Can someone suggest a cheap photo printer?

I find myself wanting to make a quick photo print without all the fuss. My Color HP Laser (accepts glossy inkjet paper) doesn't accept small paper stock (4x6 / 5x7) and its too much bother to trim. Plus the colors are lackluster.

Looking for a simple little photo printer with decent quality and low ownership costs.

What's important to me?

- Somewhat accurate colors is important up to a point. I'm looking to match what I might get from Walmart or Costco for a quick 4x6 or 5x7.
- Accepts 4x6 paper. 5x7 too would be a big plus.
- Relatively small footprint. 8 1/2 x 11 max size is fine.
- Simplified photo printing software.
- Small footprint (average is fine - I'm trashing my 8 year old 14" wide Canon - terrible colors and very clunky).
- Inexpensive Ink would be a big plus.
- Decent build - would like it to last 4 or 5 years.
- I'd expect to print 50 photos per month (4x6 up to 8x10). Mostly 4x6.
- $300 or under.
- MS Windows 7 support.
- Bluetooth or WiFi direct printing from smartphones would be nice (for my daughter).

Suggestions / advice would be much appreciated! Is the new Epson EP-2550 a good choice? Thanks in advance!

The Canonip7220 is not "little," but otherwise is a good low-cost choice.

NBEast wrote in post #18126760
I find myself wanting to make a quick photo print without all the fuss. My Color HP Laser (accepts glossy inkjet paper) doesn't accept small paper stock (4x6 / 5x7) and its too much bother to trim. Plus the colors are lackluster.


Looking for a simple little photo printer with decent quality and low ownership costs.

What's important to me?

- Somewhat accurate colors is important up to a point. I'm looking to match what I might get from Walmart or Costco for a quick 4x6 or 5x7.
- Accepts 4x6 paper. 5x7 too would be a big plus.
- Relatively small footprint. 8 1/2 x 11 max size is fine.
- Simplified photo printing software.
- Small footprint (average is fine - I'm trashing my 8 year old 14" wide Canon - terrible colors and very clunky).
- Inexpensive Ink would be a big plus.
- Decent build - would like it to last 4 or 5 years.
- I'd expect to print 50 photos per month (4x6 up to 8x10). Mostly 4x6.
- $300 or under.
- MS Windows 7 support.
- Bluetooth or WiFi direct printing from smartphones would be nice (for my daughter).

Suggestions / advice would be much appreciated! Is the new Epson EP-2550 a good choice? Thanks in advance!

Hmm. 55 reviews on Canon gives 2 star average.

So sorry, by "cheap" I meant I want to stay clear of the $500+ line-up.

Has anyone tried the new Epson EP-2550 or its siblings?

NBEast wrote in post #18126760
I find myself wanting to make a quick photo print without all the fuss. My Color HP Laser (accepts glossy inkjet paper) doesn't accept small paper stock (4x6 / 5x7) and its too much bother to trim. Plus the colors are lackluster.

What printer specifically are you not happy with and have you tried the line of photo papers specifically for a laser jet? These papers are high gloss and are about .010 ich thick so more like card stock thickness. They are designed for the high temperatures of the laser jet process.

There is a current printer for $200 (marked down from $400). It is the HP Color LaserJet Pro M452nw (http://store.hp.com …?jumpid=091116_​prcat_fp_2). You have to look carefully at the specifications; it will for instance do 4 x 6 prints but specifies that media as 10 x 15 cm in the listing (and may need an optional tray). This printer is in the computer room at our local library and I find it works well although I bring my own photo paper.

I have an HP Color Laserjet CM2320nf MFP. It does accept 4x6 but the travel path is so long it's often crooked plus the colors are a bit flat, albeit not as bad as the Canon Pixma-Pro 9000 MkII. I get the feeling the HP M452nw you're suggesting will be similar.

The HP's ceramic fuser accepts inkjet glossy paper. I use Costco Injket Glossy photo paper.

I'd like to toss the Canon and get a smallish inkjet that's more suited for photo prints. Kind of thinking Epson is more focused on print technology.

I see you are in "So Cal" which of course is a big place. MicroCenter at 1100 East Edinger Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780 has an Epson XP-960 marked down from $300 to $230. You can check it (and the store) at http://www.microcenter​.com …-960_Small-in-One_Printer.

MicroCenter is my go-to store here on the east coast, although I have to travel about 20 miles. Regardless of what I need they always seem to have it at a good price. If you make the trip check out open box and refurbished stuff. At least at my store, they also let you "play". I recently bought a refurbished HP Envy printer for about 1/4 of list price. I really could not tell it from new except the starter cartridges had been opened.

John from PA wrote in post #18127632
I see you are in "So Cal" which of course is a big place. MicroCenter at 1100 East Edinger Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780 has an Epson XP-960 marked down from $300 to $230. You can check it (and the store) at http://www.microcenter​.com …-960_Small-in-One_Printer.

