Buying a printer question

I have always toyed around with the idea of buying a printer, however I do this semi professionally and don't print enough that I think this really warrants it. However, I actually don't have a printer at all right now which is kinda of a PITA. I send to whcc to get printed, and they do a good job.

But, I do small orders. For example, one woman just asked if she could get 3 5x7s and an 8x10. This is going to be under $12 so I have to pay extra to ship from whcc. I could use mpix or something I guess, but I still have to deal with the wait times and excess packaging they always use (waste). Looking to cut down on that waste.

Could I get similar results from a $200-400 printer (max I'd go is the epson 1900)? I could use a lab for the 16x20s and 20x30s, and print the rest at home. However, if I get a more pricey printer like the 1900 then will I run into problems with the ink cartridges drying out/losing ink/clogging? I only print once a month or so (photos), and also would this printer be okay to print documents with or should it not be doing that?

If anyone could recommend a 4/5 in 1 printer that is small and produces good photo prints, that would probably be ideal for me. I'm looking for something that will be similar in quality to the lab. I am selling these prints, and they aren't too cheap so I don't want to give less than professional quality results. However, I don't want to have to deal with a 3 day wait time and a bunch of hassle with packaging and such, just to get a few 5x7s. I have grown tired of this.

The important thing is to have a display calibrater, and to buy paper that has profiles available for your printer. If you do this, then you've got 95% of your color management in place. I use Red River papers because the provide downloadable profiles for my i9900. I make sure to do one color print at least at monthly intervals to prevent nozzle clogging.

The Canon MP980 is a pretty decent printer for color and b&w.

Alternatively, you could use Wal-Mart or Walgreen's for such a few number of prints. They're cheap, color managed and do a reasonable job for quick prints.

Right now, Office Max has the Epson 1900 for less than $200. Pretty much a steal.

I couldn't find the 1900 at officemax less than $200. Found the 1400 for like $180 but I haven't heard as much about that printer.

The mp980 is an option, I kinda want to go with epson just because I feel that their printers are better (I've had not so great experiences with canon printers...) but I don't really know much about printers so I'm open to either.

I have a calibrated acd 20" which should be pretty spot on - has been with my whcc prints. I would make sure to get proper profiles for the paper.

I just wonder how much of a waste it is for me to get a 1900 or similarly priced/intense printer when I'm not printing that much. Also, its fairly large. And I wonder if the quality on a 4 in 1 is going to suffer compared to the whcc prints. I can't be putting out prints that aren't high quality.

Also, will the 1900 print documents...? Or is it strictly a photo printer?

And I am not going to be using walmart/walgreens because of a few things. There isn't one close to me (closest is about 15-20min) and therefore its going to be a lot of gas/time to go there. And I would rather get pro quality from whcc if I'm going to be outsourcing anyway. The thing I like about having my own printer is that if I don't like the result, I can just adjust some settings and print out another. Right now with whcc, I have to wait 2-3 days to see the product. That hasn't been a problem thus far, but I think that it is much more convenient for me to be printing at home, it just makes more sense in general.

If possible, I'd like to spend $150-200 and get a nice, small, 4 in 1 printer that will output professional level prints. I am fine with tweaking calibration/printer profiles, and getting quality paper. But if the printer sucks, none of that will matter because I still won't get good results...

If you start with this message on dpreview:

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1003&messag​e=26395526

and follow the various responses, you might get a good idea of what's involved with the Epson 1900 -- a customer happy with the print quality but, as is usual for inexpensive photo printers, it uses small ink cartridges for more expense. However, if you print just occasionally, that might not be a big issue.

For document printing, though, using photo ink can be a waste compared to a cheap all-purpose printer. I have an old reliable inkjet that takes large inexpensive cartridges and keeps on ticking, whereas my photo printing is done on a dedicated photo printer.

slappy sam wrote in post #8067149
I couldn't find the 1900 at officemax less than $200.

But you CAN find the HP B8550. Before drinking the Epson KoolAid... take a look at it.

I thought epson was a great idea, until I burned through nearly a whole set of ink cleaning a clogged head. HP (and a few others) give you a new head on every cartridge so this is almost never a problem.

I also think pure color calibration is less critical since you are comparing sending to outside labs anyway. Your monitor is not calibrated perfectly to their printer either. Just do a few eyeball tests and if the are as close as your lab prints, then you are in good shape.

One more option - for small batches is there a local printer anywhere? They may be more per print, but less overall factoring in shipping. Jeez, for 3 5x7's and an 8x10, just head over to the Kodak kiosk at the drug store.

Oops, yeah, that was the 1400 at Office Max. Sorry...

ChasP505 wrote in post #8072505
But you CAN find the HP B8550. Before drinking the Epson KoolAid... take a look at it.

Okay, but I have had nothing less than horrible experiences with hp printers.

tkbslc wrote in post #8072666
I thought epson was a great idea, until I burned through nearly a whole set of ink cleaning a clogged head. HP (and a few others) give you a new head on every cartridge so this is almost never a problem.

I also think pure color calibration is less critical since you are comparing sending to outside labs anyway. Your monitor is not calibrated perfectly to their printer either. Just do a few eyeball tests and if the are as close as your lab prints, then you are in good shape.

One more option - for small batches is there a local printer anywhere? They may be more per print, but less overall factoring in shipping. Jeez, for 3 5x7's and an 8x10, just head over to the Kodak kiosk at the drug store.

Yeah, I hear you about the clogged heads issue, well I'll look into other brands as well of course.

Nah, no local printer anywhere. I really would like to print at home anyway, and I do more prints than that its just that I got that small order yesterday and it sparked my thinking... why don't I just get my own printer?

slappy sam wrote in post #8073424
Okay, but I have had nothing less than horrible experiences with hp printers.

...Yeah, I hear you about the clogged heads issue, well I'll look into other brands as well of course.

What's left by process of elimination?

slappy sam wrote in post #8073424
Nah, no local printer anywhere.

I find that hard to accept.

ChasP505 wrote in post #8073560
What's left by process of elimination?
I'm saying I'll check them out, but I haven't had good experiences with hp printers. Canon is another brand I am looking at and would prefer over hp.

I find that hard to accept.

Well, there is a local drug store that does prints but they only do 4x6 (I went in to get two 5x7s done and the guy was telling me that the automated machine can only do 4x6 print sizes - its one of those machines that prints it on the spot and everything). And, I live in a town with one stop light that doesn't allow any chain businesses in to the town, except for a dunkin donuts which isn't allowed to have any signage. So... there really isn't anything until 10-15 minutes from my house.

You are like an hour out of Boston and there is no where to get prints? Don't you even have a drugstore, costco, etc? That seems unlikely, but I will take your word for it.

And as far as built in printheads, HP, some Canon, and Lexmark are your options. Not sure about any recommendations, though. Lexmarks are not great IMO.

I bought an Epson RX580 a couple of years ago,it has worked flawlessly and still produces beautiful prints.It uses Epson Claria Ink which is supposed to maintain colour longer and as far as paper goes I use Epson or Staples.