Review: Canon Selphy CP1500 photo prints last 100 years
At a recent Photowalk organised by the good folks at Canon, I tried the Canon EOS R10 and tested the functions of the new Canon Selphy CP1500. Despite the advancements in the smartphone with its zoom function, bokeh effects, burst shots, HD movie recording capabilities, and more, I stand firm by how a DSLR remains a steadfast travel companion.
Related read: Canon’s best travel cameras for wildlife, underwater, sports, vlogging & more
As someone who started with Canon cameras, from Powershot to Ixus to EOS 500D, the Canon EOS R10 felt familiar and easy to adapt. With a tip here or there from the Canon instructor and some fiddling, I found myself exploring the unique photography possibilities with the Canon EOS R10 – the lightweight (only 425g!) DSLR that is perfect for vlogging and selfies.
What wowed this selfie queen here was the R10’s screen that may be flipped 360 degrees for that perfect selfie or wefie. Imagine all the photo and video possibilities even when travelling solo, a massive plus for YouTubers. You can finally put worries about snatch thieves to rest with this function.
But what deserves a shout-out here is the Canon Selphy CP1500 – a new and enhanced wireless compact photo printer. Here are the standout features of the new Canon Selphy CP1500 in a nutshell:
Wireless close photo printer with access via app and USB
Ease of use
The high connectivity of up to 8 smartphones at one time
High-quality print-outs
Options for personalisation
A special overcoat finish protects photos from water, dirt, colour fading, and even fingerprints (Yes, finally!)
Compact and light at 850g
Rechargeable battery life lasts for up to 72 prints
First impressions
Aesthetics-wise, the Canon Selphy CP1500 is sleek and minimalist, with just about the correct number of buttons to get its job done. The 850g device measures 182.2mm (W) x 57.6mm (H) x 133.0mm (D).
Setting up
As with most gadgets, accessing it via an app is a must if you wish to use its wireless capability. Downloading the app and pairing the device may put off some, but it is a one-time set-up process. However, a USB port allows an instant connection for your friends who may be accessing the device for one-time usage only.
Ease of use
As with all Canon products, they are made idiot-proof (methinks), which makes their products very easy to pick up and use. So, with a basic product introduction by the Brand manager and a few taps here and there, the machine started whirring, and I waited eagerly for my photographs to take on a physical form – unheard of these days. Depending on the print size, the process takes a mere 23 to 41 seconds (approximately 100 x 148mm in size) for one hard copy. Honestly, my photo selection process took way longer than the actual printing.
Functions
Besides accessing photos for print via the upgraded SELPHY Photo Layout 3.0 smartphone app, you can also access images uploaded on the image.canon (Canon's cloud storage), your social media accounts, or via your personal cloud storage. The app is best supported on iOS, iPad OS, and Android OS 2.
Now, what's the use of hard copies if you cannot customise them? Jazz up your printouts with various patterns, such as stars or cascading flowers. Best of all, you can add a QR code and link it to a photo album, video, online map with photo location or even a secret message for the recipient. Is a surprise birthday, anniversary message, or romantic proposal in the works? Now you can with the Selphy CP1500. The possibilities are simply endless!
At parties, the Selphy CP1500 may connect up to eight smartphones at any time. Simply scan a QR code, insert an SD card or flash drive, or use a USB Type-C cable to print from anywhere your images are stored. So easy!
You can even add Selphy to Siri and voice command it to go to shortcuts for selected tasks! I have yet to try this function, but it certainly sounds like something Smart Homes users would appreciate.
Quality
I picked two recent travel photos for print, and boy, was I impressed by the print quality. Granted, the blue skies, fluffy clouds, flying hair and great smiles make for a great photo. But what impressed me was how the colour came out rich without being over the top. Our skin tones also looked natural without sacrificing details. This is thanks to the Selphy CP1500’s dye sublimation technology, which enables smoother colour tones and richer gradations. But that's not all; the device's auto-correction function was a godsend. It effortlessly adjusts brightness, contrast and saturation.
But the top feature is the exceptional overcoat photo finish that prevents ugly (and disturbing) fingerprints on the photos. According to Canon, prints will stay pristine for up to 100 years when preserved in an album. Perfect for scrapbooking and family tree compilation for future generations to enjoy.
My take
As someone who values hard copies yet struggles with storage, I have stopped printing and scrapbooking my photos for decades. And trust me, I'm a cam whore. But the quality and ease of use of the Selphy CP1500 have possibly changed my mind. With terabytes of precious memories sitting forgotten in my hard disks, I should set aside some time to sieve through the years of memories and print them out for posterity. Prints also make for excellent gifts for our parents and grandparents, who would love to see and rekindle beautiful memories that have been lying dormant for years. Not forgetting bridal showers, baby moons and your nephew and niece's upcoming birthdays.
The Canon Selphy CP1500 is available in black or white.
