Do You Print Enough Small Photos to Need a SELPHY CP1500?
A dedicated photo printer suits repeated album and project work. Compare that habit with occasional print orders, then check supplies, connections and space.
The Canon SELPHY CP1500 makes most sense when you regularly want a few small photographs for an album, a scrapbook or another personal project. Having a printer at home lets you make those prints as you work, provided you keep compatible supplies on hand.
If you only order photos after an occasional trip, keep ordering them. And if a printer you already own produces the small photos you want without much fuss, try that route before adding a dedicated machine.
Start with the projects you actually finish
Think about your last few photo projects. Did you repeatedly want a handful of physical prints while putting pages together, or did you need one larger batch? The CP1500 is easier to justify for the repeated small-print habit than for a project you might start someday.
This guide focuses on postcard-size photo prints. The CP1500 is not a replacement for a letter-size document printer. If you need large pictures or an exact fit for a particular album pocket, check the supported paper dimensions before choosing it.
Include ink and paper in the decision
The CP1500 uses dye-sublimation thermal transfer and compatible SELPHY CP ink-and-paper sets. Regular postcards are not suitable, and the Canon name alone does not establish compatibility. Check the set against the CP1500 and the print size you intend to use.
The linked option is Printer Only, not the separate Printer + Paper variation. The listing’s generic contents field mentions trial ink and paper, while Canon’s standard in-box list does not. Plan for a compatible ink-and-paper set and check the selected seller’s actual contents; do not assume a particular starter quantity.
Those supplies remain part of owning the printer. Compare their current cost and your likely usage with the print orders you would otherwise place. There is no verified break-even count here, and buying the printer is not a promise of cheaper photos.
Check how your photos will reach it
For a smartphone workflow, the CP1500 supports Wi-Fi printing with Canon’s SELPHY Photo Layout app. Check current support for your exact phone and operating system before buying. Do not assume that a Wi-Fi label makes every phone or network arrangement compatible.
The printer also accepts supported SD, SDHC and SDXC cards directly; supported microSD variants need an adapter. Check the card and image-file requirements if that is how you plan to print.
If you first import camera photos to a computer, our SD card reader guide explains how to check an existing slot or hub before buying another reader. That is a separate computer-import job, not a required accessory for this printer’s card slot.
Make room to print
The closed printer is only part of its working footprint. The paper cassette projects from the front, and paper moves out behind the printer during printing. Choose a stable surface with room for both, following the manual’s clearance instructions. A narrow shelf that fits the closed body may not be a usable printing spot.
Plan around an outlet
The standard components include an AC adapter and power cord. USB-C is a data connection on this model; it does not power or charge the printer. Printing away from an outlet requires a separately sold compatible battery, so do not treat the Printer Only option as a cordless kit.
Buy for a recurring photo habit
Consider the CP1500 if you repeatedly make small physical prints, have a compatible way to send your pictures, and want to manage its supplies and working space. Keep ordering occasional prints, or keep using an adequate existing printer, if either already suits the way you make albums and projects.
The exact option covered here is the black Canon SELPHY CP1500, US model 5539C001, ASIN B0BF6T86WD. Check Black (Pack of 1) and Printer Only before ordering, along with the seller’s contents and the compatible supplies you need.
View the black Canon SELPHY CP1500 Printer Only option on Amazon
Based on Canon’s product information and manuals and the matching Amazon listing. Product images are listing images, not our own photographs. We have not tested this printer.