Now I'm really confused, what photo quality printer do you use?

[Not4wood]

My Canon Photo IP6700D is Officially Offline. I tried to get inside without breaking anything to try and clear the rollers but no can do. I am now looking for a service tech but I fear its more then the printer is worth and in the long run a new printer will be cheaper.

I was just at Staples tonight and looking at whats currently available. This Staples is a bit larger then the rest in my immediate area and all the printers were of very cheap plastic quality. HP, Epson and Canon, even the larger HP 11X23 printers looked poorly made and the real expensive Pixma Pro 9500 look chincy as well. The 9000 had a listing on the paper work that it also takes 8 inkjet cartridges but when I opened it up it only had 2. A Tri-color and a Black. It didn't look like it had room for other cartridges but I didn't like the overall quality.

With all of the other 8.5X11's listed on the net and then on the shelves I can't tell which one has a better quality then the others. I do see 2 cartridges as well as 4 but none of the other 8.5X11 have 6 anymore.

Now, there are some that are wireless as well as ethernet for system speeds. I dont need this, nor do I need an all in one printer. I just want a document as well as a high quality Photo printer that will last me for a while. I also have seen a bit of bad complaints against the two larger formats from Canon. Seems one complaint was a banding across the shot and the Canon Tech support couldn't figure it out. The other complaint was a blotching of colors and again the Canon Tech couldn't figure it out or cure the problems. Not good for a higher price range. What I also want is a printer that can take the higher quality papers as well. I have a new box of Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl that I only used one sheet to print one photo. Its slightly heavier paper and I would like to use this as well in my new printer.

Now, on the Nikonian site they do recommend the HP 9180 but it is a lot more then I have budgeted for a new printer. I am not going to spend $400 let alone the asking price even with a discount for this monster. $699 at B&H.............. Way too much. Did I say I didn't want to spend that kind of money??? :rolleyes::eek:

Now I was just looking at the HP site and saw this 11X23 HP Photosmart Pro B8350 Photo Printer. Its a little bit cheaper, but I can't figure out about how many cartridges. It says one thing and then if you look real closely, all I see is one tri-color again. Anybody know anything about this printer?? Go here for the HP page: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printer&category=Photosmart&orderflow=1&a1=Format&v1=Wide&product_code=Q8492A%23ABA&catLevel=2

Now from here I was at the HP Photosmart 8750 Professional Photo Printer
(Q5747A#ABA) http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?landing=printer&storeName=storefronts&category=Photosmart&a1=Format&v1=Wide&product_code=Q5747A%23ABA

Now if what is said is true, this might be good printer. Its still a little expensive, but maybe if I can find it discounted or a rebate it would help. I still can't understand the talk about 6 or 9 ink cartridges when I see a tri-color, black, grey and now a blue in this mix.



Any suggestions anyone??

Thanks in advance.

[efarnstrom]

But that said....it is an all-in-one and network ready. I do think it is an ink hog on the photo setting; however, it does have four/five print settings: Automatic, Draft, Normal, and Photo (two settings, one is 1200 dpi, the other 4800 dpi). It has a black and color cartridge and the photo cartridge replaces the black for 4800 dpi.

The one complaint I had about ink availability has just been solved. Staples now carries the true Dell brand. The Staples ink for Dell printers they used to carry created darker/muddy prints.

I'm sure Dell has other photo printers besides this one. Give them a look!

[budman101]

Have you considered farming out your print needs to an online photo service? When I first got back into photography I was all about printing all my pictures at home. To the photographer that grew up in the darkroom that final print was a natural extension to the photographic process. But with digital, the end product is usually not a print, but a digital image stored or shared on an electronic medium. My process now ends with the file after I'm satisfied with the image. I do miss old ways, but digital changes the game. When I do want a print I use my online photo hosting service, SmugMug to do the printing. The prints are as good (or better) than the ones I can make at home on my Canon IP6700. Also, now there is the flexibility to change the paper texture to more types than I would stock at home. The photos I get back from SmugMug have never disappointed me. And if you don't like them you send them back for a re-do or refund. I don't want to ramble but a few final thoughts, can you do a 16x20 on the Canon? AND SmugMug's PM tank never runs out at 2AM. If my printer were to die I would just get an the inexpensive one for 'proofs' and send the 'keepers' to be printed as I do now.

