Epson R2880 or R3000?

From the specs I can't tell the significant differences between the Epson R2880 and R3000 printers other than the R3000 supports wireless printing. Are these two basically the same with regards to printing or is the R3000 the better choice?

The R3000 has smaller droplet size (2 pico-liters instead of 3) and the R2880 has an "Advanced MicroPiezo AMC Print Head" ... but I have no idea how either translates into one being better than the other

Just noticed that in Canada there is a $200 mail-in rebate for the 3000 and a $150 mail-in rebate for the 2880, good to Feb 28.

Direct from Epson the 3000 ends up being $849.99 + tax + shipping = $897.53 for Alberta minus $200 rebate = $697.53.

Vistek has 2880's in-store for 599.95 + tax = $629.95 for Alberta minus $150 rebate = $479.95

All I can tell you is that I've been very pleased with my R2880. I've not looked at the R3000 so cannot compare them.

Thanks Richard. I haven't seen a bad review for either of them and it sounds like the output from both in near identical. Based on the Epson specs and the review from Northlight Images ( http://www.northlight-images.co.uk …/printer/epson_​r3000.html ), I think I'll go with the 3000. If I were paying full price I'd be picking the 2880 since I really didn't want to spend $900 for a printer (after tax and shipping).

The main differences seem to be:

3000 connects via wi-fi and ethernet
2880 supports Pictbridge
3000 has higher capacity ink tanks
3000 has ability to hold two black ink tanks for swapping between glossy and matte paper ("Auto-Switching Black Ink Technology")
3000 has improved media handling for fine art papers
The ink tanks are stationary with the 3000 (not necessarily an improvement ... just a difference)
3000 has 2 picoliter droplet size versus 3 picoliters for the 2880

Both have the same tech print heads, use the same ink types, have the same print resolution and support the same output size.

The larger ink carts is a good thing undoubtedly.

The gloss and matt black carts is also an excellent idea. One issue Epson had to solve with me (they sent a techie to my home) was to overcome my R2880's unwillingness to move from gloss to matt ink and vice versa, together we came up with a method of persuading the driver to cooperate!

Lowner wrote in post #15567409
The larger ink carts is a good thing undoubtedly.

As long as I use the darn thing! Hopefully it just doesn't end up being larger/more expensive ink tanks that dry out

Thanks Bob for the summary. I have been searching for a good summary and it isnt easy to find.

I know this reply won't help Bob with his decision based on the dates but I've been using the R2880 since early 2010 & I bought it as a refurb for a 40% savings. It has worked perfectly (using Epson paper) & I've used up lots of ink which I also buy direct from Epson (epson.ca in my case) when they have a sale. I also have an Artisan 800 all in one that produces very nice 4 X 6 thru 8 X 10's

cicopo wrote in post #15750004
I know this reply won't help Bob with his decision based on the dates but I've been using the R2880 since early 2010 & I bought it as a refurb for a 40% savings. It has worked perfectly (using Epson paper) & I've used up lots of ink which I also buy direct from Epson (epson.ca in my case) when they have a sale. I also have an Artisan 800 all in one that produces very nice 4 X 6 thru 8 X 10's

I think I went through $200 worth of ink the first weekend I had my R3000 . You make a great point about buying ink direct from Epson Larry. I haven't been able to find anyone that sells lower than the Epson e-mail code sale price, which is usually 15% off, and as long as the order is large enough shipping is free. Arrives in about 5 days.

One recommendation I have for anyone printing with the R3000 is to print glossy or matte in large batches. In other words don't switch from one to the other since each time you swap it consumes about $4 worth of black ink when purging the system. I only made that mistake once so far.

Bob,

Sounds as thopugh the 3000 is better at the matte to gloss and back than my 2880. I've had Epson techies look at it in the past and together we figured out a way of dealing with it but its never going to be right. Basically the printer refuses to switch from one to the other and has to be "tricked" into doing so with a convoluted set of games. I try to avoid switching. A better solution would have been to carry both black cartridges onboard and simply use whatever was required.

Lowner wrote in post #15752392
Bob,

Sounds as thopugh the 3000 is better at the matte to gloss and back than my 2880. I've had Epson techies look at it in the past and together we figured out a way of dealing with it but its never going to be right. Basically the printer refuses to switch from one to the other and has to be "tricked" into doing so with a convoluted set of games. I try to avoid switching. A better solution would have been to carry both black cartridges onboard and simply use whatever was required.

So far no real issue with the tanks switching other than the waste of ink Richard. Both black cartridges are on-board for the R3000.