Instant print cameras have been around since the Polaroid Corporation introduced the Land Camera Model 95 back in 1948. And while it may seem like instant print photos are a gimmick that fell out of fashion with the invention of digital photography, printable photos have become big business once again (as it is a way for camera & film companies to ensure consistent revenue in a similar way to how they once sold film).
The Canon Ivy Cliq uses Zink paper which requires no ink. (Zink actually stands for Zero Ink.) Instead, the photo paper is comprised of multiple heat sensitive layers containing dye crystals that display various colors when they melt. The camera delivers varying intensities of heat which quickly results in a colorful picture. It is important to note that while many companies (such as HP, Polaroid, Lifeprint, Fujifilm, & Canon) offer Zink cameras – all Zink paper is made by one company: Zink Holdings. They created the underlying technology – which has been licensed out to several companies. So, while physical cameras or printers may vary in quality, all of the photo paper is essentially the same.
Just how good is Canon’s Ivy Cliq?
Well, the Ivy Cliq is Canon’s least expensive Zink camera coming in at just $99.99. And while it is affordable – it is basically a toy. It is large, made from bright colorful plastic, weighs practically nothing, has very limited features, and prints 5 megapixel images onto stickers. It works just well enough to be passable.
It feels as though Cannon focused too heavily on creating a flashy new device that looks fun and lost sight of actually making a good camera. Where they really fall flat is their halfhearted attempt to make the Cliq a digital camera. The device can accept a Micro SD memory card - and when one is inserted, it saves the picture as a digital file. But, what is absurd is that a digital picture is only saved if there is Zink paper in the camera. If you are out of Zink paper (or simply don’t want to print the picture) the camera will not save the digital file. So – don’t expect to use the Cliq as a digital camera. If you want a picture, you have to pay Canon for Zink Paper.
- Having a Micro SD card inserted also allows you to re-print the last photo that was taken – But, even this has a caveat. If you power off the camera, it is no longer able to re-print the last image (even though it is saved on the memory card). This is also frustrating as the device could have had the ability to work as a photo printer – if it could print pictures saved to the memory card. This could have led to more money for canon (as it would require customers to purchase more Zink paper), but it would have interfered with leading customers to purchase the Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer (which is also $99.99).
There is a workaround to using the Cliq as a digital camera:
If you would like to save a digital image to a Micro SD card, but do not want to print a photo (or are out of paper) – you have two options:
1) Each package of Zink photo paper comes with a blue card that ejects before pictures are printed. You can load this blue card into the camera and take a picture. The photo will save as a digital file and the blue paper will eject as though a photo is being printed.
2) Re-use a Zink Photo Sheet. You can re-use the Zink photo sheets (although I wouldn’t recommend doing this too many times with a single sheet). If you load a photo that has already been taken, the camera will print a new photo right over top of the previous image, but the new picture will be saved as a new digital file.
NOTE: Both of these options work, but it is annoying having to wait 55 seconds for each picture to “print” and save before you can take a new picture. It is also annoying that there is no screen on the camera.
I do appreciate is that Canon has kept both the camera and the picture refills affordable. Each 2 x 3 inch photo sticker is just 50 cents – which matches the price of virtually all other Zink camera brands. Sadly, buying larger quantities of refills does not save any money.
Though the picture cost is reasonable, it is frustrating that money is wasted on accidental pictures. The shutter button offers almost no tactile feedback and it is extremely easy to press accidentally. Almost every person who has used my Cliq has inadvertently pressed the button while holding the camera (which is frustrating as it wastes money and 10% of the camera’s picture capacity).
Here are some other things customers should know:
- The camera does not have any way of indicating how many pictures you have left. Luckily the Zink paper is not sensitive to light – so, if you want to know how many pictures you have left – simply open the back and count the remaining sticker sheets.
- There is a rechargeable battery, but again – no way to determine just how much power you have left.
- The Cliq does have a flash, but it cannot be triggered manually and it only turns itself on in very dark conditions. The flash results in better pictures than most other lighting conditions, so it may as well be on all the time.
- The front features a tiny convex selfie mirror. It is laughably small, but it actually works. What you can see in the reflection, does end up in the photo.
While the Ivy Cliq is fun, I would only recommend it for kids. Instead, I would recommend the Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer. It is the same price and allows you to print better quality photos taken from your phone. And, because it prints phone pictures – you can actually choose pictures you like and edit them to your liking before you print.
NOTE: The Ivy Cliq+ is 8 megapixels and has a much improved flash. But, it does cost $159.99. I would still recommend the Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer over the Cliq+.
Pros:
+ Takes a digital copy of the image that prints (if a Micro SD card is inserted)
+ The most recently taken picture can be reprinted with one button press – this allows you to share identical photo pictures with friends
+ Photo prints are actually stickers
+ Photos are thin and stick well, but can also generally be peeled off of surfaces without causing damage
+ Only 50 cents per picture (as compared to classic Polaroid pictures which cost $2.00 each)
+ Zinc Photo Paper is not sensitive to light (in the same way as film). This means you can open the back of the camera without worry of ruining film.
+ No ink or development chemicals to worry about
+ Allows double exposure prints (Simply re-load a picture back into the camera and take a 2nd picture that prints over top of the first. Fun & artsy!)
+ Photos print quickly (~55 seconds) and do not require time to develop (compared to Polaroid pictures which take up to 10 minutes to develop)
+ Rechargeable battery built in
+ Built in flash
+ Selfie mirror actually works reasonably well
+ Camera is available in several vibrant and fun colors
Cons:
- Camera does not save digital images unless zinc photo paper is installed in the camera **NOTE: There is a workaround for this. See review above.
- Shutter button is far too easy to press. It offers no tactile feedback and it is very easy to accidentally take a picture (which is a waste of 50 cents).
- Camera does not have a screen
- Photo resolution is only 5 megapixels
- Camera does not have any indication of how many pictures are left (although you can take the paper out and count the sheets)
- Flash is automatic only and cannot be manually turned on or triggered
- Flash only turns on in very dark conditions
- Once the camera is powered off, it can no longer re-print the last image that was taken (even when the image is saved on a memory card)
- Image quality on the Zinc Photo Paper is fairly poor (this seems to be related to the 5 megapixel resolution of the camera)
- Water eats through the top layer of the photo paper destroying the image underneath. If rain touches an image, or if liquid is spilled on a photo – they will be ruined. Keep in mind, these are stickers – so they may end up on notebooks or other areas that kids might splash or get wet.
- The back of the stickers are difficult to peel away (there should be a slit on the back of the paper – instead of needing to be peeled at the corners)
- No battery indicator
- Does not include a Micro SD memory card
- The cost of Zink photo paper is the same price regardless of the quantity you buy (50 cents per 2x3 inch sheet)
