Wide Format.. $500.00 then $2K ? Nothing in between?

Just asking what is most likely a stupid question.. but it seems that in the large format printer world.. we have printers the scale of the 13" i9900 @ approx $500.00..

Then the "next size up" is at least $2k... Epson 17" Pro 4800 ...

Mind you there is an HP printer that is really well priced and 24" wide.. the DesingJet 130 @ approx $1,300.00

I guess this is the scale and price I'm looking for.. (light servce at work) but I have to admit I'm not too interested in HP for a photoprinter at this point.. and I don't know if this model competes well at all with the Epson and Conon photo output.

The question.. is there another option in this price range I am missing?
Thanks

I once looked and basically found what you found.

I certainly would not get an HP for printing photos. Blech.

Yep.. Blech

there is absolutely nothing wrong with the HP 130. The ONLY problem I find with the HP130 is that it requires a clear coat after treatment. Because the slightest moister will litterally wash off the ink from the paper.

As for price, no.

Canon does offers the professional line.. ImageGraf. They cost just as much as the Epson x800 offerings.

I'm not sure where I'll find my next printer. I'm very happy with the i9900, and with 13"-wide prints. I guess I'm in good shape for a while.

The next feature I'd like to have would be a tank system, even more than the ability to make larger prints, although that would be nice.

Regarding HP, please allow me to add my own Blech.

I really want a 13x19 dye-sub. Until then I may never bother printing at home.

The HP 130 has 6 ink tanks and 4 picoliter drops. My brother has one as his office and I will eventually use it for large prints after I figure out what papers will give good results on it.

There is nothing "wrong" with the HP. They have been in the medium to large format inkjet market for some time.
You just sandbag yourself by going with a printer that does not have as many options produced for it as Epson printers do....

There is a steep cimb in pricing as you get larger because of the super-structure required to keep the hed on-target and the size of the heads them selves, to make print times reasonable. Our Roland has 2 heads firing 4 colors each. When one of those heads blows out it is $760 -ouch!!!!

The intended use is the marketing dept at work.. Me I'm happy with 13x19...

And we arer most likely going to grab a 13x19 for work.. but the question was asked .. "how much to go larger?"

Thanks for your input.
If $1,300.00 gets the nod for 24" I may actually look at the HP.. although I'm leary of the archival quality...

Ooops.. missed your Post Doug..
Yes,. the range of equipment available for the Epson makes them the most appealing candidate in this catagory...

Your point about what it takes to make such a large printer work are well taken.

Just my opinion, but if it's for business use (i.e. spending someone else's money), $2K doesn't see that far out of line.

... no but then you haven't seen my budget! I've been trying to convine them to by the $500.00 model for over a year.. and now that they are finally considering it.. they want to buy it for someone else to use!

lol. We currently have a R2400 doing our normal stuff. Been looking at the 7800 right now. $2995 + $500 rebate if you purchase $400 of media. Sounds like a pretty good deal right now.

just have to decide... 7800 or 9800 lol

I have loved my Epson 2200 but when that starts to give me fits, I am going for the Epson upgrade. The ink doesn't run and if you use their papers and inks, the quality is guaranteed to last better than a lifetime. Once you have experienced Epson, you'll never go back.....

The R2400 is an amazing printer with way better quality than any dye-subs I have seen.

Lab quality archival prints. Awesome in colour and in B&W.

I love it!