Which photo printer for a photo booth? DNP DS620, Citizen CX2 and Sinfonia CS2 compared.

Three dye-sublimation printers are suitable for a professional photo booth, and we fit all of them into our systems in Greiz: the DNP DS620 at €1,490, the Citizen CX2 at €1,299 and the Sinfonia CS2 (S6145) at €1,199 (as of October 2026, incl. VAT). Print costs range from 17 to 22 cents per 10 × 15 cm photo depending on the model. This guide compares the three models, explains the printing process and shows which printer fits which booth.

Why dye sublimation instead of inkjet?

Dye-sublimation printers transfer colour from a ribbon onto the photo paper in three passes (yellow, magenta, cyan) and seal it with a protective layer. The result is instantly dry, smudge-proof and water-resistant. For a photo booth it also matters that the media come as a kit of paper roll and ribbon that are exactly matched, the number of prints per kit is known, and the printer reports its fill level. Inkjet printers are unsuitable for event use because prints need to dry, print heads dry out during idle periods and the cost per photo is hard to calculate.

The three printers at a glance

Cost per photo is calculated from kit price and print count. Separate kits apply for 15 × 20 cm: DNP 10 × 15 plus 15 × 20 (400 plus 200 prints) €139, Citizen CX2 15 × 20 with 800 prints €149, Sinfonia 15 × 20 with 300 prints €145. Print time for all three models is in the region of eight to ten seconds for 10 × 15 cm, as stated in our previous comparison.

DNP DS620: the standard for rental operators

The DNP DS620 is the printer most used in our rental fleet. Reasons: 800 prints per kit, switching from 10 × 15 to 15 × 20 cm by changing the media kit, the option of cutting two 5 × 15 cm photo strips from one 10 × 15 print, and stable driver support in dslrBooth. The extra cost over the CS2 is recovered through lower media costs after five to ten events a year.

Citizen CX2: compact and robust

The Citizen CX2 is slightly cheaper than the DS620 and, with comparable capacity, also handles 10 × 15 and 15 × 20 cm. It is often chosen when the printer is built into a kiosk housing such as the Natty kiosk because of its compact dimensions. Media costs are marginally above the DNP.

Sinfonia CS2: the entry level

The Sinfonia CS2, also known as the Shinko S6145, is the least expensive of the three. Kits contain 600 prints at 10 × 15 cm and 300 at 15 × 20 cm. For beginners, companies with few events or as a second printer it is a good choice; heavy users pay slightly more over time through media.

Which printer fits which photo booth?

• [Photobooth Ready](/en/product/photobooth-ready-1-1/): DS620, CX2 and CS2 on the tripod; Citizen CY-02 and DNP DS-RX1HS only with the base cabinet.
• [Photobooth Natty](/en/product/photobooth-natty/): the printer sits in the separate Natty kiosk; compatible are DNP DS620, DNP DS40 and Sinfonia CS2, with Citizen CX2 as a configurator option for Natty + Kiosk.
• [Photobooth Profy](/en/product/photobooth-profy/): Citizen CY-02 or DNP DS-RX1 inside the housing.
• [Photobooth Mirror](/en/product/photobooth-spiegel/): CX2, DS620 or CS2, optionally in the additional kiosk with flight case.
• Photobooth Selphy: built-in Canon Selphy CP1000 with 36 prints per cartridge, print time around 50 seconds; designed for shipping rental, not for high volumes.

What should rental operators look out for?

1. Order media in advance: at 300 prints per event, one kit lasts two to three functions. Always carry a spare kit.
2. Acclimatise media: in winter, bring the kit to room temperature before loading, otherwise the ribbon tears more easily, see FAQ ribbon torn.
3. Set printer alignment: compensate small cutting deviations in dslrBooth under Settings → Print, see FAQ layout gets cropped.
4. Transport: printers belong in the booth’s case or in their own padded bag; store media kits upright.
5. Spares: all three manufacturers have supplied paper and ribbon unchanged for years; we stock the kits in the shop.

What do print media cost per year?

Example calculation with assumptions: 25 events with 300 prints each make 7,500 photos a year. With the DNP DS620 that is ten kits for €1,390, with the Sinfonia CS2 thirteen kits for €1,677. The difference of around €290 a year offsets the DS620’s higher purchase price (€291 more than the CS2) within the first year. The total cost of a photo booth is in the guide How much does a photo booth cost?.

How is a media kit changed?

All three printers work with a paper roll and a colour ribbon that are changed together. The change takes a few minutes: open the flap, remove the empty roll and ribbon, insert the new roll, thread the ribbon, close the flap. The printer recognises the new kit and shows the remaining print count. If the ribbon tears during loading, it can be taped together with an overlap; in winter the kit should reach room temperature before the change.

Which formats do guests print most often?

In our rental business the 10 × 15 cm format is the standard, either as a single picture with frame or split into two 5 × 15 cm photo strips. The 15 × 20 cm format is chosen at corporate events and as a keepsake for hosts; it costs roughly twice as much per print and needs its own media kit. With the DNP DS620 both can be covered with the same printer by changing the kit. For rental operators who want to offer both formats on the same evening, a second printer in the kiosk is the more practical solution.

Conclusion

For rental operators with regular events the DNP DS620 is the most economical choice. The Citizen CX2 is the compact alternative, the Sinfonia CS2 the affordable entry. All three can be selected in the configurator of every booth; for questions about combining them with your system, use the enquiry form.