printers can last up to 6 times as long.


Issues
I wonder about paper jams with this product. The brand new display unit that I hooked up to print out the pictures had a paper feed error twice before it started to print properly. I would normally think of it as a fluke if it weren't for the fact that I had remembered a previous customer a number of weeks ago mention a similar problem about this particular Sony unit. Other than that, there aren't any real concerns (yet).


COMPETITION COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
So out of all the current, portable, 4x6" photo printers, which is the best to get? Well I was curious (moreso slacking off at work, yet still being productive in the sense of valueable information) and figgured that a showdown between the top contenders was at hand. I took 3 pictures using a Kodak Z740 digital camera at the 5 megapixel level. The pictures, combined, had a mixture of complex and simple elements, text, varying levels of contrast, bold colors, and some mixed colors as well. The pictures were taken indoors in well-lit conditions, and with perfect focus. I took the memory card out of the camera and printed the 3 pictures on five of the current, portable printers (each with their own brand supplies) that are sold on retail shelves: Kodak Easyshare Printer Dock Plus, Sony DPP-FP30, Canon CP400, Epson PictureMate, and HP Photosmart 325. Each group of three pictures were compared to the subject of the photo and compared to each of the other prints. Basically, I was looking for anything that I could point out as a difference whatsoever. After reviewing all fifteen photos, I've been able to make conclusive observations about the photo quality of each of the printer units, which are listed below in the overall comparisons. Here's the lowdown.

Kodak Easyshare Printer Dock Plus
• Weight: 2.43lbs (38.88oz)
• Size: 13.1" x 7.4" x 3.3" (with tray)
• Image LCD Screen: No (viewed through camera)
• Flash Card Reader: Yes (SD/MMC)
• PictBridge Enabled: Yes
• Onboard Controls/Effects: No
• Print Technology: Dye sublimation (thermal)
• Colors Used: Yellow, magenta, cyan, black
• Smudge-Proof: Yes
• Picture Longevity: 8-15 years
• Photo Strengths: Photo lab quality, accurate, continuous color & detail
• Photo Weaknesses: Expensive cost of prints, subtle softness of edges (text too)
• Hardware Strength Summary: Very portable, easy operation, recharges batteries, IR port
• Hardware Weakness Summary: No picture previewing & direct printing for non-PictBridge or non-Kodak users (or ones with models incompatible)
• Standard Cost of Print: $0.62

Sony DPP-FP30
• Weight: 2.18lbs (38oz w/o tray)
• Size: 6.88" x 2.38" x 5.38" (w/o tray)
• Image LCD Screen: No
• Flash Card Reader: No
• PictBridge Enabled: Yes
• Onboard Controls/Effects: No
• Print Technology: Dye sublimation (thermal)
• Colors Used: Yellow, magenta, cyan, black
• Smudge-Proof: Yes
• Picture Longevity: Approximately 8-16 years (based on print technology)
• Photo Strengths: Photo lab quality, accurate, continuous color & detail
• Photo Weaknesses: Light magenta hue cast over every picture (makes images look unnaturally warm)
• Hardware Strength Summary: Highly portable, accepts 2 sizes of paper
• Hardware Weakness Summary: No picture previewing & direct printing for non-PictBridge cameras
• Standard Cost of Print: $0.62

Canon CP400
• Weight: (28.9oz)
• Size: 6.73" x 4.72" x 2.1"
• Image LCD Screen: No
• Flash Card Reader: No
• PictBridge Enabled: Yes
• Onboard Controls/Effects: No
• Print Technology: Dye sublimation (thermal)
• Colors Used: Yellow, magenta, cyan, black
• Smudge-Proof: Yes
• Picture Longevity: Up to 100 years (only under certain storage conditions)
• Photo Strengths: Photo lab quality, continuous color & detail, bold blacks, sharp text & edges
• Photo Weaknesses: Photos darker overall & loses some subtle colors
• Hardware Strength Summary: Purse-sized portability (or big pocket)
• Hardware Weakness Summary: No previewing or direct printing for non-PictBridge cameras, no power button
• Standard Cost of Print: $0.55

Epson PictureMate
• Weight: 5.5lbs (88oz)
• Size: 10" x 12" x 6.4"
• Image LCD Screen: No (screen is for menu & options only)
• Flash Card Reader: Yes
• PictBridge Enabled: Yes
• Onboard Controls/Effects: Yes
• Print Technology: Ink
• Colors Used: Yellow, magenta, cyan, photo black, red, blue
• Smudge-Proof: Yes
• Picture Longevity: Up to 100-200 years (only under certain storage conditions)
• Photo Strengths: Good overall quality, low print cost
• Photo Weaknesses: Colors can muddy (yellows), blues too rich, fuzzy text, mediocre greyscale & contrast (moreso for detailed areas)
• Hardware Strength Summary: Easy loading of 6-ink cartridge, standalone printing, save pictures to external storage w/o PC, optional wireless adapter
• Hardware Weakness Summary: Huge, heavy, picture preview through proof-sheet only
• Standard Cost of Print: $0.29

HP Photosmart 325
• Weight: 2.6lbs (41.6oz)
• Size: 8.7" x 4.6" x 4.6"
• Image LCD Screen: Yes
• Flash Card Reader: Yes
• PictBridge Enabled: Yes
• Onboard Controls/Effects: Yes
• Print Technology: Ink
• Colors Used: Magenta, yellow, cyan
• Smudge-Proof: No
• Picture Longevity: Up to 75 years (only under certain storage conditions)
• Photo Strengths: Great quality, bold reds & yellows, sharp, low print-cost potential
• Photo Weaknesses: Weak printing of reflective & translucent, prints darkened very slightly
• Hardware Strength Summary: Very portable, standalone previewing & printing of all pictures, wireless, optional internal battery
• Hardware Weakness Summary: Potential (low) for paper jams
• Standard Cost of Print: $0.53


Summary
While it's not entirely easy to pick out a clear winner from all the available 4x6" photo printers, I can definitely say that Sony is at the bottom of the list of 5 with the DPP-FP30. I'm not saying that this model is the "loser", but that it would be the last one I would pick if I had the choice. This unit has no memory card slots and caters only to PictBridge enabled digital cameras. The printer itself is small & compact, but it has the highest cost per print (along with Kodak) and casts a red hue over each of it's images. Sure, the prints are sharp, but you can't get past the redness of every image, especially when it's not really that red. The Kodak Easyshare has the same cost per print, but the photos are more accurate and it offers more compatibility than just a PictBridge connection. The software that Sony has included is pretty nice, but it doesn't compensate for everything else. I don't really recommend this printer, even though I am sure that hardcore Sony fans will swear up and down on this model and the Sony brand.



Recommended Accessories
• Sony Photo Kit
• USB Cable (for PC printing)
• Imaging Software with color corrective ability


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