So you want to Buy A Photo. Which Printer!?

[Visuals]

Would you want it be printed on based on quality that you've seen?
Of course most consumers will never know what printer there photos are printed on. But we as "photographers" :D :D can choose our printers

I am having problems choosing a printer. I don't care for anything over
8.5 x 11 But I want the prints to Look Professional because I plan to use it for income. What printer will do just that while keeping cost down?

Canon ip4000?
ip5000?
ip8500?

Kodak Sub dye printers (8500) or (1400)?

Any HP Printers?

Any input would be appreciated.

Cheers~

[etaf]

i have a hi-touch 730PS only prints to 8"x6" so may not be big nough for you, i have had canon and still have a HP printers {for the odd occasion i need A4 size} and i can say this is the best printer i have used. Excellent results 1st time - and i would be very happy to sell any of these prints.....
the ones off my canon I was always a little troubled by how long they would last..... and often found i printed a couple of times before i was completely happy with the result.....

you can get sample prints sent and infact if you supply an image they will print that for you

[neil_r]

I FTP mine to the lab and have them on photo paper.

N

[Maureen Souza]

I am personally an Epson fan. Both the printers and the papers.

[clipper_from_oz]

check out the top of the range epsons....mostly used by photographers selling prints

[gmen]

But I want the prints to Look Professional because I plan to use it for income. What printer will do just that while keeping cost down?As Neil says, you may find you can maximise your profitability and quality by using a good lab rather than a home inkjet for sales.

A good printer can be useful for fulfilling on-site orders - but I use a lab for everything else.

---- Gavin

[Sindri Skulason]

I think you should check out the new range of Canon printers with ChromaLife100 system. I just bought the IP5200 and the photo quality is just stunning.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=117&modelid=11993

[joekr]

I recently purchased an r1800 and I love it...

[PhotosGuy]

If you live in the US or Canada, do a quick search on Costco. Here's a link to get you started:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=107854&highlight=Costco

EDIT: Seems that search results can't be saved!

[Visuals]

Thanks for your input guys

Gmen: Thats interesting you said that the Lab may be more effecient and cost effective does anybody use the lab to print there work? The only reaons why I woudn't use a lab is because when I print large prints they will probably charge like $15 to $20 bucks when I can print them myself.

Joekr:
I am currently doing reviews on the R1800.. Reading good things so far. I am interested in printing really exceptional B&W's as well as photos. How is your experience with it thus far? What paper do you use? Have you tried ILford paper?


Finally~
Do you guys think I should kinda wait. Canon is way cheaper (i9900) do you think they will be releasing a new Wide Format printer with Croma Ink?
Would get the IP5200 but I want to be able to print larger format and fine art photos~


Thanks guys
There's no better place for advice~

[gmen]

Gmen: Thats interesting you said that the Lab may be more effecient and cost effective does anybody use the lab to print there work? The only reaons why I woudn't use a lab is because when I print large prints they will probably charge like $15 to $20 bucks when I can print them myself.Have a read of Frank's threads posted above for an idea of US prices.

In the UK my lab charges under £5 for a superb 15" x 10" print - with great quantity discounts too... something you won't get from an inkjet :)

---- Gavin

[neil_r]

As i said previously, always use the lab, great results, true archive quality and cost effective to boot.

N

[PhotosGuy]

The only reaons why I woudn't use a lab is because when I print large prints they will probably charge like $15 to $20 bucks when I can print them myself. The local pro lab produces a 8.5X11" print for $21US. Costco sells an 12"X18" print for $2.99US & you can make 2- 9X12" prints out of it.

[imchillindave]

A local photography store in Little Rock, Arkansas charges $4 for a 8x10 and about $8 for 11x14. I know many people have mixed feelings about Wal-Mart, but they actually do very decent prints for a very cheap price. I talked to another local lab and they said it's cheaper even for them to process the pictures on photo paper than it is to use a printer. The ink costs more than the photo processing.

