Should i buy a photo Printer?

I have been using Truprint to print my photos as its easy. However, i have got to the point where i want to see the results sooner and print more!

So has any body got any advice on whether the Canon iP4700 is a good choice?

My concerns are really:

Will it print poorer quality than Truprint

Is the normal text printer still ok?

Cheers

Nev

Nev,

Any proper photo printer is capable of producing better prints than Truprint or anyone else. Whether it does or not is down to you as the operator. I like the fact that I remain in control of the whole process and am not reliant on some idiot straight from school who has minimal training and has no interest.

BUT! It is never going to be a cheap option. The big players, like Truprint offer prices you will never be able to come anywhere near. Inkjet cartridges used to be more expensive weight for weight than gold, whether thats still true I have no idea having lost touch with gold prices recently, but it is still expensive. The printer is cheap, they fleece you with the consumables.

As you are close to me, I'd be happy to print off a couple of sample images of yours so you can compare with Truprint. I live on the Andover side of Salisbury. Give me an email if you are interested, it needs to be before this coming Sunday or wait until I'm back on the following Friday evening.

Way back when when I got my first digital camera I bought a Canon printer that was suppose to be the best in photo printing. It has 6 different ink cartridges and was suppose to print good quality prints. Well it did and I printed all my pics on that printer. I soon found out that I was replacing the ink cartridges often and at that time they were pretty expensive. I found out that I could get 4X6 prints for 17 cents for one hour printing. If I had to guess on the prints from my printer with ink cost, wear and tear, and lets not forget the cost of photo paper, it was about 89 cents a 4X6. It's very rare now that I print photos using that printer. Plus it prints glossy photos and I rather have matte.

Art

Nevtiger wrote in post #9866994
I have been using Truprint to print my photos as its easy. However, i have got to the point where i want to see the results sooner and print more!

So has any body got any advice on whether the Canon iP4700 is a good choice?

My concerns are really:

Will it print poorer quality than Truprint

Is the normal text printer still ok?

Cheers

Nev

I've got the Canon Mp560, which is identical to the ip4700 except it has a scanner built in. I am very impressed with the print quality if you use good paper. I really feel like it is much better than the standard online labs. So, yes, I think you will enjoy it. As far as costs, it depends on the paper, but ink is about a $1 for a full sheet Letter/A4 photo print for the ink.

Some paper I can recommend is the Canon Plus Semi-Gloss, HP advanced Glossy, and Ilford Premium Pearl. Those three always deliver outstanding results for me.

Hi There from Sunny South Africa.

I use 2 Canon printers anIP3500 and anIP4600 for all my photo printing. Where I save is the fact that I refill all my own ink catridges and have been doing so for several years.
Sure you lose your guarantees but after a few refills you will have saved far more than the cost of a new printer I do a lot of printing and a printer normally lasts between 18 months and 2 years. Besides over here a new set of cartridges will set you back almost the price of a new printer.

Canon Cli 8's are the easiest to refill as long as you work carefully and remember not to throw away the orange protective cap. I use OCP inks that are made in Germany and are imported by my contact. The cost of refilling at home are less than 0,1% of new cartridges.

Using cood quality photo paper gives me the same results as genuine Canon Ink. If you want matt photos just buy the correct paper I do not buy the really expensive papers and use mainly everyday paper for most of my work.

The ink is where it will get you, I have ruined 2 print heads using "replacement" ink v's the oem brand, was it worth it..lets just say I dont print at home anymore..its cheaper to send it out...at least right now...

Now if someone has a source for truly OEM equivalent inks that cost an arm & a leg, then the whole situation may change

Cheers for everyones views, it seems i need not worry about the quality of the prints just the cost!!

I think i shall get an ip4700, as i prefer the option of being able to control when and what rather than the on-line lab. Of course the option is always there still for the on-line lab for printing of prints where i might not need total control.

Nev

Jeez... My old HP 8750 probably costs me, on average, about one US dollar per 11 x 17 print. I don't care. I enjoy printing.

Nevtiger wrote in post #9869039
Cheers for everyones views, it seems i need not worry about the quality of the prints just the cost!!

I think i shall get an ip4700, as i prefer the option of being able to control when and what rather than the on-line lab. Of course the option is always there still for the on-line lab for printing of prints where i might not need total control.

Nev

That's why I did it. It's really fun for me that I can go take a picture, edit it, and print it - all within an hour!