Canon - IVY Mini Photo Printer - Rose Gold

---SETUP--- The setup of this inkless, wireless photo printer is quick. It takes about one hour to charge out of the box, but can be used while it’s charging. After turning it on once, it sends a bluetooth signal that your mobile device will recognize, much like pairing a new set of bluetooth headphones. Select the printer and your phone is now paired to it. You are required to download the Canon Mini Print App to interact with the printer. I had a little bit of trouble opening the lid to insert the paper but the app itself does a better explanation as to how to open it and get that paper installed. ---FEATURES--- Some key feature of this photo printer is that it doesn’t use ink, it’s highly portable, doesn’t require to be plugged in thanks to it’s included internal rechargeable battery, and it’s completely wireless to print photos. ---PERFORMANCE--- The printer works as intended. In about 40 seconds, you can print a picture that you have already taken prior to the purchase of this printer or one that you take from within the Canon Mini Print App itself. Taking pictures from within the app guarantees that the image will fit perfectly on the paper. Using my own pictures, I discovered that the image will be too large and be cropped out to fill the white space of the paper. You can add borders that can be downloaded to fix that for free within the app, as well as other neat digital stickers. The app allows you to add text and even has masks, akin to SnapChat. All of these optional features aren’t pre-downloaded with your app. This is good for people who may not have too much memory on their phone and instead only download the stickers they plan to use at the time. ---EXPECTATIONS--- The printer mildly meets my expectations. The prints that come out look faded compared to how you see them on your mobile device. Though you can color correct within the app before printing, the color doesn’t quite come out the way you want it to, but it’s still satisfactory enough for a fun little gift. Additionally, the back of the photos can be removed and the photos then become stickers. If you don’t want to use it as a sticker, the photos make great wallet pictures, as they are 2 by 3 inches. The printer did loose connection to my phone multiple times, but it found it after waiting a few seconds. ---VALUE--- The price for the printer in terms of value is good only if you plan on using it often. You have to add the price of buying this specialty paper, as it is currently 9.99 for a 20 sheet pack or 24.99 for a 50 sheet pack. There’s no benefit to buying larger quantities as the pricing is comparatively the same quantity vs. price. Buying the printer does come with a 10 sheet pack. Doing the math at current prices, it’s a little over .55 cents per printed sheet, factoring in taxes. ---APPROVAL--- I highly recommend this product for people who enjoy scrapbooking, decorating their technology with stickers, or have lockers or other flat surfaces of their choice to decorate. This wouldn’t be a good printer for everyday use for most users. It feels more like a novelty item than a useful tool, but I can see people setting up photo booths using these printers. Add some props, customize your images within the app, print, and have fun!

As our world becomes more and more digital, I find myself really enjoying paper products even more. They are becoming more rare with each year — each month that passes. One of the most precious pieces of paper is a photograph and it’s probably also one of the most rare these days. We typically just open up a photo on our phone and pass it around to family and friends but it’s really hard to compare to a printed photo to hang on your wall or place in a frame. Fortunately, some camera companies like Canon have started creating personal photo printers that allow you to print directly from your mobile phone. The Canon Ivy Printer comes packaged in a simple but nicely branded box. It’s very easy to unbox and it comes with a short (about 6 inches) Micro USB cable, a visual quick start card, and some paperwork about safety and warranty regulations. The complete manual is available within the mobile app and that is, in fact, the first step in the set-up process — downloading the app. It’s a free app and is available for both iOS and Android devices. Once the printer is charged, you can connect to it via Bluetooth. At this point, the user experience is highly involved with the mobile app. You can either take photos and print them immediately or select photos that are already stored on your phone. When you select a photo, the app will adjust it so that it fits the photo size of the printer. This is a simple photo editing program built into the app and with it you can easily add text and/or stickers to the photo before you print it. This feature is a little like editing photos in Snapchat before you send it to friend.s. It’s a nice feature to have but not something you have to use if you don’t like it. In addition to the markup options, you can also brighten your photos, change their tint, and adjust their contrast. Because the editing details are all described by icons, it’s a little difficult to determine which control is which. As a test, I pulled a photo from my Camera Roll on my iPhone of a pair of bookends. The photo shows a colorful, detailed desk accessory and I wanted to have it printed out to see if the detail of the photo remained. I’ve actually had the opportunity to use a different pocket printer by a different company and the colors weren’t very vibrant and details weren’t very prominent once the image was printed. The same is not true of the Canon Ivy printer. The photo was bright, colorful and you could see all the fine details the same way you would if you were looking at it on the phone screen. The printer does make quite a bit of mechanical/roller noise as it prints. I was surprised about this considering how small the device is. It wasn’t loud per se but it wasn’t quiet either. The first time you print a photo from the printer, the blue information sheet will feed out of the printer first. This will happen every time you print using a new package of ZINKTM photo sheets. Once the blue sheet fed through the printer, it took about one minute for the photo to print out. The Ivy photo printer from Canon is the perfect option for someone who takes frequent photos with their phone but would like to have a printed keepsake. The Ivy printer is small and very easy to take with you from place to place. I would recommend this to all types of users and think that people who like adding embellishments to photos would really get a kick out of the photo editing options.

