Which Printer ?

[mikeg]

Hi all,

I wanna buy a new printer but I don't know which one ....

Should I a canon printer ? Are Canon printers optimized for canon digicams ?

I own a D30 and I just wanna know what you guys are using ...

Thanks for your inputs


MikeG

[Morden]

Should I a canon printer ? Are Canon printers optimized for canon digicams ?

I own a D30 and I just wanna know what you guys are using ...
I don't know about being 'optimized', but I do get great results from my D60 images on my Canon S9000. It's much, much faster than my older Epson 1270 too!

One thing that does make Canon printers 'suitable' for use with Canon cameras is the nice way that some of the associated Canon software is 'aware' of the set up. For example, when I added the S9000 to my kit, Canon's PhotoRecord application (which I use for a lot of my photo printing) suddenly gained an extra option on the "Print Modes" dialog box - "Use Canon Borderless Printing".

I hope that this helps.

[dadsgm]

I have been using an HP 952c Desk Jet and get wonderful prints on Canon or Kodak Ultima paper.

I tried a Canon printer but found problems with using any other papers but Canon. Pictures just were not as sharp and could see ink dots. The canon worked wonderfully when used with Canon papers.

Decided I wanted tthe option to choose papers upon their availability and Canon papers are hard to find in the Indianapolis area.

[Roger_Cavanagh]

How much you wanna spend?

What Digital Camera (UK mag) have just published their 2002 Awards issue. The winner was:

Canon BJS900 "Combining six ink technology with the fastest print head around the S900 can produce superb quality A4 prints in about a minute. A record yet to be beaten."

Runners up:

Epson Stylus 950 Photo "Giving outstanding print quality and CD labelling print quality, the Epson 950 is a stunning printer."

Epson Stylus Photo 2100: "The pro's choice, if you need the absolute best A3 B/W prints, the Epson 2100 produces prints as close to traditional fibre prints yet seen."

Me, if was I was buying now, I'd want the 2100 to replace my 2000.

Regards,

[Longwatcher]

Since buying my D60, I use the Canon S9000 with both Canon and Kodak Paper (Ultima and Premium). I also use the Canon inks (versus third party). I have gotten very good reults so far on photo paper, although I do tend to get banding on plain paper. The only time I have gotten banding on photo paper is when the software was set for plain paper, draft mode and I forgot to change it back to the correct paper.

I use the Kodak paper, because I could get it slightly cheaper and in both Glossy and Satin finish (which makes outstanding prints). The only anomaly I have found is printing a black and white print. I had to color correct by adding red to compensate for a cyan tint in the prints on Kodak paper. That said, I have not used a similiar Canon paper to see if it does the same thing or not.

However, I have used Canon's Matte paper, because I bought some thinking it was a photo matte finish instead of high-resolution plain paper on heavy paper stock. This resulted in a color correct B+W print although a little contrasty. I am out of Canon glossy paper (except for larger formats (11x17 and 13x19) which I don't want to waste just to experiment with), so can't compare.

The speed of the S9000 is outstanding for use in shooting and then printing results quickly. handy for mass portrait sessions.

I am probably biased in favor of Canon printers as I am on number 3 (BJC-600, BJC-5100, and now S9000), but am quite pleased with the S9000.

[mikeg]

Roger_Cavanagh wrote:
How much you wanna spend?

What Digital Camera (UK mag) have just published their 2002 Awards issue. The winner was:

Canon BJS900 "Combining six ink technology with the fastest print head around the S900 can produce superb quality A4 prints in about a minute. A record yet to be beaten."

Runners up:

Epson Stylus 950 Photo "Giving outstanding print quality and CD labelling print quality, the Epson 950 is a stunning printer."

Epson Stylus Photo 2100: "The pro's choice, if you need the absolute best A3 B/W prints, the Epson 2100 produces prints as close to traditional fibre prints yet seen."

Me, if was I was buying now, I'd want the 2100 to replace my 2000.

