New printer, which do I choose?

[golfmore]

I know that have belabored this forum too much, but I want to do it again. I need:

1. A printer that does color
2. Is fast.
3. And will do photos.
4. More than two cartridges (good photo prints.)
5. Sorry for this. Must be a Canon.

Need suggestions. Thanks for the patience and help.
(I bailed on the Canon MP830.)

[jcampi]

I was going to ask, why a Cannon? Anyway, I've had an Epson R300 for about two years and love it. I don't know if Epson still makes the same model or not, but they do now sell an HD printer at a similar price. I believe they cost about $125. I love the six separate ink tanks. The color print quality is very good. About the only complaint I have is the speed of photo color prints seems slow. This is out weighed by the other great options and print quality provided by the printer. I love the ability to print directly on printable CD/DVD media. People can't believe I printed directly on CD/DVD media. The look is professional and sure beats those stupid labels. I believe the quality of the print on CD/DVD media is superior to HP's Lightscribe.

[golfmore]

Sorry for this, but,

1. A printer that does color
2. Is fast.
3. And will do photos.
4. More than two cartridges (good photo prints.)
I do brochures, and photos (a few) and then 4X6 cards. Just need fast and good for photos.
I need to ash out 200 - 400 cards a month. But ocasionally, I need to do an incredible brochure that I can reproduce. Tell me, what do I want? I am thinking that i MAY NEED TWO PRINTERS.

[photolady]

You don't need two printers, you just one that does all of it, and as I have already told you which kind I prefer (Epson), that's ones I'd be looking at. Something with 6 to 8 colors.

[mylanta]

As much as I agree on the scanner Epson, for printers, I think they are and have been the woirst for the past 5 years.
I had an Epson 400, many years ago that was awesome. It would not die but lost some functionality in XP so I moved on to C80. It leaked, was replaced and the replacement leaked and then seized up and within a year was useless. C82 did the same thing. C84 worked for 1 year great with no issues until it died and wasn't recoverable. C86 same thing. 300 photo printer worked flawlessly for 6 months until it refused to turn on. Replacement did the exact same thing to the day. I bashed it with hammer to prevent me from having it replaced and threw it away and bought Canon IP6220D photo printer, which I have had over a year now (first inkjet that has happened with in 5 years), have changed cartridges once, and it has never failed to print or caused an issue. Oh and most of my printing is done with an ancient HP 2500 color laser that will not die.
If someone were to give me an Epson printer now, I would escort it immediately to the dumpster unopened and save later efforts.

[kelly]

Rich - interesting you mention the Epson C80. One of my customers has one of them. I must have personally printed hundreds of color photos on her printer. She keeps buying ink from me. I tell her to hold off on the advance ink purchases because I don't know how long that printer will keep going. Now, I've been saying this for over 2 years now.

Just goes to show that a sampling of one is not indicative of the entire line. Your C80 did not perform;my experience is exactly opposite.

-td

[photolady]

Same here. I've not hand any problems with my C86 I've had for a year and a half now. Must be the way people abuse them. :D I have an Epson 1270 that is 6 years old and still works fine.

I've only seen prints from an HP and I didn't like them at all. Shadows printed grainy. So that would stop me buying an HP printer.

My best advice would be to check the printer, have where ever you buy it, send you or show you a print out, preferrable a photo. Then you can tell whether you really want that printer or not. If all photos printed out are grainy, show dots, or any other deficiency, move on to another manufacturer.

[kelly]

If you're doing brochures, consider a laser printer. Use a bright paper like HammerMill Color Copy 28 lb / 98 US brightness / 112+ Euro brightness.

The laser output won't run when it gets wet as ink jet output does. Nothing worse than having a brochure get wet and the color running.

-td

[mylanta]

Talking about HP inkjet is another world from laser. I would not buy an inkjet HP either. Software is a nightmare, ink is expensive and personally I don't like the quality. Laser though, no one can touch HP...they don't die you have to throw them away finally.

[jcampi]

photolady, I've had the same great results from my Epson R300 photo printer. It's about two years old now and hasn't given me a bit of trouble. I even use generic black ink tanks from ebay without issue. Until I bought the Epson I always owned HP printers. I have to say that HP does make a rock solid printer that works and prints great. I just wish they would go to individual ink tanks like Cannon and Epson. Maybe they have, but I'm not aware of it yet.