I was excited for this Canon Ivy printer, as I've been looking at getting a mini photo printer for my wife to print out our family photos of trips we take and general, everyday stuff. It's a good little printer for what it does, but the whole "Zink" technology is over-advertised and overrated. Setup was super simple. It uses a standard USB cable to charge. I didn't even use the one included in the box. I just turned on my PS4 system and used the controller charging cable to charge it up, which took about 3 hours out-of-the box. Setup was super simple. You connect the Ivy via Bluetooth. There is a Canon mini-print app that you have to download in order to use it. It does have iPhone X support, as well, so it looks nice on an OLED screen. Once connected to Bluetooth, you go into the app, click the button in the upper right corner and "add" the printer. Once added, you are ready to to print. If it's not on already, you power it on, take or select a photo, add any overlays/filters/fun stuff (text, stickers, etc) that you want and then print it. We have encountered an annoying issue where after choosing the photo and editing it, the printer just decides to shut off or is undetectable. She has to power cycle the printer to get it to work (or just turn it back on). It seems completely random. Maybe it's a battery saving feature? I haven't noticed a way to update the firmware of it. Anyway, when it bugs out like this, it will add multiple of the same picture to the print queue. If not careful, it will print all of them, thus wasting expensive paper. Which is my biggest complaint on this. I about had a stroke when I went to Best Buy to buy the Zink paper this requires so that I could further test it - the printer only comes with 10 sheets... Yes, I realized after purchasing that the cost of the ink is absorbed into the price of the paper. But for the low-quality (muddy, sometimes blurry) pictures it prints, it's very expensive. A 50-pack ran $24.99 before taxes. Eeek. So, we will be using this device very sparingly instead of the "fun" it's advertised for. Definitely not letting the younger one get hold of this (especially since the back peels off so the photos can be stuck to things, lol). Adult use only! Giving this one a 3-star due to the power off issues when using it and when powering it back on, it bugs out the app, as well as the print quality of the photos and price of the Zink paper.

Party? Whaaat? And by party I also include any celebration, reunion, anniversary and get together. Think about it. This Canon Ivy printer easily slips into a jacket or larger purse, reliably connects to your phone, and invites you to share photos of an event right then, right there. Pull together a group, take a picture with your phone, and send it to your mini-printer so you can share the memories right now. It really is this easy. Point: The pictures are only 2x3”, so why do I want this? Answer: The printer can be a very portable at 4.7“ x 3.2“ x 0.7” and . . this is a great tool for social engagement. Point: It would be nice to grab photos from my camera roll, but also from Instagram, or Drop Box or Facebook. Answer: Any or all of the above are accessible and managed from within the App. Point: With no printer ink and just thermal printing it’ll look weird, right? Answer: Shockingly nice looking photos spit out of this thing in under 30 seconds and NO need for ink supplies, ‘cause there is no ink to replenish! The resulting prints resist smudges, don’t tear, and peel-and-stick. And they are pretty. Point: I’d prefer the opportunity to get creative using my computer’s photo software and the Canon Ivy is only for Android or iOS mobile phones. Answer:The Canon print App lets you do some edits, add effects, filters, make collages or larger tiled prints using the Android or iOS App. Point: I’m guessing my grandparents are going to pass on this new gadget. Answer: Eh . . . well it’s all icon based and most of them can be figured out by a child, but that’s the rub. You can certainly charge ahead and get nice results. But, easy to read (not gray on white, mini-type) would be really nice. Point: It’s going to need power while I’m on the go. Answer: It’s rechargeable (takes 75 minutes) and doesn’t require a power supply at the party. Point: I’m going to need a bunch of prints at my parties so what’s needed? Answer: The printer accepts packs of 10 prints at one time and they are really easy to load and carry. Summary: These are going to be popular at parties.

The Cannon Ivy mini printer is not something new, it seems every major band has one out there. I went to the local Best Buy and and they had a display showing this and two other major bands next to it. So which one do you choose? Which works better? To be honest, I am not sure. But I do know this one works well and I like it. You can get one of those all inclusive Fuji or Polaroid cameras, but they are huge. They give you the same size picture and they are pretty cool as well. What I really like about this is the portability and convenience of it all. It links to your phone via an app, and so you rely on your phone (in this case my iPhone X) to take an even better picture than your all inclusive models. It just makes better sense to get this portable printer. It is wireless, and the battery holds for a long time because once you turn in on it will automatically turn itself off if its not in use. I did the initial charge and I have been through two packages of pictures and it still working. The battery is great on this model. The pictures come out on the high end of average. But that is to be expected with one of these models as it is par for the course. After reading up on this kind of technology, this is to be expected. They don’t use a true black, so you will not get the deep rich tones you want in a high end printer. It down not use ink, or more specifically you don’t have to replace any ink ever. But let’s be real, this is not a printer you are going to use as a workhorse. This is a fun, occasional use pocket printer. The refill paper is about $9.99 for 20 prints, and $24.99 for a pack of 50. So you are looking at $0.50 per picture right now until the price gets cheaper or some invents a generic version. All in all, it is a fun toy and the kids enjoy it. I think it is worth it if you are into the novelty of the idea, but I definitely think if you are looking at getting a all in one camera/printer device, I would look at this option before doing that. Yes the price is more, but I think you get more and your phone will take much better pictures than those cameras ever could.