Regards,




For the moment, I've got an Epson 880 and the problem I've (and it seems to be the same problem with all epson printers) is that I don't print not very often. So the ink dries up and I get crappy results.
That's why I don't wanna take another epson printer. It seems that canon doesn't have that kind of problem.
(correct me if I'm wrong)

For the price, I can afford a S900 printer ( 440 Euro here in Belgium)

But I recently saw that the S900 was introduced in october 2001 in Japan. Don't you think this printer is "pretty outdated" ?
And on top of this, I saw new printers capable of 4800 or even 5760 DPI.
So is the S900 still a good investment since it came out one year ago?

[Lane]

I have been using HP PhotoSmart 1000 for a year. The result is pretty good with Kodak Premium glossy papers. I didnot use it very often but no ink dry-up noticed by now.

The only problem is that the color cartridge is a integrated one, which means i have to waste the other 2 color-inks once one color-ink runs out. (someone told me Epson uses individual cartridges for each color).

Btw, Roger, you mentioned the A3 B/W prints with the Epson 2100. Would you tell me where did you buy the A3 paper? Thanks.

Lane

[Yavor]

I use the Epson 1270 and older Photo 700 for daily jobs. It still produces a band-less,
pixel-less print. Those are two must-haves in digital printing.
I am really posting this to tell a hint about Epson printers. To keep the heads from clogging,
I place a small zip-lock bag with a damp sponge in it- perforated with pin holes- inside the printer head area. It really makes a difference! Just remember to take it out before printing!

Bob

[toycollector]

I have a S9000 and a S900. Love them both.


I don't use Canon Ink any longer....

Why you ask??? Simple math...

6 cartridges refilled = $15 @ $2.50 each
6 cartridges from Canon = $54 @ $9 each.

I save $39 for every 6 cartridges. A new S900 is only $250.

[mikeg]

Where did you buy this printer @ that price ? Online ?
Because here in traditional shops it casts +- 450 Eur (=450usd)

[SteveCliff]

I love my S9000.

I use Ilford paper (currently Pearl Photazia but just order some Galerie to try) with genuine Canon cartridges.

V. pleased so far!

[gsrossano]

I use an Epson for proof prints, but even at highest photo quality all ink jet printers still look like "computer" prints to me. For photo quality prints I use the Olympus P-400, dye sublimation printer. The prints are 75 year archival quality and look like a real continuous tone print to me. It is a bit pricey, but worth it I feel for the best quality. The printer in about $500 now, I think. The ribbons and media run about $1.60 per sheet of paper printed.

[Motorsports Photo]

gsrossano wrote:
The prints are 75 year archival quality and look like a real continuous tone print to me.

Gee how come the mention of print life wasn't in any post until this one?

I went with the Epson 2000P just to have lasting pics. I do like the output, but don't like the slow speed or the fact that only Epson papers seem to work unless you take out the final guide wheels.

-PS
Strasburg, oHIo

[Leighow]

I use the Epson 880. A color cartridge costs me about $50 with tax.

I have never monitored how many 8 x 10's that I can print on one cartridge.. but.. I would guess that 6 would be the limit. If that turns out to be true, I am paying about $8 Can a print.

Seems too high. On the other hand I have not even printed 6 and the "new some months ago cartridge" is "flashing red" or should I say "flashing LED". So I must be throwing the ink at colored charts et al.

Sledjhammer loves the matte. I love the glossy photo. Of course the ink is not archival and my monitor is not calibrated. Even so, a recent 6 x 9 glossey (300 dpi) on a birtday card (B&W folded matte) for a 96 year old looked very , ver passable! -- at least to my 60+ year old eyes at 4 feet.

HOWIE

[mikeg]

OK guys, thanks for all your inputs.
I finally decided to go for a Canon S900 .
as far as I've tested it, it's okay for me...

[mikeg]

By the way, can S900 owners tell me what are the exact settings they use with Canon PR-101 glossy photo paper and for Ilford premium photo glossy paper ?
thanks,

MikeG