Why buy a printer?

[Spinners]

I have been reading all the posts on printers and such and i am wondering..

Is it really cheaper to print your own pics? i mean i can print a 4x6 at walmart for 29 cents. an 8x10 for 2.30 So someone tell me how i can print a 4x6 or 8x10 cheaper than that at home. Ink is expensive, last i checked. So whats the reasoning.. what am i missing everyone!! Besides convenience. :)

[defordphoto]

This is one reason: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15610

But, I just like having full control over what I produce. I don't track cost-per-picture so I have no idea how much per photo it really costs me, nor do I really care as I am not mass producing.

[Spinners]

I guess i can understand that. I have'nt test driven any of the newer printers on the market lately.. I cant seem to believe that you couldnt tell a printers printout apart from a true picture that was developed traditionally.

how does one duplicate the matte finish? do you actually buy the same paper?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Creative Control is the number one reason,...

...and quite frankly it is a little bit cheaper. I have yet to buy any paper that is $2.00 a sheet! And my Ink tanks are holding up to an awefull lot of full size prints so far.

[clos]

I am in the same boat.

Don't ink jet prints have a short shelf life compared to ones processed through a Lab or in Walmart's case a Fuji Frontier printer? I know you can reprint but what a hassle and there goes any cost savings.

With the Fuji Frontier System I can have them "send it directly to the printer" without any manipulations. Since I have the ICC profile, I get exactly what I see on my monitor thus achieving total creative control.

The only reason I see in getting one is for the convenience of being able to instantly print. Other than that I just don't get it either.

I know I am missing something here since so many people swear by them so please school me. Otherwise I am saving the $$ for an Canon L Class lens.;)

-Clos

[defordphoto]

clos wrote:
Don't ink jet prints have a short shelf life compared to ones processed through a Lab or in Walmart's case a Fuji Frontier printer?

In most cases yes, but the high end Epsons claim 75 year color fastness, when using the proper paper of course. I have a herd of printers at my house, most of them HP's, but I have an Epson 2200 and that baby's pretty sweet for printing straight photos. Printing 13x19 in my own home is pretty cool and probably costs me about $2.25 a page at best, including ink.

But, then again, you can spray any inkjet photo with a photographic lacquer, which has UV protection, place that baby under glass and that can last 15-20 years...Maybe -- I don't have any lab tests to prove that, but I did a few prints like that with HP's water soluble ink, sprayed it with the lacquer and they still display well. That was a few years ago...

[msvirick]

In my school days I had a room, all darkened to process black and white prints. Today I have the same spirit to do prints myself. That made me buy a Canon i90 printer.

[mapdealer]

Plus, no more stinky fixer fingers!!

What about inks? Are non name brand ink cartridges a whole lot worse than canon brand ink?

[rodbunn]

I have a "Costco" near me ant they print with a Fuji printer (Actual photo's not ink) on Fuji paper (matte or
glossey) for 19cents ea. You can't print them that cheap. YOu can tweak the pics first and bring them in on a CD. 5x7's are 90 cents and 8x12's are 1.99.

They are real photos don't forget. If you don't need
the convienence then Costco (if you have one).

Also, say you want 200 prints from the same file,
they charge 15 cents ea. Also if you want 400 or more
prints they are 10 cents ea. There is no way you would
even print 400 photos on your printer! These prices
are great for Wedding Invitaion photo's like if you
you want to send a 4x6 in the invitation envelope.....

Good luck, Rod

[John_T]

Amazing. I don't think these two worlds are going to meet.

I only print a fraction of what I shoot, but when I do print something, I want it to come out precisely as I want it to, on the paper that suits the subject, in the size that suits the application and in the colors that suit me. All under my own hands.

I wouldn't spend a penny on a lab print just to have one in a box, I've got stacks of those from film. But I would spend a fortune to get what I want on the wall or in someone's hands who appreciates it.

I've got 400 Giga for the rest, and with a tap on the mouse I can look at any to my heart's content. Down to the last pixel, they look better on the screen anyway...

[SoCal69]

mapdealer wrote:
What about inks? Are non name brand ink cartridges a whole lot worse than canon brand ink?

I have just started using IMS refill inks which are available from Costco. It comes with Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black (plus an extra Black), Photo Cyan and Photo Magenta. I have a Canon s750 with the four ink tanks. The refill kit will fill each cartridge about 10 times (I'm guessing as I haven't gone through all the ink yet). I haven't noticed any difference in the final prints (granted, I am not a professional -- strictly amateur), although they may not last as long in the long run. However, for everyday 4x6 prints and prints for family and friends, its perfect. Total cost for the kit is under $17.00.