| The digital age has altered forever the way | | | | or Canon Direct Print devices. |
| we take and view photos, not least because of | | | | |
| the speed at which the final image can be | | | | Unfortunately, the downside of this beautiful |
| produced and then passed on to other media. | | | | looking machine is the clunky method by which |
| Professional photographers can have their | | | | the phot tray is inserted in the front: a |
| pictures on the front page of a newspaper | | | | fair amount of huffing and puffing is needed |
| within minutes and holiday snaps can be | | | | to slot it in correctly. However, once in |
| swapped with friends only seconds after | | | | place you have five sizes to choose from |
| they're shot. | | | | (Postcard, Wide, L, Credit Card and Mini |
| | | | Stickers) and you can view each image |
| Canon's SELPHY CP range has been designed | | | | full-screen before you print. |
| with this 'instant gratification' principle | | | | |
| in mind and the latest model - the | | | | Print costs are reasonable at around 20p per |
| entry-level CP740 reviewed here - has just | | | | postcard size photo using the larger photo |
| been released as updated versions of the | | | | pack Kp-108iP, the smaller KP-36iP is really |
| CP720. It is designed to be 'party printer' | | | | only suitable if you plan to print very |
| that is light, compact, chic and easy to use, | | | | infrequently. |
| whilst still managing to produce high | | | | |
| quality, economy-size snaps without having to | | | | What is impressive is the quality of the |
| go through a PC. | | | | finished image. Each print takes four passes |
| | | | to complete and it's fascinating to see the |
| The basic CP740 unit weighs a mere 940g and | | | | sharpness and clarity gradually emerge |
| its 179.0 x 127.1 x 63.0mm dimensions are | | | | (postcards take about a minute), with the |
| smaller than a tiny loaf of bread. Its | | | | final pass adding a high-gloss protective |
| Apple-like creamy colour is clearly designed | | | | layer that protects from splashes, spills and |
| to complement your Mac and iPod and the | | | | fingerprints. The CP740 uses 300dpi |
| expanded 2.0-inch LCD screen sits squarely in | | | | dye-sublimation printing technology that |
| the middle of the top panel. Surrounding it | | | | leaves images virtually grain-free, as each |
| is a range of buttons that control mode, | | | | printed dot has up to 256 intensity levels |
| layout, display and date, as well as an | | | | per colour. |
| innovative and welcome auto-Red-Eye | | | | |
| Correction via simple, self-explanatory | | | | If you're feeling a little more flush with |
| icons. | | | | money, its big brother the more expensive |
| | | | CP750 has extra features like 'My Colors' |
| The front panel contains four memory card | | | | photo effects (which include Black & White |
| slots that can deal with virtually any of the | | | | and Sepia), an optional battery pack and |
| current versions of CF, SD, MMC, Memory Stick | | | | IrSimple compatiblity for infra-red printing |
| and xD. In addition, a discreet panel on the | | | | from mobile devices. Both models have |
| front-left hides an extendable USB cable that | | | | improved skin tone reproduction for enhanced |
| can be attached to PictBridge-enabled cameras | | | | flesh tones. |