Epson 4800 - do you get ink with that?

[I Simonius]

When you buy the Epson 4800, does it come with ink cartridges included?

[Jon]

Most prionters do come with enough ink to get you hooked. Then you spend more on the first refill than you paid for the whole printer.

[I Simonius]

Most prionters do come with enough ink to get you hooked. Then you spend more on the first refill than you paid for the whole printer.

most do yeah, but the whole set for te 4800 is £300 so I wondered...

[lostdoggy]

According to B&H site its included:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=385014&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

[SuzyView]

Whatever printer I buy (I have 5 now), I always look at how many and how much each cartridge costs because that determines the real cost of printing photos.

[MDJAK]

Well, perhaps I can answer that question, as I own the 4800, and previously owned the 4000.

According to the documentation, it only comes with starter cartridges. They are the 110ml size, as opposed to the 220ml size that you can get.

It takes about 20 minutes of flipping levers upon setting up the printer for the ink to charge the lines, and this takes about half of the ink out of the cartridges.

That said, I've been using the printer now for about six months and have yet to run out of ink on any cartridge. It is probably one of the most efficient and economical printers to run.

I also won an auction on ebay selling the 220ml cartridges. All had an expiration date at least a year in advance. These cartridges delivered from B&H, including tax and shipping, approaches $800 U.S. I won the auction for $340.

Go to this link to see a spreadsheet and detailed writeup of the cost of printing with this printer.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/4800%20tracking.shtml

The cost of printing is compared to the 4000 and is found to be more economical.

I previously owned the Canon S900, a fine printer, capable of 13x19 inch prints.
This printer was fast and excellent; however, used ink like crazy.

mark

[Digital_Duck]

HUH?? nearly $800.00 for ink?

Whoa! Thats a bit of coin!
In 6 months - how much have you printed on the 4800? ... what was a typical size?

I was humoring an idea to do photo wall murals ... but it sounds like a few test runs would eat my lunch!

How is the ink usage of that compared to the Epson Stylus Pro 7800?

[MDJAK]

If you read what I said carefully, the ink can be had on ebay for less than half the retail price. Also, those ink cartridges are the size of a paperbook novel and a half. In six months of printing, using the smaller cartridges (110ml), I would say I've printed over 25 17x24 prints and have yet to run out. And that is usually at 2800 DPI or 1440 4 pass.

You can't compare this large format printer to a smaller model. It is much more economical.

As to a comparison to the 7800, I wish I knew the answer to that as I would love to own it.

mark

[MDJAK]

Here is a link to an auction on ebay for the 110 ml cartridges. This is the size that comes with the printer. These cartridges should last six months to a year or more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Epson-Brand-4800-Ultrachrome-K3-Ink-Cartridges_W0QQitemZ300023444140QQihZ020QQcategory Z32791QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The retail price of these delivered by B&H, which offers a discount on these, is: $486.00.

mark

[The Limey]

Whatever printer I buy (I have 5 now), I always look at how many and how much each cartridge costs because that determines the real cost of printing photos.
Suzy are you printing money on all those?:lol: :lol:
Graham

[SuzyView]

Suzy are you printing money on all those?
Graham

You'd think!;) I have 4 computers on my first floor, there are 4 of us at home now and I don't like the arguments about who has the right to be on the computer first and for how long. So, I have 4 computers with 4 printers, and an Epson 1280 that I reserve for large prints. I wear many hats and sometimes, I'm using 3 printers at a time. It's really sad.

[coreypolis]

yes it comes with a full set of 110m cartridges, though you have to put about 1/3 into the piping, and as mentioned, it requires a lot of initial setup. The 220s are great, but you have to print a lot of pictures to use them up before the ink goes bad.

I've had my 4800 since october and used up the itial, and 1 full set.

Go to www.atlex.com for supplies, by far the cheepest place to get more

[coreypolis]

Its big by the way, in case you haven't seen it. I got my stand from Ikea, a modular unit you can custom build, for like $130, about a third of the cost of the Epson stand.

Get somebody else to help you with it, I hurt my back lifting it around the house.

Here's my cost breakdown, with supplies including shipping from atlex.com, using ilford galleries smooth peral, 16"x100' paper and genuine epson 110ml cartridges



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/pic1.jpg




some shots for the sheer size of it



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/IG3Q7475.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/IMG_2173.jpg

[FlashZebra]

You might also want to read this nice price comparison with the Epson 2400 and the 4800,where the large amount of ink you get with the 4800 is included in the cost breakdown..

http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2006/04/digital-myth-1-pro-printers-are-more.html

Enjoy! Lon

[Digital_Duck]

If you read what I said carefully, the ink can be had on eBay for less than half the retail price. Also, those ink cartridges are the size of a paperbook novel and a half. In six months of printing, using the smaller cartridges (110ml), I would say I've printed over 25 17x24 prints and have yet to run out. And that is usually at 2800 DPI or 1440 4 pass.

You can't compare this large format printer to a smaller model. It is much more economical.

As to a comparison to the 7800, I wish I knew the answer to that as I would love to own it.

mark

I appreciate your reiteration of the point that it was purchased on EBay ...

being an eBay user as well - I have missed items that were not available after that one item was gone - like a passenger side mirror (NIB) for a 1970 Cadillac which I missed :rolleyes: ...

Apparently I missed a reference to an Ebay store that had this item on a regular basis...

... my bad!

As for the :arrow: 7800 - that would be nice!

I like the 24 inch print ability!

... but ... then for me it would be 36 inch ... and if only it were a 48 inch ... and so on ...

Of course a full set of "L" lenses to make the printed media better ... and then there are the ....

No one can ever fully keep up with the marketing and available NEW options ...

[I Simonius]

Its big by the way, in case you haven't seen it.



wow! that IS large!

thanks for all the info - much appreciated:D