I have been pleasantly surprised by this little printer! I was not expecting to be a fan of it as I have 3 different semi professional photo printers at home and I am always very particular about color matching and such so when I got my hands on this printer I really had no idea what to expect, especially since it does not use ink! However I have been nothing but impressed. First thing that I liked was just how small it is! It is about the same size as my portable harddrives, even smaller than some! I never would have thought a printer could be this size. The paper was very easy to load as the directions are very clear. And syncing the printer to the phone as well as the app was very simple too! From there it just got even easier. The app is very clear on what to click on depending on what you want to do. I looked thru all the frames, emojis, filters, and stickers in the app and was not all that impressed with the selection but I am hoping in the future the selection will be grow and be updated. For now I will just stick to printing out the photos exactly how they are because they really are cool to have. Obviously the quality/sharpness is not the same as what you would get out of a photo printer four or five times the price, however the look and feel of them seems very nostalgic and has a polaroid print look to it and it is actually pleasing. Only small complaint I have is the picture seems to print out darker than what it is on the screen no matter where your screen brightness setting is at. However canon was nice enough to have a option right in the print setup screen to be able to brighten the image among a whole bunch of other changes you can make to the photo before hitting print. Another cool thing canon added was the back of the photos having adhesive, I love having the ability to stick these somewhere rather than having them just laying around, or having to pin them somewhere. Very cool idea. Overall, really love this printer and I can see myself using it for years to come.

The Canon Ivy is a mini-printer that produces almost instant mini-photos. It’s one of the coolest devices that I have seen in a while. The Ivy comes with a short USB cable for charging the lithium-ion battery. (Note: Printer can operate while charging.) Once charged, its small size makes it easily portable so you can print anywhere on the spot. Also, included is a 10 pack of print paper with a mysterious blue card…don’t toss it out! Follow the instructions on the card or those in the app regarding the card. Importantly, you will need to download the app (either Android or Apple) before you are ready to print. Connect with your phone/tablet via Bluetooth, and you are good to go. For a test run, I used the app to select a photo from my phone. It very quickly and quietly produced an excellent photo. (Note: For your first time print, don’t panic when the blue card comes out. It comes out first, because it’s done its job. The photo quickly follows. For the rest of the pack, it’ll only be the photo.) Photos are small (2”x3”), so the Ivy is not for heavy lifting; it’s for fun. One example: picture yourself at a gathering of friends, family, or whatever. You could take souvenir pictures to share, print them off, and give them away on the spot. In addition, the app provides several options for your photo (add text, emojis, etc.). Paper packs are available in 20, and 50 packs (Note: Only 10 sheets can be loaded at the time.), for an average cost per pic is about $0.50. I am a long time user of Canon printers, and they consistently produce excellent photos, so I was excited about the possibilities of the Ivy for more fun with pics. The first time I tried it, I loved it! Yes, if you want to have fun with photos, customize them, and print on the spot, the Ivy is not going to disappoint you.

This printer is a mixed bag. It is small, fairly easy to set up, makes glossy prints, and is quiet. Printed instructions consist of one card about the same size as the printer with three illustrations Number 1 shows charging the printer. Number 2 shows loading the paper pack. Number 3 shows downloading the printer app from the IOS App store or the Google Play store. The App has the steps to connect the printer and a User Guide for its’ operation. I tried to use the Android App on my Samsung 5 but gave up trying to go back and forth between the App and the User Guide to do the installation. The screen on my phone is too small for my 78 year old eyes to go back and forth. So I installed the App on my IPad. Much easier on that. I had a little bit of trouble getting the IPad and the printer paired and connected. Either I was not doing the steps correctly or I was not waiting for long enough. After I had them working together I attempted to print one picture. Somehow I was just adding another picture to the job. You will have to use this awhile to get used to the steps. The printed pictures are TINY! Take a 4” x 6” card and cut it in half, then cut the halves in half and you will see the picture size 2” x 3”. The printed pictures are somewhat dull compared to the on-screen picture. Compared to the actual on-screen, the print in portrait is OK up and down, but a little cut-off on the sides It takes a couple of minutes to print one image. The cost for each print is about 50 cents. 20 for $9.99 and 50 for $24.99. This might be good for selfies or portraits, but I would not use it for other pictures and there are other small and reasonably priced printers that would produce 4” x 6” prints or larger.