Which Printer?

[goggleeyed]

On this question I have been going round and round reading different forums, talking to people about printers and the only thing I am getting from it is more confused.
Printer problems, cost of cartridges etc.
The printers I was interested in were the HP 9180 but a certain forum scared me to death after I had decided on it.The Canon Pixma Pro 9500 or in desperation the Epson 3800 which is a lot more than I want to spend.
I am just better than a beginner enjoying shooting models and wild life.Canon 30d and a couple of lenses for each.My printer an old Epson R200 "doesn`t cut the mustard" as some photo`s are nearly or good enough to enter competitions at the camera club I am a member at.The prints off the R200 are not good enough.
The printers in America are frighteningly a lot cheaper than over here like a Canon IPF5000 for 1000 dollars.
I cut my teath on black and white film processing in my late teens early twenties and am not too bothered about printing black and white, just mainly doing colour.

What printer suits me?

[dougste]

I also do not print much black and white and because of that I went with the Canon Pro9000. Its output is amazing in color. I use Canon Photo Pro paper and a couple of different Ilfords. From everything I have read it handles fine art paper very well also.
Easy to setup and easy to use. I have had it for about 3 months with no problems.
Also, the price has come down since I got mine. Check out Adorama.

Doug

Originally Posted by goggleeyed

On this question I have been going round and round reading different forums, talking to people about printers and the only thing I am getting from it is more confused.
Printer problems, cost of cartridges etc.
The printers I was interested in were the HP 9180 but a certain forum scared me to death after I had decided on it.The Canon Pixma Pro 9500 or in desperation the Epson 3800 which is a lot more than I want to spend.
I am just better than a beginner enjoying shooting models and wild life.Canon 30d and a couple of lenses for each.My printer an old Epson R200 "doesn`t cut the mustard" as some photo`s are nearly or good enough to enter competitions at the camera club I am a member at.The prints off the R200 are not good enough.
The printers in America are frighteningly a lot cheaper than over here like a Canon IPF5000 for 1000 dollars.
I cut my teath on black and white film processing in my late teens early twenties and am not too bothered about printing black and white, just mainly doing colour.

What printer suits me?

[Dave R.]

Have you looked at the Epson R2400 and R1800 printers? The main difference between these two is the R2400 prints better B&W, so I'm told. I too am considering printing at home as my photos get better. The two mentioned above and the Canon pro 9500 are on my hit list. I am also interested in the HP 9180, thus curious what it is you learned that scared you away from it.

[goggleeyed]

Thanks for the replies.After a lot more reading in desperation I phoned a big printer supplier and talked to the salesman for too long as it was on a free phone no.
Ordered a Canon 9500 and some Ilford Pearl paper to try.

[Paul Shields]

Looks like you may have already decided, but I've always found the following site useful for info on printers: The three pigs

[martin-images]

Just a word of caution, the epson 2400 of which I have used is a great printer and produces superb mono prints, not used the r1800 but assume the same problem for both, running costs, the 2400 cartridges are 12ml in capacity and cost in UK around £9.00 each, if you do start to print a lot of images you will be buying lots of replacements.

The Epson 3800 on the other hand although its double the price to the 2400, it costs approx half as much in running costs as the ink capacity is around 80ml per cartridge, as said if you do start to print in numbers then the initial outlay for the 3800 as against the 2400 will be pulled back in no time due the savings on ink costs, so cheaper is not aways "cheaper" in the short to long term, plus the 3800 changes black inks automatically and goes to A2 [but no roll attachment], this is my third Epson and everyone so far has run perfectly

Martin

[goggleeyed]

Originally Posted by Paul Shields

Looks like you may have already decided, but I've always found the following site useful for info on printers: The three pigs

Thanks Paul I read that article from I think one of your links.
With the Canon I managed to find a duty and vat free supplier for the cartridges so at least that cost has come down by a third.
The printer should be delivered tomorrow then in a couple more days the monitor calibrator should come, then hopefully If it all comes together I can enter some competitions at our local club.
This hobby as an amateur is like having a money pit where you just throw away the weekly wage.

[Paul Shields]

Printing at home is a money pit, but that's half the fun .

[Dave R.]

Originally Posted by goggleeyed

Thanks for the replies.After a lot more reading in desperation I phoned a big printer supplier and talked to the salesman for too long as it was on a free phone no.
Ordered a Canon 9500 and some Ilford Pearl paper to try.

How about an update. What are your impressions thus far?

[jnsuffolk]

I just got the hp a716 its the the previous version of there newest compact printer. It prints 4x6 and 5x7's If I need anything bigger I can get it done anywhere for cheap enough Its a great little printer and for about 35 bucks you get enough ink and paper to do 120 4x6's. Or you could look ebay like i did and find it for 14 bucks. But it depends on what your gonna do with it

Good luck