Lahcen Boufedji
Hello again, Lahcen here, and today I’ll be sharing some information on the Sony Dye-Sublimation printers. We’ll be taking a look at the SnapLab
UPDR80,
UPCR10L,
UPCR20L and
UPDR200 – great for traveling event photographers, event planners, and even stationary revenue generators for retail settings. We’ll also be looking at the UPXC300, Sony’s digital passport and ID photo printing system.
I do a lot of events in Miami, and I have always been on the lookout for a fast and portable printer that I could just put in the trunk of my Accord with the rest of my equipment and go, and I think I found it in the
Sony UP-DR80.
It’s half the size and weight of my previous printer, weighing only 25 lbs, making it one of the smallest dye-sublimation printers available today.
It can print from 4x8, up to gorgeous 8x12 prints; all with your choice of ProMatte, Luster, or Glossy print surfaces with the same media. For an example on speed, it knocks out 8x10 prints in 63 seconds; and as opposed to inkjet printers, the prints are ready to be handled as soon as they are finished with no risk of smudging inks – perfect for grab and go situations like malls or parks. It has a superb print quality and my clients are always impressed with the results and the amount of the prints produced in such a short time.
The Sony
SnapLab UPCR-10L is made primarily for events or retail stores, and it’s today’s highest selling dye-sublimation printer in the world. At only 24 lbs, I love its minimalist design and along with its portability, ease of use, and quality of prints; I believe the UPCR10L will be a great additional revenue-generating tool for event photographers and planners. With the help of a Bluetooth USB Adapter, you can transfer the images wirelessly from your camera to the SnapLab, further cutting down on production time. It used to be the case that guests would have to wait for weeks, even months, for the professional photographer’s photos to be ready to order; and by that time many have lost interest in the purchase. With the advent of these new portable lab-quality printers, the wait time is over.
Next, we have the
Snap Lab UPCR-20L - the new generation of the kiosk by Sony, with a 10.4 inch LCD screen, it offers small to medium retail environments a sleek, high-speed option for revenue expansion. In terms of speed, a 4x6 takes approx. 8 seconds, while a 5x7 can be printed in 13 seconds; twice as fast as previous models. The UP-CR20L produces gorgeous, rocket fast prints in the 3x5 to 6x8 range, with software selectable Glossy or ProMatte finishes. Just like the UPCR-10L, it takes all ranges of digital media, plus CDs and DVDs. The LCD menu of the SnapLab supports 12 languages, and customers will be attracted to its simple-to-use interface, and astonished by its great looking prints; you can easily profit from another source of income without compromising on space. I’d recommend the UPCR20L for retail stores, event photographers, and shopping malls.
Closing out the line we have the
UP-DR200, with exceptional performance from 3x5 to 6x8 sizes, and the ability to print either Glossy or ProMatte finish with the same media. The printer also offers up to 30% more paper capacity than its predecessor, holding 700 4x6’s or 800 5x7’s. Blazing fast prints clocking in at 8sec for 4x6 and 12sec for 5x7 also makes it one of the fastest printers at the moment. The front and auto-loading mechanisms of the system make replacing media a snap; open the front door, insert the roll and ribbon, and you’re done. I strongly recommend this printer for Professionals and Event photographers.
Finally, we have the
Sony UPX-C300 – Sony’s answer for strict regulations on ID and Passport photos, and subpar photo systems that develop prints that are constantly rejected. This system comes with an 8 megapixel camera and 400 dpi printer, perfect for high quality prints. Also equipped with Bluetooth wireless functionality, one button press on the camera sends the selected shot to the printer’s queue; I personally love being able to shoot different photos and print seamlessly, without having to walk back and forth between the printer.
The camera also automatically adjusts certain properties in the picture, such as facial and frame position, along with many other new features that help ensure fewer rejections by government agencies. That’s been my take on Sony’s line of SnapLabs, printers and their new Bluetooth Digital Passport System, the UPX-C300.
From my experience with all those printers, I’ve loved its speed, portability, and print quality – as have my clients. I can easily recommend any of them, and would be more than willing to help you in choosing one for yourself or your business’s needs.
This has been Lahcen from Image Pro, and thanks for reading.
Sony SnapLab UPCR10L 
Sony UPDR200 
