DNP vs Mitsubishi: Which Dye-Sublimation Printer to Buy
Mitsubishi was a reference in dye-sublimation photo printing for years, and its CP-D90DW still turns up in comparisons and on the second-hand market. If you are deciding between DNP and Mitsubishi, one difference weighs more than any spec: whether the model and its media have a future.
DNP DS620 vs Mitsubishi CP-D90DW: the Numbers
On pure catalogue figures the CP-D90DW is a fast machine: it prints a 10×15 in about 7.8 seconds, slightly ahead of the 8.4 seconds of the DNP DS620. At 13×18 it takes about 13.2 s and at 15×20 about 14.6 s. It weighs about 13.5 kg, in line with the DS620.
On yield per kit they are neck and neck: the Mitsubishi is around 400 prints at 10×15, 230 at 13×18 and 200 at 15×20; the DS620 does 400 at 10×15, 230 at 13×18 and 200 at 15×20. In other words, on speed and yield they are practically tied.
- Mitsubishi CP-D90DW: ~7.8 s at 10×15 · ~13.5 kg · sizes 9×13, 10×15, 13×18 and 15×20.
- DNP DS620: ~8.4 s at 10×15 · ~12 kg · sizes 10×15, 13×18, 15×20, 15×23 and strips.
- Yield per kit practically identical across the three shared sizes.
- The DS620 adds 15×23 and the rewind function for combining sizes.
The Difference That Actually Matters: Continuity
If the specs are tied, the decision moves elsewhere. The CP-D90DW is listed as discontinued by distributors in the sector, and that is the figure that should weigh most in a purchase you will amortise over years.
A dye-sublimation printer is not a one-day purchase: it is a multi-year relationship with its media. When a model leaves the catalogue the paper survives for a while, but the network narrows, prices stop being competitive and technical support fades out. Buying a discontinued machine today means signing up to that risk in exchange for an upfront saving.
With DNP the DS-RX1HS, DS620, QW410 and DS820 range is alive, the media is the European industry standard and restocking is immediate. Cost-per-print figures are in the DNP paper guide.
Which to Buy for Your Case
- Buying to work for years: DNP, for a live range and guaranteed media.
- Offered a very cheap second-hand CP-D90DW: check first how many prints the head has done and whether your supplier guarantees paper two years out.
- You need 15×23 or strips with rewind: DNP DS620, the Mitsubishi does not reach that size.
- You want raw top speed at 10×15: the CP-D90DW is slightly faster, but the gap is half a second per print.
Comparison table
| Criterion | DNP DS620 | Mitsubishi CP-D90DW |
|---|---|---|
| Speed at 10×15 | ~8.4 s | ~7.8 s |
| Speed at 13×18 | ~15.6 s | ~13.2 s |
| Speed at 15×20 | Roll dependent | ~14.6 s |
| Prints per kit at 10×15 | 400 | ~400 |
| Prints per kit at 15×20 | 200 | ~200 |
| Weight | ~12 kg | ~13.5 kg |
| 15×23 size | Yes | No |
| Model status | In catalogue | Discontinued |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DNP or Mitsubishi Better?
On speed and yield per kit they are practically tied: the Mitsubishi CP-D90DW prints a 10×15 in about 7.8 seconds and the DNP DS620 in about 8.4, with the same yield per kit. The deciding difference is that the CP-D90DW is listed as discontinued, while the DNP range is still alive with standard media and support.
Is the Mitsubishi CP-D90DW Still Made?
It shows as discontinued at distributors in the sector. That does not make it a bad machine, but it changes the purchase equation: a dye-sublimation printer is amortised over years and depends on its media staying available and reasonably priced for all of that time.
Which Is Faster at 10×15?
The Mitsubishi CP-D90DW, at about 7.8 seconds against the DNP DS620’s 8.4. That is half a second per print: across a 200-print event it is under two minutes in total, so it is rarely the criterion that decides.
What Sizes Does One Do That the Other Does Not?
The DNP DS620 reaches 15×23 cm and lets you combine sizes with the rewind function, which the CP-D90DW does not offer. The Mitsubishi, in turn, does 9×13, a small size the DS620 does not cover as standard.
Is a Second-Hand Mitsubishi Worth It?
Only if you check two things: how many prints the thermal head has already done, since that is the part that wears out, and that your supplier can guarantee media two or three years out. The upfront saving does not make up for being left with a machine and no paper halfway through the season.
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