[photolady]

Well, I just bought a new printer myself. Gave it to me for my birthday I had last week. It's an Epson (of course), R260 has 6 inks and prints look like lab photos. Inkjet ink does not always run when wetted. Depends on the ink. Course all my prints get treated before hanging in frames or selling. I use Clear Coat.

[mylanta]

Hey you deserve it!!!

[jcampi]

I've had a R300 for about two years and love it. It prints on CD/DVD media and has some nice card readers up front. It prints the best of any printer I've ever owned. I just still think HP make a more rock solid printer as far as durability and reliability. I wish HP would make average priced photo printers with the individual ink tanks. I hate those stupid & expensive HP ink tanks that use a single cartridge for black and color.

[mommalina]

Well, I just bought a new printer myself. Gave it to me for my birthday I had last week. It's an Epson (of course), R260 has 6 inks and prints look like lab photos. Inkjet ink does not always run when wetted. Depends on the ink. Course all my prints get treated before hanging in frames or selling. I use Clear Coat.

Belated Happy Birthday, PL! .. :rockon: : .. :clap2: .. :party:

.....and many, many more! .. :hug:

Lina

[golfmore]

Happy B'Day. I may look at those. I'm biased on Canon

[photolady]

golfmore, that R260 cost me $79.99 down from $129.99. I bought mine because as a photograher I sell prints also, and this printer will allow me to print some nice looking lab looking photos. If you aren't printing a lot of photos, and are mainly printing brochures, and such, HP would be your best bet. As was mentioned, a color laser would take beating better than my or jcampi's Epsons. We use these differently than you would use your printer.

And thanks for happy birthday.

Lina thanks for yours too. I meant to tell you guys last Wednesday but with all the talk about computer repair, it slipped my mind. It was Thursday the 14th.

[golfmore]

Thanks for all the help. Will look into the Color Laser.

[golfmore]

PL, What is "Ultra Hi-Definition" really? I looked at the Epson R380. It has a discount to $139. Now I'm looking at the Canon IP6700D and the Epson R380. The feature of printing to Cd's and DVD's is one I like.

Good grief !!!!

[photolady]

Definition of Ultra Hi-Definition:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Landing/UltraHiDefinition.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes#UltraHD

And the reason it's called that is because of the type of ink and dispersal of said ink.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Landing/Claria.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

And yes, it can get confusing trying to find just the right printer. And to have better photos, it takes more than just a new better printer. It also takes expertise in the area of scanning your photos, tweaking them, then adjusting your printer software to match what you see on your monitor.

[golfmore]

Well, I am looking a this one, and a Canon.... I am confused, but I will sort this out. That Epson is not out of play here. Thanks so much for the input. I am waiting for a msg from Canon... We shall see.

[golfmore]

The canon won't print to CD's. Not a killer, but a nice feature with the Epson. I am also looking at the 260. Seems to be good value.

[golfmore]

I've read several reviews on the Epsons. All complain about the high cost of ink, and the ink cartridges don't last. Is this true, or do people want them to last forever?

[mylanta]

I think the printers don't last, ink is fine, printers are crap! Last 6 I barely got a year out of.

[golfmore]

Bought the Canon..................

[mylanta]

Good man you did right! Epson is a sick "yesterday giant" of technology.

[photolady]

Epson printers are fine. Having said that, will still not convince someone like Rich that they are. :D My counter to Rich's insistant that Epson printers are bad. :D

I have/had no problems with any of mine, the older Epson printers used one cartridge for color ink, and those cost more but lasted longer, depending entirely on how much or what you printed. The newer printers use individual inks and cost lots less. Also with my 260, I can use standard cartridges, or high capacity cartridges which has more ink in them. I've printed about 10 8x10 photos and I still have over half the ink left in my printer. These were printed on Epson brand semi-gloss photo paper, using Best Photo option which uses more ink. Cartridge cost varies depending on where you buy it, and if you're smart, you won't use anything but Epson inks. This is usually the reason your Epson breaks, using non Epson inks will damage an Epson printer.
If you leave an Epson printer sitting and do not use it regularly the inks will dry up. However, if you turn off the printer when printing is once a week or even once a month, the ink does not dry up as quickly.

Cost of ink runs about $12 to $14 for one color cartridge, so you buy that one which is out only and not a whole three or five ink cartridge. Of course, black cartridges are more expensive, even if it isn't for an Epson printer. :D

golfmore, I hope you are happy with your new Canon, and may it perform for you the best it can. If I couldn't get an Epson, Canon would be my next choice over any other brands.