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Best Photo Printer?
Photographer Posts: 1268 Grove Place, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands of the United States Hi, I'm looking to buy a photo printer. I want to print large - up to 13 x 19 for public displays (in a coffee shop at the moment). I want to print for my future fashion portfolio. I want to print for clients (weddings, family portraits, etc). I am really coveting the Epson 3880. Is the print quality good enough to justify the cost? Should I get a less expensive model like the 1900 until my output volume is larger? Right now I'm looking to print about 30 - 100 photos a month (when you factor in reprints for mistakes or changes). Is there a saving in ink? Nov 17 10 03:42 pm Link I love my Epson stylus photo 2000... Phenominal printer! It prints 13"x19" Supreme prints. I use Matt Black instead od Photo Black... It makes a deeper black... The prints are on 300# Archival paper... Nov 17 10 03:51 pm Link It's really less expensive, just in materials - not including the cost of your time, to send them out to an on-line printer like bluecubeimaging.com or whcc.com or adorama.com, etc. Nov 17 10 03:54 pm Link I just purchased the 3880. So far I like it better than my Canon 9500. As far as ink savings I can't say yet, but with the larger cartridges I should see a savings, the cartridge size on the 9500 was my biggest gripe. It seemed every time I printed something I had to replace a cartridge or one was getting low. I think the quality of print is about the same. The Epson has better software and can be fine tuned. There was a thread about two weeks ago on this same issue worth finding and reading. Also there is a $300 rebate on the Epson so total cost is around $850 or so. From what you are saying regarding the quantity you will be printing it will be worth it to you to buy the printer with the bigger cartridges. Also the 3880 is one of the few Epsons that automatically changes from matte black to glossy black, some ink is still wasted. Nov 17 10 04:29 pm Link
Photographer Posts: 1268 Grove Place, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands of the United States Based off of this thread: https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=646105 and this article http://www.printerville.net/2008/12/09/ … -the-king/ It would seem as though the 3880 is the most logical choice if someone is going to be doing printing from home. Does anyone dispute this? Or other opinions? Quality of photo is also a consideration but it seems as though they all print at about the same quality. Is this true? Would you trust your professional photos to be printed by a home printer? Nov 17 10 05:48 pm Link People I know with Epsons seem to fuss with them more than the people with Canon printers. Nov 17 10 06:39 pm Link Lorin Edmonds wrote: Can't say with regard to the high end printers but between the Canon 9500 mk1 and the Epson 3880 there is more to fuss with. There are more people working with Epsons and as such more programs have been written for the Epson printers. Due to the availability of these programs you are able to fine tune the ink delivery on the Epsons, I could find nothing of this sort for the Canon. Nov 17 10 06:47 pm Link If making that many prints per month you absolute should get the 3880 The ink carts on the 1900 and other 13x19"printers are far to small and ineffective cost wise. If you have a few hundred leeway in budget take a good look at the Canon IPF5100 Pros over the 3880 are higher ink capacity and built in roll feeder. Nov 17 10 07:07 pm Link Epson 3880. I have a 3800. Gallery quality prints. It's marvelous. Nov 17 10 09:12 pm Link Bill Sylvester wrote: BlueCube...yes. I agree. WHCC....if they were the last lab on earth, I guess I'd stop using labs. Adorama I have no experience with, but heard good things. Of the three, Blue Cube has an awesome reputation. Nov 17 10 11:28 pm Link The *Best* is just to send everything to your local traditional pro lab. Works out cheaper in the long run and gets you proper chemical prints. Paul www.photographybyriddell.co.uk Nov 18 10 03:12 am Link I wish some of the people who review printers would put an average cost per print, say 8 x 10 or something like that just so there would be a good way to compare all of the printers, versus using an outside lab. Nov 18 10 03:25 am Link
Photographer Posts: 1268 Grove Place, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands of the United States Mikes Images - Mike #4 wrote: Yes I agree, getting professional prints from blue cube or somewhere similar would be ideal. I plan on using blue cube if for no other reason than to compare professional printing to home printing. I'll probably use a professional printer if I get into a gallery or something... But i'm not there now. Further more I would like the instant gratification of home printing. I would like to see how my photos print asap (sorry I'm ADD and part of the dreaded Y generation who wants it all Now.) Nov 18 10 10:04 am Link I have a Canon 9500 pro mkI and I absolutely love it.... It's a bitch learning all the in's and out's of getting the correct color profiles and properly setting the color management; but once you get it, Whoa!! The prints come out fantastic. Whichever printer you decide on I highly recommend checking out Ilford Smooth Peal Plus paper. Small cartridge size is lame though. Nov 18 10 10:16 am Link Deirdre Holmes wrote: When you send out a print to Bluecube or Adorama you are limited to 4 or so paper surfaces, doing a print at home there are a lot more paper selections. Also they are 2 different types of processes. The 3880 is a professional level inkjet printer. You will be able to print gallery quality inkjet prints at home. I don't think one is better than the other, just different. Nov 18 10 10:34 am Link Don't think about anything else if it's not roll feed and 17" then the 3880 is a steal. If you have the space the Canon iP5100 was good too but I prefer the Epson> Nov 18 10 10:38 am Link Bill Sylvester wrote: This. Nov 18 10 10:55 am Link liddellphoto wrote: Convenience. The price of printing convenience is what many will pay for....otherwise, if you're not a full-time professional or printing regularly, a pro-lab is the most economical way to go (usually). But if you like printing large (think much bigger than what the 3880 is capable of), print on fine art materials, or gallery wrapped canvas, printing your own can make good business sense... Nov 18 10 11:27 am Link 4880 handles rolls Nov 19 10 05:22 pm Link I love my Epson 3880, it's really helped out. I need to print all the time and it's saved me a ton of cash and helped push my work further. Although, it's a bit painful whenever you have to buy an ink cartridge. It's still worth it. Nov 20 10 03:14 pm Link Alex M Wolff Photograph wrote: No where near the price range of the units being discussed. Nov 20 10 04:52 pm Link Skip the 3880, get the 4000 series if you can afford it. If you can't get the newest, shop around for a refurb or something. Use 220mL ink cartridges and you can print forever. 3800 only uses 80 mL, although they do last forever. 2880 would be economical, print a tad better than the 3800, but only goes up to 13" and sucks ink like wildfire. -- Karl Johnston Adventure Photographer www.facebook.com/karljohnstonphoto Nov 20 10 04:53 pm Link Canon 9500 is a good printer. Great rebates when you buy a Canon camera. Nov 20 10 06:24 pm Link |