[ljameso1]

Unless you plan to do a lot of serious B&W artwork probably don't need a printer with multiple blacks or gray. Narrow your search by determining which printers are compatible with your computer(they aren't all). That being said I purchased the Canon 9000 a couple months ago and have been very impressed with the print quality the additional color inks provide.

[Tom K]

Hi Mark,

For what it's worth, I am waiting for delivery on a new Epson R800. It
takes 8 ink cartridges - bought it from Epson direct..

Tom :)

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi,

You said that a Canon printer: "I also have seen a bit of bad complaints against the two larger formats from Canon. Seems one complaint was a banding across the shot and the Canon Tech support couldn't figure it out." I have a Canon S9000. Banding is caused by print on Photo Glossy paper with the Plain Paper setting.

The current replacement for the S9000 is the Pixma Pro9000. Its street price runs from $400 to $450. I use Ilford Gallerie paper most of the time and it works well on my printer.

Good Luck,

Bob

[Inspeqtor]

You may want to go to the Epson site and look at their clearance sale items. (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccHome.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=0)
They guarantee these items same as new. One person I know bought a scanner this way. When he got it, it looked brand new to him, not a scratch anywhere and you save money.

[Not4wood]

Wow, thanks all.

To answer a few questions or statements:

I have used 2 online photo printers. Both were good and cheaper that I felt I could have done on my own especially the larger sizes. The final prints were delivered in 2 days by UPS. I also agree with the fact that they have other papers then I would have on hand.

Tom, I have seen the R800 but thought the price was a little high considering the 1400 is a bit cheaper and the 1800 is about the same.

There have been a couple of mentions of the Pixma 9000 as well. It does look good but I am now having a real problem trying to convince the wife about any kind of Photo Quality Printer with a large price tag after all the money I have spent on my Nikon, tripod and backpack. LOL

My Canon IP6700D as a great photo printer as it is, was only $149 when I bought it from Staples many years ago. It has 6 cartridges and I've never had a problem with it till now. Which makes me flip........... :D

Printing:
I agree since I have spent my fair share of darkroom time, that printing on my own is an extension of the photographic digital process and since we are talking not a lot of pennies after the initial cost of the printer vs the online houses I would rather print them myself. The Online printers are still cheaper including the shipping charges. In case I want to make any kind of color correction or change I can just do it in a matter of seconds instead of waiting the 2 days UPS shipping charges. Its always more convinient to do it yourself. Right now, If I want anything I am forced to go the way of the Online Printers and I never liked to be forced to do anything. It gets on my nerves real fast. :D

BTW, Here are the two links of the Online services I have used and I highly recommend both of them. Depending on where you live the delivery times will vary. Check the assorted photo papers available as well....

www.mpix.com (http://www.mpix.com)
http://www.elcocolor.com/

Thanks everybody for your great answers. I will have to figure this out.

[ljameso1]

Mark, Clearly you need to entice your wife into the hobby:D.

[Not4wood]

Haha,

I've tried a lot thru the years. But................

I did something tonight, that not only put me in such good graces (I almost spelled grasses LOL) that in return for me going above and beyond what is outstanding behavior. In return would you believe I actually mentioned a brand new Photo Quality Printer. She did blink and didn't really think I was serious. But as devious as I am I really meant it... :eek:

AND, I am not going to let her forgot it either...........

So, I actually might just get one of those 1400 big dig printer with a roller attachement in the back for a cheaper price of paper... Oh my!!!
To quote, I actually started to sing "Alices Restaurant with the big 8X10 Glossy". I do know I am dating myself. :rolleyes:

Come on y'all, you know the words...
You can get anything you want, at Alices Restaurant.................

[astumper]

Not4wood, i use a epson 1400 every day. it will handle the galerie paper very well. i hope this helps.

[LeeOtsubo]

...all the printers were of very cheap plastic quality. HP, Epson and Canon, even the larger HP 11X23 printers looked poorly made and the real expensive Pixma Pro 9500 look chincy as well...
...Any suggestions anyone??

Thanks in advance.
If you want bulletproof, built-like-a-tank, American-made quality, I have a Kodak dye-sublimation printer that produces outstanding prints at the rate of 1 print/8 seconds. I'd be happy to let you have it for $1500, delivered to your door. I'll even throw in a $180 media kit that's good for 750 4x6 prints.

