Need a New Printer

It looks like my trusty Canon S750 has finally given up the ghost. It no longer prints black, even after a cursory effort to unclog the print heads.

I plan to do a little more with it this weekend, but assuming that it's really dead, I need recommendations for a replacement.

Here are my basic criteria:

• Print quality at least as good as the S750
  
• Reasonable price (as much under $300 as possible; I also need to buy a macro lens.)
  
• No all-in-ones (I hate them and already have a decent Canon scanner.)
  
• Preferably Canon, but will consider others
  
• Wireless not required, but acceptable
  
• I will ONLY print graphics on this printer.
  

I'm also thinking of picking up a printer. I have been looking at the Pixma Pro 100 as it is $375 but if you buy the printer and a qualifying pack of paper you get a $300 Amex rebate card. So it's basically a printer for about $120 with full tanks of ink and not starter ink.

I'm hoping to hear from people who may have this printer who can share how it works and if they have calculated a cost for print for something like 5x7 and 8x10 or larger.

mikeinctown wrote in post #17052846
I'm also thinking of picking up a printer. I have been looking at the Pixma Pro 100 as it is $375 but if you buy the printer and a qualifying pack of paper you get a $300 Amex rebate card. So it's basically a printer for about $120 with full tanks of ink and not starter ink.

I'm hoping to hear from people who may have this printer who can share how it works and if they have calculated a cost for print for something like 5x7 and 8x10 or larger.

I obviously don't have one, but I read a few reviews and they're generally favorable. Not surprisingly, the output quality is somewhat dependent upon the type and quality of the media. It seems to like certain brands and types more than others, again not terribly surprising.

mikeinctown wrote in post #17052846
I'm also thinking of picking up a printer. I have been looking at the Pixma Pro 100 as it is $375 but if you buy the printer and a qualifying pack of paper you get a $300 Amex rebate card. So it's basically a printer for about $120 with full tanks of ink and not starter ink.

I'm hoping to hear from people who may have this printer who can share how it works and if they have calculated a cost for print for something like 5x7 and 8x10 or larger.

Well, as you probably know, Canon, HP and Epson would give printers away on street corners to lock users in to their proprietary ink cartridges which is where the money ultimately is. They realize that once you have a nice photo printer, you are going to use it and buy more ink. That said, I just hit the buy button and purchased the Pixma Pro 100 and the canon 13x19 photo paper for a grand total of $418 and small change--seems like a no brainer since the printer comes with full ink cartridges and I'd have to buy paper no matter what. The reviews I've read suggest that there is little if any apparent difference in overall print quality between the Pixma 100 and the more expensive Pixma 10. Most of the prints I make will be for my own use anyway so the 100 should meet my limited needs. My actual cost is $118 which is less than a set of ink cartridges and the paper!

The Canon Pro100 meets your requirements and is very nicely priced. Mine couldn't be better. Print quality is superb. It doesn't clog and it's reliable.

rgs wrote in post #17056707
The Canon Pro100 meets your requirements and is very nicely priced. Mine couldn't be better. Print quality is superb. It doesn't clog and it's reliable.

From what I read, it's definitely a nice printer. Unfortunately, it's about $200 over my price point, at least locally. I also need to buy a 100mm macro lens, and going $200 over budget on the printer would have a seriously negative impact on that.

Does anybody have any experience with the Canon PIXMA iP8720?

It's not a "pro" photo printer, but generally gets pretty good reviews for it's photo printing.

I'm pretty much on the edge of getting one, since I can get one locally within my budget.

Temma wrote in post #17057478
From what I read, it's definitely a nice printer. Unfortunately, it's about $200 over my price point, at least locally. I also need to buy a 100mm macro lens, and going $200 over budget on the printer would have a seriously negative impact on that.

Buydig.com has the Pro 100 with package of paper, BOTH for $400...and because it has package of paper, it qualifies you for a $300 rebate (issued in the form of an AmEx card), so net cost is $100

B&H has Pro100 at $400 but then you have to separately add package of paper to the purchase in order to qualify for $300 rebate and net cost is more than $100

Wilt wrote in post #17057529
Buydig.com has the Pro 100 with package of paper, BOTH for $400...and because it has package of paper, it qualifies you for a $300 rebate (issued in the form of an AmEx card), so net cost is $100

B&H has Pro100 at $400 but then you have to separately add package of paper to the purchase in order to qualify for $300 rebate and net cost is more than $100

Any idea how it does on non-photographic images? I also need to print drawings out of Corel Draw.

I don't know how the PRO100 does on graphics because I only use it for photos. I also have a Canon ip4920, here's a link: http://shop.usa.canon.​com/shop/en/catalog/pi​xma-ip4920. It's a 5 cart printer (CMYK and pigment black for text) that does a good job on photos and works nicely as an office printer as well. It may be a good choice for you. You probably won't find one in stock locally - the market has been hijacked by the all-in-ones - but you can order from Canon. It's a good buy and a solid printer.

Temma wrote in post #17057534
Any idea how it does on non-photographic images? I also need to print drawings out of Corel Draw.

Are you needing to print graphics "professionally"/at professional/commercia​l quality? If so I'd probably consider two separate printers, although I myself have not done that type of work. In fact for an "office printer" I'd go for the cheaper variety, whereas photo printing can be to me understandably more demanding!

Temma wrote in post #17057534
Any idea how it does on non-photographic images? I also need to print drawings out of Corel Draw.

Sorry, I can only suggest that you read reviews about non-photographic printing.

For me, printers are primarily office printing -- photographic printing is normally what I send out to Costco! So I wonder about ink expense associated with 8-color photographic prnters, when used primarily for office printing!

tonylong wrote in post #17057650
Are you needing to print graphics "professionally"/at professional/commercia​l quality? If so I'd probably consider two separate printers, although I myself have not done that type of work. In fact for an "office printer" I'd go for the cheaper variety, whereas photo printing can be to me understandably more demanding!

No, this is just for my personal use.

I print my own photos and also print out patterns for holsters, using Corel Draw.

Wilt wrote in post #17057760
Sorry, I can only suggest that you read reviews about non-photographic printing.

For me, printers are primarily office printing -- photographic printing is normally what I send out to Costco! So I wonder about ink expense associated with 8-color photographic prnters, when used primarily for office printing!

I'm not interested in sending anything out. This is my own stuff for my own edification. I have no desire to pay anybody else to do that.

I'm not a professional photographer. I was pretty happy with the quality from the S750. I expect that a newer printer, even a so-called "business" printer, is going to do better.

if you are printing photographs then have a printer specifically for that. If you just want to print office documents then buy a $100 laser printer. If you need color then buy a cheap color printer that won't give you great looking photos.

You say you were printing graphics, which I think most assumed would be pictures. (images)