Printer recommendation please

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:14 pm

I am in a position where I now need to begin making some very good quality prints of some of my shots and my old HP office jet just isn't cutting it. Could anyone recommend a really good printer for the sole purpose of printing photos, of numerous sizes (as opposed to just 4 x 6 etc). I appreciate your assistance.

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:47 pm

For up to 8x10 prints the Epson R300 would be tough to beat. I picked mine up for under 100.00 after rebates, the photos printed look like processed photographs.
There is a learning curve to printing properly and using paper profiles.
The inks cost about $12.00 per cartridge color and $16.00 B&W there is one B&W cartridge and 5 color cartridges.

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:55 pm

Kurt - apols for the delay in responding, thank you for your advice, based upon your recommendation I have been checking out the Epson, right now I am torn between that one (actually I think it is the R700) and the humungous HP doohickey mainly based upon the fact that you can print photos up to 13" by 19" I think.... I am going to keep surfing and see what I come up with. I appreciate your input, I don't think I would have ever thought of Epson had you not recommended it. Thanks again.

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:09 pm

I HIGHLY recommend Epson. I have used both and, frankly the Epson's can't be touched in this area. Photo printer.......Epson. Make sure you are in the better range of printers and you'll be fine. Epson has printers that allow for 13 inch widths and 17 inch widths.

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:40 pm

Truebrit, I can only speak from experience and mine is that HP printers do not do well with photography. In fact, the photographer at work uses one and printed a photograph of me receiving an award which is at my desk. Also at my desk are several prints, older that I printed at home. None of these are framed, just tacked up or in open style holders. The epson prints look like the day I printed them, the HP photo printer print is yellow and faded.

The inks and paper used when printing ink jet are important, the R300 I use is not low end but by no means the high end epson. I would like to have one that prints wider than 8.5 inches and uses the higher end inks, but must wait a bit as the R300 is pretty new.

Premium Member Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 1250

You may also want to check out the Epson R1800 , or the Canon I 9900, as both of these do up to 13 x 19 size prints.
I have not decided on which of these two will be my next printer.

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

While I know that there is a rather seriously developed bias against HP printers here, (clearly) you might give the 8750 a look.

It is NOT your old 900 series office jet.

Like you, I have been looking for a second printer that is dedicated to photo printing.

I have been bouncing back and forth between the canon i9900 and the HP 8750.

The Canon has dye based inks, and individual ink tanks. The HP has two photo greys + black for B&W printing (Not as good as the B&W printing that ChrisL talks about in another thread but better than a printer without the greys.) It uses pigment based inks that can be used with HP Premium paper that can be bought in bulk (in the US anyway) for $29.00 for 150 sheets.

It's a tough decision.

The Epsonites may now tell me what a moron I am for not going with Epson printers, third party boutique inks, and hours cleaning clogged printheads with a fine brush made from virgin llamas.

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:21 am

SingleMalt wrote:

It's a tough decision.

The Epsonites may now tell me what a moron I am for not going with Epson printers, third party boutique inks, and hours cleaning clogged printheads with a fine brush made from virgin llamas.

I have never had a printhead clog on either epson printer that I own. The photo printer is turned off when not in use, and the "all in one" (6200 or something like that is the model number) remains on all the time it is the printer on the family machine.

I will have to walk down to the AV shop today to see what professional HP printer they are using thats prints are yellow in a months time.

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

I apologize for injecting a bit of humor into so grave a topic.

As to the HP printed photos fading in one month -

HP Photosmart 8750 – Superior fade resistance
With HP Vivera Inks and HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, HP’s new nine-ink printing system produces prints with outstanding longevity. Light fade resistance is superior to lab-processed silver-halide or dyesublimation photos. Photos stored in a photo album resist fading for over 200 years. These are the longest-lasting color photos with the look and feel of traditional photos. Thanks to HP’s innovative dyebased inks, the HP nine-ink printing system provides an industry-leading combination of fade-resistance and image quality.

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_2644.html

I have on hand a photo that I printed 6 months ago with my crummy HP952 (And it doesn't use Vivera inks.). I have printed the EXACT same photo within the last week. Zero difference.

