Short-Media Review: Samsung SPP-2040 Photo Printer
Linc
OwnerDetroit Icrontian
Read lemonlime's Review of the Samsung SPP-2040 Photo Printer, just published on Short-Media's front page.
The first thing I thought when I saw the SPP-2040 was “wow, that's a tiny printer”. I would actually consider the SPP-2040s prints to have a more accurate representation of colour and slightly better detail than the professional prints I had developed as a comparison.
Please leave your feedback and thanks for visiting us. Short-Media's content is created by both its staff and members. If you're interested in contributing to the site, please read how you can get published.The Samsung SPP-2040 is incredibly easy to use. With the built in card reader, there is little reason to hook this unit up to your PC. I had no issues using both Compact Flash and SD cards. The onscreen display and the controls are very simple to operate and provide all of the functionality you will need.
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One question I have - does Samsung offer good ICM profile support? Since this seems to be a slightly-better-than-consumer-level output device, I would wonder how this device would fit into a color-managed workflow.
I'm not thrilled that you're tied into Samsung paper only... I would also be interested in purchasing specialty photo papers from vendors like Adorama or Projet. Is this confirmed, or could you theoretically fudge some other paper in there, albeit in an "unsupported" configuration.
I guess these questions point to a bigger overall decision-making factor: Is this device suitable only for enthusiasts and general consumers, or would it be viable for the advanced hobbyist/professional - even as a proofing device?
I would consider taking a 35MM picture and have a photo lab develop, print the pictures, and burn a CD with the images. Then use the photo printer to print the same images... theoretically, the images would be the same and the print quality could be judged more accurately.
As for ICM support... I suspect that the printer does not have ICM directly built in but an image sent from a PC with ICM color profile configured for the printer would be.... Know what I mean?
Another question... I know the printing kit supplies both the DDTT cartridge and the paper... did you try to continue printing after you ran out of Samsung paper? That is... print 40 pages (which uses up the Samsung paper) then start using Kodak 4X6 paper until the DDTT cartridge runs out... You may be able to print as many as 10 more prints before the DDTT runs out of colors... just a thought....
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Oh well, it sounds like a great machine for most standard home users. This is something I would buy my mom and dad, I think
One thing I'd point out is that the 10-Cent (US) difference per page translates to $2.40 USD for what was in my 35mm days a typical 24-exposure roll of film. Contrast that to the price of gas to drive to the photolab, then throw in either a return trip to pick up the finished prints or the necessity of hanging around the mall while the processing was being done and it looks like a bargain.
Let me try to address some questions:
I'm pretty certain they only 'officially' support Samsung consumables. The primary difference being the removable tabs that break off of the 4x6s. They are about 1/2" each, so the paper is actually about 4x7". I don't think the printer will feed the paper through unless it is this particular size. I'm not sure if there is photo-paper available like this. If there is, I don't see why it would not work. I believe you would need to use 'dye-sub/DDTT' friendly paper that allows good adherence of the film to the surface of the paper. I didn't try to use any other type of paper.
I don't think this printer was really designed to cater to professionals in that regard. Although the print quality is top-notch, the feature-set and 'ease of use' gears it more towards the every day consumer--especially those who want to eliminate the need to use a PC for photo printing.
Thanks for the tips, Q. That sounds like a really sound control environment. I really didn't want to pursue this comparison too technically, and I wanted to simply do what the average consumer could do with their digital prints. The simple question I wanted to answer was: "can the SPP-2040 provide photo-lab quality prints?" and I think the answer was definitely yes. TBH, I didn't expect the quality to be as good. To my surprise, it was actually superior in many respects
I didn't actually use the entire DDTT cartridge, but according to Samsung, there is the exact same amount of DDTT poly-film as there is photo paper. Once you print the 40th page, the cartridge should be completely empty. In a way, I'd consider this a positive thing: you never have to worry about running out of one or the other. If you have paper in the printer, you have enough poly-film to keep printing.
Absolutely. It is difficult to put a price on convenience. In my opinion--being able to print any print I want (photo-lab quality, within 60 seconds) in the comfort of my own home is definitely worth something