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Photo Printer Buying Guide
Kamera Express
Which photo printer should I choose?
Would you like to display or share your photos? Then good print quality is of great importance. Digital photography is incredibly convenient, but there's something special about having high-quality prints of your own images in your hands. Prints make your memories tangible — you can display them at home or share them with family and friends. You can choose to have this done at a specialist print shop, but for optimal creative freedom it's of course much more enjoyable to be able to print your photos at home.
With the many different photo printers on the market, choosing can sometimes be difficult. What should you look out for? Which type of printer best suits your needs? What types of cartridges are there, and what do the differences mean? Are you an enthusiastic hobby photographer looking for something accessible, or a professional photographer who wants to sell quality prints? In this buying guide we answer all your questions, so you can make a well-informed choice and find the photo printer that's perfect for you.
Affordable photo printers: best choices for beginners
Are you looking for a simple photo printer for home use? In this budget category you'll find compact models that are perfectly suited for printing holiday snapshots, family photos, and other creative projects. These printers are ideal for hobbyists who like to print their photos at home.
- Affordable and user-friendly
- Suitable for standard formats such as 10x15 cm and A4
- Good quality for everyday use
For the serious hobby photographer: excellent mid-range printers
Want to get more out of your self-printed photos? Then mid-range photo printers are the right choice for you. These offer higher resolutions, greater colour variation and colour depth, and are suitable for different types of photo paper. This ensures high-quality prints — right from home. Ideal for hobby photographers, semi-professionals, and other creative makers who regularly want to print their work.
- Better colour accuracy and sharpness
- Also supports larger formats (such as A4 and sometimes A3)
- Often equipped with wireless printing capabilities
Premium choice: top-of-the-range photo printers for professional needs
Going for a professional result? Then you need an absolutely top-of-the-range photo printer. These advanced models produce gallery-quality prints with maximum detail and colour accuracy. Perfect for professional photographers and artists.
- Up to 12 ink colours for extremely accurate colour reproduction
- Supports Fine Art paper, canvas, and larger formats
- Ideal for professional print work and long-lasting quality
Resolution explained: how much dpi do you really need?
The desired resolution of your photo print is an important factor in your decision between different photo printers. You naturally want your prints to be as sharp as possible! The print resolution of printers is measured in dpi (dots per inch). The higher the dpi, the more detailed the photo prints. Do you want to print your holiday photos for a photo album? Then a resolution of around 1,200 dpi is often sufficient. Do you want to print your photos in a larger format, for example for on the wall or for exhibitions? Then a higher resolution is recommended, such as 2,880 x 1,440 dpi or even higher. These higher resolutions ensure that details remain sharp, even in larger formats or when viewed up close. Please note: a higher resolution does not automatically mean better quality. The paper used, the ink technology, and of course the quality of your original photo all play a major role in the final result. For the best quality, professional photographers therefore often opt for printers with pigment ink and high dpi values.
Colour and ink: how does it work and what suits you best?
The colour coverage of a photo printer is very important. You naturally want your photos to look just as vivid as they do on the digital screen! In order to print all colour tones accurately, the photo printer needs different colours of ink. As a general rule: the more ink colours, the better the colour transitions and colour precision. Most printers use a combination of two or four cartridges (usually cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — CMYK). Photo printers, on the other hand, can have up to six, eight, or even twelve cartridges! Additional colours such as light cyan, light magenta, grey, and special black tones are added for subtler transitions and more realistic skin tones.
Types of ink cartridges: dye ink vs. pigment ink
Dye ink: This type of ink has a dye base and penetrates deeper into the paper. It produces vivid colours and a glossy finish. Dye ink is often more affordable and is therefore more commonly used in photo printers intended for home use. Advantages: bright colours, suitable for many types of photo paper.
Disadvantages: less resistant to water and UV light, causing it to fade more quickly.
Pigment ink: Unlike dye ink, pigment ink sits more on the surface of the paper. It is more resistant to discolouration from light and moisture and is therefore more durable, making it a popular choice among professional photographers.
Advantages: produces sharp lines and details, highly resistant to moisture, UV light, and fading, giving prints a very long lifespan.
Disadvantages: less vivid colours than dye ink, more expensive, not compatible with all paper types.
Here too, the number of ink cartridges you need depends on what type of photos you want to print. For accurate colours, it's best to look for a photo printer with more than four cartridges; professionals looking for extra colour precision can opt for a photo printer with more than eight cartridges.
From pocket-sized to A3+: which printer format do you need?
If you're going to invest in a photo printer for home use, it's wise to first think about what format you want to print in. Do you want to print small photos to stick in an album or use for crafting? Then a mini printer is perfect for you. Do you want a bit more flexibility? Then go for a photo printer that lets you print in different formats. There are printers that print in the standard photo format but also in A5, A4, or A3 format. Some printers also support paper rolls for long panoramic prints. It's also worth bearing in mind that if you want to make larger prints, you'll also need a larger photo printer. If you have limited space, it may be more practical to choose a more compact model.
Smart features & extras
Ask yourself what additional features you're looking for in a photo printer. Do you want to print directly from your smartphone or tablet? Then choose a photo printer with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. The size of the photo printer can also be a deciding factor. There are many compact photo printers — some you can even easily take on the go! Portable photo printers are ideal for people who travel frequently; these wireless printers are easy to take anywhere. New photo printers often also have various creative features such as prints with a self-adhesive backing or customisable layouts. With a variety of print and design options, you can get extra creative. For even greater ease of use and design possibilities, you can look for a photo printer with a matching smartphone app.