MicroCenter is my go-to store here on the east coast, although I have to travel about 20 miles. Regardless of what I need they always seem to have it at a good price. If you make the trip check out open box and refurbished stuff. At least at my store, they also let you "play". I recently bought a refurbished HP Envy printer for about 1/4 of list price. I really could not tell it from new except the starter cartridges had been opened.

Thanks, I'll check it out! Have you had good experience with the XP-960?

The new "EP-" Eco-Tank lineup is enticing for the lower ongoing costs but I'm skeptical that there may be some IQ trade-off. Also; the design has a larger footprint - it looks like they waste about 5 inches on width for the ink tanks.

Sounds like we're sort of neighbors. MicroCenter is right along my daily commute up the 55. I also like them - Fry's is just broken junk and Best Buy is more consumer-ish. That's a great deal on the refurbed HP - I'll have to take a closer look at that pile next time. I'd started ignoring the used pile when I was some stuff at 80% of the new price but it sounds like I should dig more.

I've always used Canon iP series printers. Picoliter ink consumption, never ever had it clog on me. My first one (iP4000) expired just this year with a full ink absorber, after about 12 years. I bought an iP4200 new open box stock, it is running like a champ.

I have had great luck with Epson Printers.

I still have a fully functional Epson 2200 photo printer (?16 years old) and bought a Epson XP-820 a year ago and two Epson XP-830's last month (no strike that, I bought THREE, one for my son). Thought I could use the same ink for the 830 and 820 but they changed the dam thing! Bastards.

I looked at the eco tank model but it was quite a bit more pricey and figured we'd end up with a MESS at home with the bottles of ink!

They are easy to use and setup on wifi is very easy. Can print up to 8 x 11. Color is pretty good from a 4 color printer. The 830 can do two sided printing which is pretty nice.

Also has scanner (can scan wirelessly on your network) and Fax.

(my prior HP laser 3200 (not color) was great for years, but finally died.)

Mike

I found it too expensive to do prints at home compared to a store. The paper is not bad it's the ink that kills you.

I use Office Max(Office Depot) they have fantastic printers and even better prices. The quality is as good as Pro labs that used in the past.

maverick75 wrote in post #18155274
I found it too expensive to do prints at home compared to a store. The paper is not bad it's the ink that kills you.

Agree with this wholeheartedly. Costco also makes good prints at a reasonable price. If you're not happy with the print they'll do it over for free. Hard to beat.

I use Walmart. Prices very reasonable and usually have one hour turn around. Pre pay and go pick up. All that's missing is Curb Side Pickup!

Mike

Canon Pro 100's are littering the used market do to the bundle rebates. Usually unused, unopened, but used price.

The paper becomes "almost free" twice a year or so when Canon has massive 5 for the price of one sales on the Canon USA website for paper.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18160434
Canon Pro 100's are littering the used market do to the bundle rebates. Usually unused, unopened, but used price.

The paper becomes "almost free" twice a year or so when Canon has massive 5 for the price of one sales on the Canon USA website for paper.

Yes the US "special pricing" on the Pro 100 and paper/inks can make printing at home just about cheap enough to consider. I certainly wish that we had the opportunity for similar here in the UK. As it is the best deals on a Pro 100 are at about £350 inc tax, and A3 paper (close to 16×12) is £2.40 a SHEET for good quality stuff (again including tax @20%). By the time you have put the ink on the paper you have got to about £4 a print, and that doesn't include a contribution to the cost of buying the printer in the first place. Even with my 4 ink Canon MG5150 using top quality paper and OEM ink I'm paying around £2.25 for a print. The pro lab that I use charges £1.20 for a 16×12 or A3 print, with a delivery charge of £4.50, printing on Fuji papers. Ignoring the cost of the printer entirely I can save money if I have two or more prints done at the same time. I will usually have nine prints done in a batch which means that the order comes out just over £15 or £1.70 each, which is cheaper than doing my own A4's. I usually have a dozen or so images standing by that I would like printed, but am in no rush for, so that when I need to get a print done I can build a cost effective order quickly, to offset the carriage costs.

Alan

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18160434
Canon Pro 100's are littering the used market do to the bundle rebates. Usually unused, unopened, but used price.

The paper becomes "almost free" twice a year or so when Canon has massive 5 for the price of one sales on the Canon USA website for paper.

Thanks to the bundles I snagged this printer very cheap, and stocked up on paper during one of their sales. Then I bought a bulk pack of inks off of Amazon, and yes, they're aftermarket, not Canon, however for at home printing 8.5'' x 11'' or smaller, it works fantastic. The bulk pack of ink was like $18 for four full sets of ink, and with the photo paper being almost free, my cost to print at home is way cheaper than printing elsewhere.