[Not4wood]

If you want bulletproof, built-like-a-tank, American-made quality, I have a Kodak dye-sublimation printer that produces outstanding prints at the rate of 1 print/8 seconds. I'd be happy to let you have it for $1500, delivered to your door. I'll even throw in a $180 media kit that's good for 750 4x6 prints.

Haha, in a small one bedroom apartment. I don't have room for one Epson R1400. My wife would throw me and the printer out for that much money. But, thanks anyway for the generous offer.

[deedeeO]

Hi,
I have the HP8750 and love it.... It uses 3 tri-color cartridges (one tri color, one photo tri color and one tri grey color (which can also be substituted for the tri blue). I use it all the time for my own marketing materials, my own print jobs and small jobs. But I'm considering on upgrading to the Pro B9180 so that I can do fine art printing...
But for most of my printing (85%) I outsource.
HPs service contracts are good too (very reasonable pricing - highly recommended). I've had the 8750 malfunction 2x, and with each call, they send a new one the next day to replace it. Don't ask what was wrong...sounded a motor drive thing...who knows. But after finally working out the kinks, I've had mine now for 1.5 years without a hitch.

[deedeeO]

By the way, I bought my 8750 on ebay for $350.... just make sure you know the resource otherwise it will really miss up trying to a service contract.

[Not4wood]

Thats the only thing I didn't like about the 8750, the Tri-color cartridges. I feel that single color cartridges can be replaced easier when one color runs out.

Thanks everybody, I just picked up the HP PHotosmart D7360 with a 6 ink cartridge configuration. Now, I just need to hook it up and I'm all set.

[lexcell]

Great input everyone. Buying a printer is almost like buying a camera. There are so many choices out there and we all have different needs.

I would go to the Canon and Epson websites and find the printers they offer that do what you want/need within your budget (or a little bit higher) and compare the specifications, ink cartridge use, etc.

You are right to be concerned with ink cartridges that have more than one ink. You will end up wasting alot of ink and money in the long run with these types since you have to replace the cartridge when only one ink runs out.

If you want true photo and archival quality, spend the little bit extra and get the best printer you can afford. As you pointed out, your Canon lasted many years. Over the life of the printer and compared to the amount you paid, it really is not that expensive.

I personally use Epson printers and I sell the images from these printers...they are that good. I know several professional photographers who use the Canon printers as well.

Once you narrow down the features and prices to your needs, the selection becomes more manageable and I think you will find it fairly easy to choose a good printer

[Not4wood]

I hooked up my new HP Photosmart D7360 and I'm very surprised/impressed.

Setup was very fast and easy.
I have made several test prints, looks exactly like my Calibrated Monitor and also I just found out that Ilford does list this 7360 as one of the printers for its download ICC Profiles. I can now use my box of Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl. Very good quality and just as good if not exactly the same quality as my old Canon.

I now have a question for the people who have the "All In One" printers. Can you also copy or scan Transparencies? I have some 35mm slides, as well as some transparencies from my old 4x5 that I would like to now play with in PE5. Does anybody know if this is possible? I have a friend who has an HP L7680 all in one but they don't know if it can do the old chromes. I don't have enough transparencies to justify buying a special scanner for this.

Laurie,
As a side note, can you let us know how your trip went? We are curious because we couldn't be there. LOL

[PAtony]

I'm not sure about Nikon recommending HP because they use to recommend Epson. I guess it depends on what model printer they recommend. I used to use Canon printers and when the last one died I said no more Canon's. They were loud and noisy and took a long time loading the file for printing.
I really like my Epson R1800. It uses 8 carts. and prints on Cd's. I can't tell how many clients eyes openned a little wider when I gave them their work on a printed Cd. The ink and blank printable Cd's are always available at Office Depot. The photos from this printer are great but you have to tweeck the preferences for the paper manufacture. I also order my R1800 direct from Epson as a factory recondishioned printer and saved 1/2 over a new one-and it can with full carts. Most printers come with only 1/3 full carts. so you have to run out and get new ink carts. after a few prints.
I was going to buy the smaller print size Epson R800 but opted to get a printer that printed 11 x 17 prints, a real eye opener. The R800 also prints on Cd's. Both printers were upgraded this year - lighter pure Red and pure Blue inks & better BW prints - so I think the older models will be going on sale big time soon.
You really can't go wrong with Epson. The ink is suppose to last 100 years, out of the sun, but I have one enlargement getting southern light for three years straight with no lost of color what so ever.;)