Looking for a photo printer.

Basically what the title says, I'm looking for a photo printer. The printer has to at least print a 8x10 size. I would like to stay under 250, lower is better. I am looking at some from Epson (particularly the Artisan 50). My concern with it though is I seen that INK is pretty high. Honestly it's a concern ONLY if I could somehow find out how INK usage is. I found a system called the CISS by http://www.inksystem.c​om/ that I could also get with it (it also works on other printers) to improve my ink and lower the price of the ink. So that's always an option if I find a printer that is good for the money but heavy on the ink. I would be willing to look at any printer though as long as the price can be justified.

Post what you think is good or what printer you have (maybe with a picture too )

Adamrhh wrote in post #15747795
I would like to stay under 250, lower is better.

Well the ink costs are going to be high especially if you plan to do a fair amount of printing, be sure to factor in the cost of photo paper as well. Don't know where you live, however if you're in any large city you may be better off sending your pics to a lab to be printed. The cost per print is very low. If you happen to have a membership at Costco, many members here have high praise for the quality of their photo prints. Something to consider...

What are some good websites that I can have them print off my pictures and mail to me? Doesn't seem like a bad idea if I just wait and have them print/mail a X amount instead of just one here and one there etc.

AdoramaPix and MPix both have a decent reputation.

Adamrhh wrote in post #15747795
My concern with it though is I seen that INK is pretty high. Honestly it's a concern ONLY if I could somehow find out how INK usage is.

Ink useage will obviously vary with the size of print. My Epson R2880 uses 1.5mL of ink per sq ft of print. So for a 40.5 x 30.5 print, thats 1.95 mL in total, which costs £1.95 using Epson ink.

I don't think thats at all bad.

Richard, that is not bad, but how much dose a sheet of 16"×12" or A3 photo paper add to the cost? Then compare that to having a print done at say DSCL in Manchester where they charge £1.10 including the VAT for the same size print, on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. Yes you have to add between £4 and £8.99 for postage depending on your choice of service, but that is the same if you have 1 or 21 prints made, they also offer a collection option if you live close enough.

For cost/quality at that size having the prints done in a lab is always going to be the better deal. Home printing though is not always about the cost, it is also about the satisfaction that can be had from following the process from camera to finished print yourself. This is the reason that I had my own home darkroom where I could produce both B&W and colour prints. I did not use it for my 6"×4" prints though, and every print cost a lot more than I could have had the same item produced by even a pro print lab.

Alan

Alan,

The "Worst Case" is the Torchon, a single sheet of A3+ paper works out at £3.00 per sheet. The Epson Premium Glossy is cheaper.

So a printed A3+ with a small border for framing works out at £4.95 in total.

That cannot compare to your £1.10, but as I say, its the worst case, I can print cheaper and I have the results in my hand immediately with no postage to pay for.

As I said home printing is not about the cost, as generally it is going to be the expensive option. There is though nothing to compare to managing the whole process yourself, and producing superb prints right from the point of pressing the shutter. I really wish I could afford the purchase price of a decent A3+ printer let alone a large format one, and then be able to run it. As it is I will have to stick with my A4 all in one for my home printing fix.

Actually what I really wish I could afford is a decent digital enlarger, so that I can have the best of the digital world, combined with "real" photographic output, especially for B&W work. That way one can always work from a "perfect" negative.

Alan

I shoot to print, as Ansel said "the negative is the score, the print is the performance". I started with film in the late 60's, have built 4 darkrooms, three for myself. got away from phtography for a while, burnout? When digital started growing I got back in in the early 90's with Nikon Coolpix, then graduated to DSLRs. To me photography has always been about the print. Seems that is not the case so much anymore. I have an Epson 3880, my third Epson, with refillable carts and am filling them with Cone inks,, this has cut ink costs by half and am not throwing away all those empty carts. I buy paper in bulk (600 sheet box of 8.5X11) and have cut costs dramatically. I also control heat and humidity in the room where I operate my computers and printers. I could never give up the satisfaction and control I have by doing my own printing. Check out the Red River Paper site, it has lots of info as to the true cost of printing. They have results for most of the popular printers for the cost of ink and paper, check them out. Also check out Ink Jet Mall, operated by John Cone, should Google the guy. I use only pigment inks for their permanence, I sell a few prints and print for a few other photogs in the area who also sell prints, can't use dye inks for that. good luck with your decision!