What is the best Dye Sublimation Printer for 8x10 Event and Portrait Photography?

Kodak 9810 has now the fastest dye sublimation printer on the market with the 9810 and an 8x10 in just 45 sec and 39 seconds for the subsequent prints and for an 8x12: 50 sec and 44 sec for the subsequent one.

Mitsubishi CP-3020DU 8x10: 77 sec in glossy and 90 sec in Matte, 8x12 glossy: 90 sec and Matte: 103.

Sony UPD70A in B&W: 8x10 in 55 sec, in color: 85 sec standard and 115 sec laminating, in 8x12 standard 90 sec and laminating 130 sec.

Kodak 1400: 8x10: 90 sec and 8x12 about 130 sec.

Print speed comparison

(Fastest speed in red)

Each machine offers its own different software and driver:
The Mitsubishi CP-3020DU comes with Triprism and Express Digital package and print, two limited edition softwares which allow you to import, manage and enhance images. Other functions include automating any size RIP engine, a print queue and order management, color, sharpness, brightness and contrast controls as well as package printing, proofing and order nesting. Drivers are for windows only.

The Kodak printers come both with the Kodak printer Calibration utility and the Kodak Easy Share software which allows easy editing, sorting and organizing pictures in albums, creating slide shows and emailing pictures. Windows driver only for the Kodak 9810 and Windows/Mac OS 10.2 for the Kodak 1400.

The Sony UPD70A comes with drivers for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS as well as with ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles and supports CMM (Color Matching Method). This means that the printed color can be simulated on the preview monitor.

In terms of computer interfacing the Mitsubishi CP-3020DU, the Kodak 1400 and the Kodak 9810 offer USB 1.1 and 2.0, while the Sony UPD70A offers SCSI and centronics parallel.

Regarding the cost per print: an 8x10 will cost you: with Mitsubishi: $1.38; Kodak 1400: $1.60; Sony $1.78; Kodak 9810: $1.85. An 8x12: with Mitsubishi: $1, 58; Kodak 1400: $1.60; Kodak 9810: $1.85; Sony: $1.97.

Cost per print comparison

(Cheapest cost in red)

Equipment pricing

The price of these dye sub printers range from $499 for the Kodak 1400 ($435 at ImageProInternational.com) to $5995 for the Sony UPD70A ($5240 at ImageProInternational.com).

8x10 and 8x12 are definitely the sizes of choice for portrait and event photography, the format that everyone enjoys to display at home.

To be able to be equipped with a dye sublimation printer compact enough to be taken on almost any location (as long as you can find power) is an incredible advantage, equipped with a good quality digital camera and a good laptop, you can now produce in minutes your event pictures.

Do not forget to add extra value to your image by displaying your final picture into a folder as by example the TAP Buckeye which will cost you as low as $0.72 or TAP PF-20 folder which will only cost you $0.20. The result will give you for about $2.00 an image that you can easily sell -depending on your market- for $20 and up.

The Mitsubishi CP3020DU Event Package

The Sony UPD70A Event Package