Buying a printer soon, looking for input.

[newdamage1]

It's time for a new printer here in the home office, our old HP 895 has died. :cry: I have been looking at a few reviews here and on dpreview and Steve's digicams and have a few questions about the actual quality of the prints.

I have been using "Sam's Club" digital photo processing (Fuji, I think) and the prints have been pretty good. My question is, if I buy a $300ish dollar printer am I going to get the same results? I have printed out a few photo's on my dearly departed HP and the results were, let's say, Craptacular. (even with photopaper)

So am I dreaming that I will be able to get HQ results from a home printer?

[timmyquest]

Printers have come a long way in recent years, i think you'd be suprised what new printers can do.

I'm partial to the i960...go to best buy if you can and print a few test pictures.

[FJC]

My wife and I recently bought a Canon i9100 (basically the i960, but much wider, so it can handle up to 13x19). We've been extremely happy with it. Fantastic prints - everyone I show them to has trouble believing they weren't professionally printed.

[ecobo]

I'm using a Canon BJ i550 and it's an incredible value for money. If you print on Canon paper, you cannot distinguish the prints from those processed by a pro-lab without a magnifier. It prints perfect colors even on photo papers, not manifactured by canon (I frequently use Canson Glossy Photo Paper - made in France).
The new version i560 is even much better - it has a drop size of only 2pl and delivers outstanding photo prints. I'll buy one very soon.
Plus, these printers include separate ink tanks that will prevent ink lose.

[newdamage1]

Just got back from BestBuy, printed some test pages from a few beat-up printers on the showroom floor. I did like the i960 (they didn't have a 9100) but it was printing on regular paper.

In your guys opinion, would you say that printing with the "good" paper would make results that would be equal to "pro-processing"? I had the chance to play around with a die-sub printer a few years ago. (like 5 years) and the prints were amazing. Is the "die-sub" process superior to i960 type printers?

Thanks for the responses!
Kelly

[ecobo]

It's so different when you print on photo-dedicated paper - you won't believe this. The photo paper delivers much more saturated colors, high contrast and very, very fine drop spots.
About the Die-Sub printers - they are very good in color transitions, but they also have limited color range. I prefer the colors from a good bubble-jet printer.
If you want the best possible quality (for the highest price on the market), buy an Epson 2200. :lol:

[283CID]

Our printer is likely too 'primitive'... for many users, but I gotta say, the EPSON 860 that my daughter bought me a couple of years ago has been..fabulous. I hope it NEVER quits !!

[chris.bailey]

I have been very happy with the Epson 2100 (2200 in the US) though it and keeping it supplied with ink is not for the faint pocketed :lol:

[tommykjensen]

In my opinon printing Your own photos may be faster and could with the proper printer, paper, ink etc give similar prints as You get from the photo shop. But it is more expensive - at least in Denmark.

I did consider buying a photo printer but have decided not to - would rather use my money on L-glass :lol: . Simply because I can go 500 meter from my home to a photo shop and get prints within 1 hour and they look absolutely stunning and it is cheaper.

[dn7elson]

In my opinon printing Your own photos may be faster and could with the proper printer, paper, ink etc give similar prints as You get from the photo shop. But it is more expensive - at least in Denmark.

From other reports, it sounds like the Denmark and Norway, at least, pay a significant premium on photo papers. Prices have really dropped in the last year in the USA making it much more affordable. The Kodak Premium Photo paper is now available below $0.25US/letter sized sheet in 100 packs at the discount superstores.

[tommykjensen]

In my opinon printing Your own photos may be faster and could with the proper printer, paper, ink etc give similar prints as You get from the photo shop. But it is more expensive - at least in Denmark.

From other reports, it sounds like the Denmark and Norway, at least, pay a significant premium on photo papers. Prices have really dropped in the last year in the USA making it much more affordable. The Kodak Premium Photo paper is now available below $0.25US/letter sized sheet in 100 packs at the discount superstores.

Not to get too much off topic here but generally the prices for just about anything are higher in Denmark ( I can only speak for Denmark). And it does not matter if it is gas, McDonald meals, electronics and You name it. As a really extreme example I have looked at getting the backpack Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II. At B&H it cost $230, if I order it there the price I have to pay increases to $394 (shipment and tax)! If I buy this locally in DK the price will be approx $435 :evil: And the same goes for the Rebel itself, in US $830 in DK currently $1435 and when I bought it $1597 ! Thats why I seriously consider buying the 100-400 L lens if and when I visit Orlando in september. us $1300 DK $2226 :shock: :shock:

[Gerdav43]

I give the thumbs up for the Canon i960. This printer with their photo paper is fantastic. You won't believe your eyes, especially since your coming from a much older printer.

And to 283CID

Our printer is likely too 'primitive'... for many users, but I gotta say, the EPSON 860 that my daughter bought me a couple of years ago has been..fabulous. I hope it NEVER quits !!

You should pray that your Epson 860 quits. I came from there and the i960 is miles ahead in quality. Don't get me wrong, I loved the 860. I had nothing but success with that printer and wowed a lot of people with the pictures I could print, but there is no comparison. On the other hand, if you really like it I could sell you mine. Still works great. Best offer :D

[283CID]

OK... I wrote Canon i960 down.... If her Epson ever craps out, I'll heed your words....

