The Printer With a Floppy Drive! Sony Mavica Printer from 1999
LGR・2 minutes read
The Sony Mavica Printer allows printing high-quality images from a 3.5” diskette full of JPEGs without a computer, catering to Sony Mavica camera users in the US digital camera market. It offers convenience and good image quality at a competitive price, utilizing thermal printheads to provide quick, colored dye prints directly onto paper.
Insights
- The Sony Mavica Printer was a groundbreaking device that allowed users to print high-quality photos directly from a 3.5” diskette without the need for a computer, offering convenience and simplicity in photo printing.
- Inspired by Sony's professional video printers, the Mavica Printer catered to Sony Mavica camera users, providing impressive prints with enhanced detail and color reproduction, showcasing a seamless integration between the camera and printer for an optimal user experience.
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What is the Sony Mavica Printer?
A device for printing pictures from a 3.5” diskette full of JPEGs without a computer.
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Summary
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Sony Mavica Printer: Printing Photos Without PC
- The Sony Mavica Printer is a device that allows printing pictures from a 3.5” diskette full of JPEGs without the need for a computer.
- In 1999, Sony released the Mavica Printer for $500, designed for use with Sony FD Mavica cameras that stored images on 3.5” floppy disks.
- The Mavica Printer utilized thermal printheads to transfer colored dye directly onto paper, providing quick and high-quality photo prints.
- The printer was a competitively-priced alternative to inkjet and laser printers for photo printing at home, offering convenience and good image quality.
- Sony's Mavica line of cameras gradually improved in quality from 1997 to 2002, with later models offering better sensor resolution and image quality.
- The Mavica Printer was inspired by Sony's earlier video printers from the 80s and 90s, designed for professional use but later simplified for consumers.
- The Mavica Printer was specifically marketed to Sony Mavica camera users, who made up a significant portion of the US digital camera market.
- The printer required Sony's VPM-P50STA Video Print Packs, costing $45 each and providing 50 sheets of photo paper and a print cartridge for 50 prints.
- The printer lacked a display for image selection, requiring connection to a TV via composite video output for control and printing.
- The Mavica Printer produced impressive prints from images taken with Sony Mavica cameras, with improved detail and color reproduction based on image quality.
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Mavica Printer: High-Quality Prints from Floppy Disk
- The Mavica printer can print images from a floppy disk, producing high-quality prints with great detail and colors.
- The printer has a video input mode that allows for capturing images from sources like a PlayStation game, which can be saved to the floppy disk as JPEG files.
- The floppy disk can be transferred to a PC for further editing using the Windows software that accompanies the printer, enabling tasks like creating calendars, stickers, and cards.
- The software offers options for customizing images, such as adding frames and adjusting sizes, with the ability to print directly to the printer or save to the floppy disk.
- The printer utility allows for various creations like stickers and calendars, with the option to print directly from the software to the printer or save to the floppy disk.
- The Mavica printer provides a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for users, especially those interested in graphic design and printing, offering a unique way to interact with images and create physical keepsakes.
