Canon SELPHY CP1300 Review: Postcard Photos and Buying Checks

The Canon SELPHY CP1300 is a compact dye-sublimation printer for small photographs, especially postcard-sized prints for albums and sharing. It is portable enough to take to a gathering, but it is not a pocket printer and it does not print A4 documents.

Quick verdict: a healthy CP1300 can still make sense if you want small photographs without maintaining a desktop inkjet. Buy it for that specific job, and include the matching ink-and-paper packs in the cost. Canon’s UK store marks it as discontinued, so compare any remaining-stock or used offer with the newer CP1500 before paying.

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What the printing method changes

The CP1300 transfers colour from a dedicated dye ribbon using heat, then applies an overcoat. The photograph moves through the printer in several passes. This is different from an inkjet’s liquid cartridges and from the ZINK paper used by many pocket sticker printers.

The practical benefit is a contained photo-printing workflow: use the correct ribbon and paper pack, load the matching cassette and print. The trade-off is that you cannot choose ordinary inkjet photo paper or refill it with generic liquid ink. Consumable compatibility matters more than whether another pack happens to be the same nominal size.

Leave clear space for paper movement at the back and front. Keep cables away from the paper path, and let the print finish before handling it. Its small body does not mean the working setup occupies only the printer’s footprint.

Print size, cropping and useful detail

Canon specifies 300 × 300 dpi and a finished postcard size of 100 × 148 mm after removing the perforated margins. That is close to the familiar 4 × 6-inch format, but the printer needs its own supported media. Smaller card and label formats require the appropriate supplies and cassette.

Preview the crop before committing a sheet. A borderless print may trim the edges of a picture, especially when the source image has a different shape. Leave room around faces, text and important details. A tightly framed photograph can be better printed with an appropriate border than cropped to fill the sheet.

Do not compare the CP1300’s dpi number directly with an inkjet’s much higher advertised maximum. Printing methods differ. For buying purposes, assess a sample containing the skin tones, shadows or landscapes you normally print.

How quickly can it print at a gathering?

Canon quotes approximately 47 seconds for a postcard print under its stated test conditions, measured from the initial yellow pass to ejection. Selecting certain print-finish patterns takes longer. That figure excludes choosing the photograph, editing, transferring it and refilling the cassette.

For an event, plan the whole process. Ten people selecting and editing pictures can create a queue even when the printing stage is straightforward. It is a useful small-scale sharing device; one compact printer should not be treated as a high-volume photo-booth system on the strength of its quoted print time.

Phone, card and computer connections

The CP1300 supports Wi-Fi, compatible mobile printing and direct photo selection from supported memory cards or USB storage. Its tilting 3.2-inch colour screen is operated with buttons, rather than touch. It can be useful when you want to choose pictures without holding a phone throughout the process.

Canon’s current SELPHY Photo Layout guidance lists CP1300 support but says Canon PRINT must also be installed separately for printing from that model. Check both apps against your current phone before buying specifically for that workflow. The CP1500’s app instructions should not simply be transferred to the CP1300.

For wired connections, Canon distinguishes the USB Type-A interface for compatible PictBridge devices from the Mini-B computer connection. The printer does not scan photographs: it prints supported image files. Confirm camera compatibility and the cable required rather than assuming any camera USB lead provides direct printing.

Sources: Canon’s CP1300 specifications and current SELPHY Photo Layout guidance.

Party Shuffle and photo layouts

Party Shuffle lets users contribute pictures from multiple smartphones to a collage. Its purpose is a shared layout, not making the printer’s physical printing mechanism faster. Layouts, borders and ID-photo options can be useful for keepsakes. Preview text and small collage images at the actual print size, since a crowded design can become difficult to read. An ID layout also does not guarantee compliance with a passport or other official photo requirement; check the relevant authority’s current rules.

Layouts, borders and ID-photo options can be useful for keepsakes. Preview text and small collage images at the actual print size, since a crowded design can become difficult to read. An ID layout also does not guarantee compliance with a passport or other official photo requirement; check the relevant requirements before using it for an application.

Running costs: price the finished photograph

Use an ink-and-paper set expressly compatible with the CP1300 and the selected print size. Divide the delivered pack price by its stated print count, then allow for discarded crops, test photographs and unused supplies. There is no need to estimate separate liquid-ink consumption, but each rejected sheet still has a cost.

Check the exact contents of a seller’s package. A printer-only offer, a starter pack and a larger paper bundle are different purchases. Make sure the correct paper cassette and power adapter are included, particularly with second-hand equipment.

Store unused consumables as the maker instructs and avoid unnecessary heat and humidity. An overcoat is useful protection, but it should not be described as making photographs indestructible. For important images, keep a digital backup regardless of the printing method.

Battery operation costs extra

The standard CP1300 package uses a mains adapter. Its compatible NB-CP2LH battery pack is an optional accessory, so portability away from a socket increases the complete purchase cost. Check the exact package rather than assuming a battery is included.

For a used printer or battery, ask for a demonstration while operating unplugged. Battery age, charging condition and the number of prints required for an outing matter more than repeating a nominal maximum. A worn battery can make a mains-powered printer look faulty or leave a portable setup unexpectedly unusable.

Check NB-CP2LH battery offers on Amazon — confirm CP1300 compatibility and the seller’s battery condition.

Keep a CP1300, or buy a CP1500?

If you already own a working CP1300, can obtain compatible supplies and have a functioning connection, its age alone is not a reason to replace it. Keep using the workflow that meets your needs.

For a new purchase, compare the total kit price, warranty and current app setup with the Canon SELPHY CP1500. A costly older package needs a better reason than nostalgia or an inflated headline discount. Check Canon’s CP1300 listing for the model’s status and original package information.

The 30-second decision

BUY IT IF: you want album-sized photographs, can obtain the correct ink-and-paper sets and the exact unit works through your preferred connection at a sensible complete price.

SKIP IT IF: you need A4 documents, a scanner, pocket-sized stickers or event throughput beyond a single compact printer’s practical pace.

SPEND MORE IF: a current model gives you the warranty and phone workflow you need, or a desktop photo printer provides larger output you will actually use.

Check Canon SELPHY CP1300 offers on Amazon. For smaller adhesive-backed pictures, compare our HP Sprocket 200 review. For mixed household documents and photographs, see our HP ENVY 5030 review or broader photo printer comparison.