[newdamage1]

We bought the i960 tonight. I'm pretty impressed with the prints. They are darn near "photo-shop" quality. I am having a problem getting the prints to look like my monitor. But I'm still in the process of figuring out why right now. :lol:

Thanks for the input guys. Great printer and a great price. (currently have a $40 rebate on this model)

Kelly

[Gerdav43]

I am having a problem getting the prints to look like my monitor. But I'm still in the process of figuring out why right now.


Slow down there big fella! That's a whole new topic you got going there. A mere search of color management will provide you with thousands of threads to read. :shock: Good Luck and get that cup of coffee going.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Another vote for the Canon "i -9" series :)

I had an i950 and it totally converted me to the worship of Canon printers! Wonderfull machines!

I then moved up to an i9100 wide format.. which has just dropped in price by $200.00!!!!

It is now only $300.00 @ CompUSA :shock:

$300.00 for a printer that handles 13"X19" ? Not bad!

[maderito]

Another vote for the Canon "i -9" series :)

Ditto here, although admittedly, it is hard to go wrong these days with any inkjet in the $150+ price category.

I will always believe that the ultimate expression of photographic work is in the final print. Of all the advances in digital photography in the past decade, the ability today to go from image visualization to final print using reproduction technology that costs only $200 and comfortably fits on my desktop absolutely astonishes me. :o

[dn7elson]

I then moved up to an i9100 wide format.. which has just dropped in price by $200.00!!!!

Must mean that the i9900 is just a few days away. The i990 is already out.

[HKdom]

I agree with what many have already mentioned before, that the higher end Canon's can produce exceptional prints. I have been using an S9000 (older model) for over a year and although it took a little work before I was able to generate good prints, I think the results are on par if not better (in terms of detail) than the lab prints from my area -A3's are stunning- provided your image files are sufficient. Another thing to note is that Canon prints tend to come out best when printed on Canon paper, notably their “Photopaper Pro”... So another thing you might want to consider it the type of paper you may like to print onto. Also, Canon generally spits prints out faster than the Epson, but unless you are in a situation where you need real quick prints, I see this as a non issue.

Again, just my opinion and even though I really like the quality of prints my Canon puts out, I really only consider them high end proofs.

I am seriously contemplating the Epson 2100 / 2200 (depending on where you live) because I am now more concerned with archival life and black and white print quality along with any colour printing I might do. The quality of print is also exceptional. I also like some of the heavy mat papers Epson has on offer so I’m willing to spend a little more for the Epson. -Epson has a $1000HKD (approx $128USD) rebate here so running costs aside, I think I will take the plunge.

[MrEWorm]

The i960 is working fine for me for photos, memo printing, letter printing and other tasks. It is a good workhorse. I was just going to use it for photos but it works so well, I was able to pack up and put away my other printer.

[newdamage1]

Any of you guys have your printers on a (HP) jetdirect? I have a 310x and can't seem to get it to work with this printer. (I can see the JD, I can install the printer, but nothing comes out.)

Any ideas?

Kelly

[newdamage1]

I also just tried a 175x, same result. Are these Cannons not compatable with Jetdirects?

[Boosting1Bar]

I have the Canon i860 and absolutely love it. The prints from it look fantastic and it does text printing quite well without killing the ink supply. That was a big issue for me, it had to do decent photo prints and a good print rate for text printing and stuff. I ended up getting for like $118 so I think I got a GREAT deal! I can only assume the i960 is even better.

[dn7elson]

Canon i9900 information and pricing is up on the Canon website.

[timmyquest]

Canon i9900 information and pricing is up on the Canon website.

It has been for a while, and as soon as i get paid i intend on having it up and working next to my PC :-)

[dn7elson]

It has been for a while, and as soon as i get paid i intend on having it up and working next to my PC :-)

I had seen the i990 before, but not the i9900.

[timmyquest]

It has been for a while, and as soon as i get paid i intend on having it up and working next to my PC :-)

I had seen the i990 before, but not the i9900.

Funny, i hadnt seen the i990 until just the other day :lol:

[andrew1]

Run dont walk to your nearest CompUSA, Canon 9100- $299.99, on their computer when they show you the supposed wholesale, $249.00- is being discontinued, & on their web site shows as $267.00 & sold out.
In store you'll be able to purchase for between 249-267.
A great versitle printer.

Added feature for the most part what you see on the screen is what will print, unlike Epson's which require calbriting the monitor & a lot of hard work.
Andrew

[dicky109]

I'm using a Canon BJ i550 .... If you print on Canon paper, you cannot distinguish the prints from those processed by a pro-lab without a magnifier. The new version i560 is even much better....

I've been using an Epson 1280 for photos for a few years and a separate HP printer for text. When the HP recently died, I picked up the Canon i560 since it only cost me $30 after a bunch of credits & rebates.

While the i560 does print photos, there is no comparison with the Epson. Even on Canon paper, the 560's colors look washed out in comparison. Of course there's a few hundred dollars difference in cost, but, at least in my experience, don't expect to get the results of a pro-lab from this $100 printer! Haven't seen the i960, but have only heard good things about it, & should my Epson die, will take a serious look at it.