[Zepher]

I use the Kodak 8500's, but it comes out to almost $2USD/print for the paper and ribbon.
Pictures are amazing and it's pretty quick, less than 2 minutes spooling and printing.
I use the Kodaks only for onsite printing when the clients get the pics that night.

[KinkySmith]

The best quality photo prints you can get at home at the moment on the size you require is on the epson stylus photo r800. It has a wider color gamut than any printer available by any other brand due to the inks it uses.

As well as the usual cyan, magenta, and yellow inks; this printer also uses a red and a blue ink cartridge. It also gives you a choice between two black inks; photo black; and matte black; which you would use depending on the shot and the paper you were using. It also uses a clear gloss optimizing liquid, which is printed over highlight areas to improve overall gloss consistentcy. When a normal printer goes lo lay down a pure highlight area, it just does nothing; it just leaves that part of the page blank. ie it lays down no ink. When this printer does a highlight it lays down a clear ink that has the same brightness as all the other inks, so there is no discrepence between glossiness values. no matter what anyone will tell you it is scientifically impossible for any comparible printer in price and size to give you anywhere the quality that this printer can. it also utilises 1.5 picolitre droplets which not many comparible printers can match.

You can not beat this printer. It uses the same inks as the huge a1 size(about 1m by 1.5m) epson printers which are in exces of 8 grand. The only real difference is the size.

do yourself a favour and get the R800. i dont work for epson or know anyone who does, i just want to see the best work out there from the gallery to the loungeroom. if canon or hp come up with something better ill switch to it, but for the mean time this printer is the best a4(8 by 11) inkjet photo printer you can get.

You can literally see the differenc.

[Nidz]

I personally like Epson too but remember you get what you pay for.

[Tancor]

Personally, I print on my Pictrography 3500 for 8x10's, and my epson for smaller or full bleed prints.

-Tony

[RandyMN]

I would just send them to a lab unless your shots are the kind that need to be framed. For that i am experimenting with the Epson 2400 and different types of paper, and so far I am quite pleased.

Problem is that I just purchased a new set of ink cartidges that cost me 140.00.

It sucks when you are experimenting and nothing gets framed! But it's all about control... Compare what you get by using a photo lab compared to printing them yourself. Also, compare the cost.

If I were out to make money I would use a lab.

[Snapman]

I would just send them to a lab unless your shots are the kind that need to be framed. For that i am experimenting with the Epson 2400 and different types of paper, and so far I am quite pleased.

Problem is that I just purchased a new set of ink cartidges that cost me 140.00.

It sucks when you are experimenting and nothing gets framed! But it's all about control... Compare what you get by using a photo lab compared to printing them yourself. Also, compare the cost.

If I were out to make money I would use a lab.
I'm of the opinion that printer manufacturers such as Epson sell them cheap because they then make so much profit on the ink cartridges which are so much overpriced :evil:

I've now moved away from Epson because they seem to be greedier than the others such as Canon.

[etaf]

I'm of the opinion that printer manufacturers such as Epson sell them cheap because they then make so much profit on the ink cartridges which are so much overpriced
very true, that is where the profit is..........and the reason they go to great lenghts to try and stop 3rd party inks from the market. I have seen some prints using 3rd party ink and they are just as good sometimes better......
Canon do not replace the printhead every time you buy ink and so you pay just for a small refill of ink on there single bottles, and then if you need a new printhead you can buy these seperately.....
My canon produced about 600 A4 prints with the same printhead and quality.....
I just replaced my neighbours printhead, as he had a spare, because of a blocked nozzell after 2years of printing photos most days.....

pays your money take you choice, i guess,
thats why in the end I went for the fixed cost hi-Ti dye-sub printer, no messing about, do i want a picture yes, bang out it comes correct size, correct colour, first time, fixed price...... job done..........

[PhotosGuy]

I'm of the opinion that printer manufacturers such as Epson sell them cheap because they then make so much profit on the ink cartridges which are so much overpriced Did you ever notice that the ink cartridges that come with the printer hold about half the ink that they put in the replacement cartridges?
re: "sell them cheap". Here they give them away. When I bought the new computer, the printer was an add-on. $50 with a $50 rebate!