Discussion
I've got an HPB9180 which I'm very happy with and if you use it with HP Advanced Gloss it gets great prints straight out of the box. If you use other papers like I do, you can download profiles and they've worked well too. Inks are larger cartridges than some competitors too which obviously makes it slightly cheaper to run. It also doesn't suffer from any sort of clogging of the heads (touch wood).
One reason I went for it is because I like doing both B&W and colour printing and I can't be ars*d swapping cartridges around like you have to in the Epsons.
[edited to add:]
It also is network enabled which helps too. Also, one of only a few printers with a built in closed loop calibration system (for the HP paper). Even so, I still use a Spyder to create my own profiles for some papers [end edit!]
If you can get an Epson 2400 they're still probably the best for B&W or it's replacement 2880 (?).
I'm sure some others will come along with suggestions soon too. I think the Canon is well thought of too.
One reason I went for it is because I like doing both B&W and colour printing and I can't be ars*d swapping cartridges around like you have to in the Epsons.
[edited to add:]
It also is network enabled which helps too. Also, one of only a few printers with a built in closed loop calibration system (for the HP paper). Even so, I still use a Spyder to create my own profiles for some papers [end edit!]
If you can get an Epson 2400 they're still probably the best for B&W or it's replacement 2880 (?).
I'm sure some others will come along with suggestions soon too. I think the Canon is well thought of too.
Edited by cirks on Tuesday 24th February 17:43
We have a Canon 9000 at work. It took a huge amount of work to get it printing correct colours. Out of the box it was way off spec (we use it for printing proofs of our books) and didn't match the pantone swatchbooks or our calibrated monitors, or the final press prints. We had to have a custom colour profile done for it in the end. Hoovers ink too, will easily soak standard 80gsm paper. Also doesn't have a network port, and is only compatible with Axis crap print crap server crap usb crap network crap adapter.
I bought an Epson 3 years back now. I compared the quality of the images from the systems at the time and the Epson had a better result both in quality of image and colour. Of course this may change, the unit has 8 or 9 cartridges (cannot remember now) and ink is approx 14 quid per cartidge. The quality is superb from memory (at work at present) its an R1800 which has since been updated.
Its fast even at a3 sizes and I have not been let down. BTW I am not an Epson fanboi, all my other kit is Canon just for some balance.
Its fast even at a3 sizes and I have not been let down. BTW I am not an Epson fanboi, all my other kit is Canon just for some balance.
agent006 said:
We have a Canon 9000 at work. It took a huge amount of work to get it printing correct colours. Out of the box it was way off spec (we use it for printing proofs of our books) and didn't match the pantone swatchbooks or our calibrated monitors, or the final press prints. We had to have a custom colour profile done for it in the end. Hoovers ink too, will easily soak standard 80gsm paper. Also doesn't have a network port, and is only compatible with Axis crap print crap server crap usb crap network crap adapter.
I have an axis box at home, the last place I worked used them isntead of investing in a propper network solution. Warned them about false economy but would they listen?Nearly succumbed to a 2880 Epson on Sunday. The results looked stunning, both colour and monochrome, and personally I think the best of anything I saw at the Focus show. It was a big step up from even the latest A4 printer, the PX700 (IIR the number correctly!)
Epson appears to be marching forward with their technology on each new release and my current, few years old, R300 is now way behind for quality. But you have to stick with Epson inks and papers, I reckon, to be assured of top notch results.
Epson appears to be marching forward with their technology on each new release and my current, few years old, R300 is now way behind for quality. But you have to stick with Epson inks and papers, I reckon, to be assured of top notch results.
stigmundfreud said:
Does it still use the same inks as the 1800?
Nope - think it's a different set of cartridges, from what I can make out in the spec. Certainly the show girls were telling us about a new technology for the latest cartridges in the A4 printers. Much better ink flow / less clogging is the claim.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff