Product image url as part of collection load

Question

Is it possible to have the product image url loaded as part of the product collection?

for examples:

Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection()->addAttributeToSelect('*');

This doesnt add the image.

Answer 1

Do it as such:

$collection = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection();

$backendModel = $collection->getResource()->getAttribute('media_gallery')->getBackend();

foreach($collection as $product){
    $backendModel->afterLoad($product); //adding media gallery to the product object
    var_dump($product->getData()); //you should see media gallery information here now
}

This loads the backend model and appends the media gallery attribute for the $product in the loop instead of re-loading the entire product model.

Answer 2

These worked for me

$collection = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')
                ->getCollection()
                ->addAttributeToSelect('image');

foreach($collection as $product){
    (string)Mage::helper('catalog/image')->init($product, 'image');
    //Or with resize
    (string)Mage::helper('catalog/image')->init($product, 'image')->resize(200);
}

Answer 3

I think you should be able to access the image URL from the product such as:

$collection = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection();

foreach ($collection as $product) {
   echo $product->getImageUrl();
}