I'm almost tempted to put $10,000.00 on a "pick the oldest photo" contest. All any takers would have to do is bring their $10,000.00 and then pick the oldest two photos out of 10 identical photos.

All that said, with further research, I am also seriously considering the Epson 2200 as well.

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:18 pm

Wow - who'd a thunk that I would start a printer war? :) All I need is a great printer that will print great photos, now I do not believe that I need something that will last 2,000 years, I just need something that I can print off a large shot (the bigger the better) of a scene I took of the new river here in my local area, I think that if I print and frame it and display it in our newly reopened Coffee Shop I can sell alot of the prints... I know for a fact that the majority of busnesses that frequent the coffee shop (ie lawyers, accountants etc.,) would find the print to be something they would like to display in their office, after all it was taken in their location... I just need something to print this perfectly, whether it be Epson or HP I do not know right now, but this is where I am coming from, perhaps that will help....

Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 545 Location: KS - USA

KurtSchneid wrote:

I will have to walk down to the AV shop today to see what professional HP printer they are using thats prints are yellow in a months time.

I'd think that has a lot more to do with the paper used, than the printer. I've used two different HP inkjets (an old 882C and a newer 7260), and the paper quality makes a HUGE difference. I've printed on the budget "200 sheets for $15", and while it's OK for temporary use, that paper does start to yellow, and the ink just doesn't "stick" - it'll rub off.

However, anything I've printed on Kodak premium paper has held up extremely well. I have some family photos at my desk that were printed 3 years ago, and all look just as bright as the day I printed them.

I know - grow up Tim, and get a REAL photo printer. Maybe someday *sigh*....

Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 545 Location: KS - USA

truebrit wrote:

I just need something to print this perfectly, whether it be Epson or HP I do not know right now, but this is where I am coming from, perhaps that will help....

Might just send it to Mpix, Ofoto, or the like - have a print made approximating the size you'd get off one of these larger format printers, and then see if it sells.

If it does - you've made the money to buy the printer, if not, then you're only out $20-30 or less.

Of course, if this is one of those ploys used for She Who Must Be Obeyed, then you're on your own and good luck!!!!

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:54 pm

tundrwd wrote:

I'd think that has a lot more to do with the paper used, than the printer. I've used two different HP inkjets (an old 882C and a newer 7260), and the paper quality makes a HUGE difference. I've printed on the budget "200 sheets for $15", and while it's OK for temporary use, that paper does start to yellow, and the ink just doesn't "stick" - it'll rub off.

However, anything I've printed on Kodak premium paper has held up extremely well. I have some family photos at my desk that were printed 3 years ago, and all look just as bright as the day I printed them.

I know - grow up Tim, and get a REAL photo printer. Maybe someday *sigh*....

That is most likely at least a huge part of the problem. The photo paper next to the HP 20** (something cant remember now) was cheap office max photo paper.

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:17 pm

Pigment based inks are said to outlast dyes. From my experience so far this is the case.

As for the Epson vs. the HP. I have printed with both and still have to say skin tones, color richness, metalic reproductions (cars, chrome, etc.) is stunning, tonal range and contrast is amazing....The HP has improved a great deal, however. But to me, the Epson is still the way to go.

As for reliability, the Epson 2200 I have has been printing customer prints for two years and I yet to have an issue.

BTW.....I used to work for HP.....and bought three Epson photo printers while there.

Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 545 Location: KS - USA

luisv wrote:

Pigment based inks are said to outlast dyes. From my experience so far this is the case.

As for the Epson vs. the HP. I have printed with both and still have to say skin tones, color richness, metalic reproductions (cars, chrome, etc.) is stunning, tonal range and contrast is amazing....The HP has improved a great deal, however. But to me, the Epson is still the way to go.

As for reliability, the Epson 2200 I have has been printing customer prints for two years and I yet to have an issue.

BTW.....I used to work for HP.....and bought three Epson photo printers while there.

Are you using a Continuous Ink System with your 2200?