Best printer for G2?

[ronitcris@msn.com]

Help!! I am getting my G2 soon and need to know the best but not the most costly printer you have experienced with this camera. Also, I have searched this forum and could not find anyone who liked the CF card by Viking 128mb or 256mb. Anyone? thanks Ronit (NJ)

[dn7elson]

ronitcris@msn.com wrote:
Help!! I am getting my G2 soon and need to know the best but not the most costly printer you have experienced with this camera.

I am not sure that you will find a universal definition of what the "best" printer might be. It depends upon what your needs are, how you will use it, budget, etc. I have an HP970c that I am extremely happy with (newer model is HP990c). It prints 8 1/2 x 11 color prints without banding and true to original in color. It does sometimes put a fine scratch or two along the surface of the print, likely the result of the paper path route and is not readily apparent unless you really look at the print with oblique light. It does not print "borderless" prints, although you can always trim to make so.

If printing up to 13"x19" is desired, I would take a look at the Canon9000. It will print some sizes borderless and its paper path is less likely to scratch as it is more straight through than the HP's 180 degree turn-around.

...could not find anyone who liked the CF card by Viking 128mb or 256mb.

I am using CF from Crucial Technologies, along the the SDRAM in my PC. They are the memory sub of Micron Computers and I have been very satisfied with everything I have purchased from them. The 128MB CF for the G2 is about US$55 with free shipping (I just ordered another two of them). I do not recall what the shipping was for international orders. They are offering a free bundled MGI Photosuite 4.0 with the 128MB CF at this time.

http://www.crucial.com

[CornMonkey]

i have a canon s820 and it is simply amazing. borderless printing for both 4x6 and 8.5x11 are crisp and bright. my friend has a hp 940 and he's planning on upgrading to the canon s820 after looking at my prints.

i paid a hefty $250 after the g2/printer rebate thing for my s820 but i think it's worth it.

[datawatch99]

CornMonkey wrote:
i have a canon s820 and it is simply amazing. borderless printing for both 4x6 and 8.5x11 are crisp and bright. my friend has a hp 940 and he's planning on upgrading to the canon s820 after looking at my prints.

i paid a hefty $250 after the g2/printer rebate thing for my s820 but i think it's worth it.


I agree, I bought a Canon S820 after owning several HP's, and I am very happy with it. Most people cannot tell the difference between film and my digital images when I show them 4x6 prints from this printer.

I did have a few problems when the printer was brand new, on 8x11 shots. Sometimes there would be an inch long black streak that looked like the black ink tank spilled on the paper. This only happend on 8x11's, and only when they had a lot of black in them to start with. the problem has since gone away, though. About 5 shots were ruined like this. Now, for the past 50 or so shots, there have been no problems. I attribute this initial problem to a full black ink tank that must have had some spillage or something.

The boarderless printing is awsome, the 4x6 shots look like they came from a lab. It will do 8x11 boarderless too, although, most of those I frame anyway, so I dont really need them to be boarderless.

Its faster and quieter than all three HP's I own, and the fact this printer uses 5 inks makes for great flesh tones. The color reproduction is good, but a little darker than what I see on my monitor, but I attribute this to my lack of experience setting up color profiles for monitor/printer. I just automatically increase the gamma by 5% now, just before I print them, and have been very pleased.

I think you would be happy with this printer, the ink and paper costs are less than most other 'photo' printers. If you need speed for production reasons, go with the S9000, its the same printer, just faster.

[Lance]

my epson 1290 rocks... ability to use large format (A3) is unreal and no where near as expensive as I first thought. The panoramas are unbelievable and the quality of the prints are amazing, the only downfall is my ability.

Certainly cant go wrong with one of these puppies!

Good luck
Lance
www.pbase.com/dug/

[Oh_Heck]

I recently bought a G2 camera. Of course I wanted a nice printer, and did a good deal of research. The one I came home with was the Canon S9000. All I can say is, breathtaking output. Can do borderless printing without having to buy the special paper(perforated), and does up to 13"x19" prints. Quality is just stunning.

I'm glad I found these forums. Plan on me pickin your brains folks. ;) I want to put this G2 to work!

[Mind Socket]

Can the s9000 do panoramas (ie upwards of 60")? I get the impression it can from some other forums, but there doesn't seem to be a really really definitive answer.

[sjoseph]

Viking has good reviews. I use a Kingston 256 for my G2. Works great.

[anthony]

Mind Socket wrote:
Can the s9000 do panoramas (ie upwards of 60")? I get the impression it can from some other forums, but there doesn't seem to be a really really definitive answer.

No, it can't. According to its specs and the review I read it is limited to 19" long. I'll verify that personally tonight if I can get mine to install, which it refused to do last night. The Epsons take roll paper and can do, I believe, up to 40". My HP 732 would take banner paper, but I could never get it to print onto a piece of panaroma paper.

[TeamSpeed]

How many 4x6 can you print on one batch of ink? Does the Canon use individual ink wells?

[Oh_Heck]

The canon does have seperate ink cartridges for each color(Six cartridges in all). As for the yield, not sure yet..I just started workin on my first set of cartridges. I'll keep track of it.

[ronitcris@msn.com]

How does the Cannon S9000 compare to other printers? I am afraid to spend less and compromise quality...thanks Ronit

[D60wannabe]

HP Photosmart HP100......simply awesome! Only 4X6, wallet and contact sheet but then again only $180. The quality is just great though........

Paul

[Oh_Heck]

Check out these sites for reviews on the Canon s9000 versus its competitor, the Epson 1280..

http://www.techtv.com/products/hardware/story/0,23008,3373429,00.html

(you may need to cut and paste the above link in a new window in order to get to it.)


Also, Steve's Digicam site also has a very good review on it as well.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/canon_s9000.html

[Oh_Heck]

Just noticed you have two printer request threads going ;). Saw your response there. I will tell you, it is worth the money. After that first print you'll be thinking to yourself "Man, I used to pay people to develop pictures like this..."