Printer recommendations

[Eggle]

I am looking on ebay to replace my 2 cartridge printer with a better photo printer.
I am thinking 2 - 3 years old, but top of the range.
Anyone with any recommendations?

[minky monkey]

What's the maximum size you're looking to print to? A4 A3?

I've always run Epsons in the past, currently a R265 which does A4. However, I'm having real problems with it at the moment with regards B&W prints. I'm moving over to a Canon MP640 shortly.

Neither are top of the line, but they do do very good photo prints. I think the problem with the Epson is lack of use TBH, I'm pretty sure it's got a blocked jet.

A friend of mine uses the Epsom A3 version of what I had, and that's certainly good enough for him to exhibit with. He uses a CIS system with his to keep the cost down a bit. It took him a while to set up the profile and calibration between the printer and the monitor though.

[Eggle]

Looking at A4.
I have seen an epsom R800, but the guy selling suggests a blocked jet, and google suggests it is a nightmare. It is one reason I have always had HP in the past, as the jets are built into the carts.
Never looked at Canon

[itsnotarace]

Canon Pixma range are excellent. Had mine 5 years and never a single blocked nozzle or similar, even with 5 or 6 months between use at times.

[Yellabelly]

Eggle said:

Looking at A4.
I have seen an epsom R800, but the guy selling suggests a blocked jet, and google suggests it is a nightmare. It is one reason I have always had HP in the past, as the jets are built into the carts.
Never looked at Canon

I think you'll find that the jets are also part of Epson cartridges and have been for a number of years, so if you asked him for a print of the pattern test it would tell you which cartridge to change. If he wants the sale then he could do that and prove the printer while you are there with another pattern test.

YB

[minky monkey]

itsnotarace said:

Canon Pixma range are excellent. Had mine 5 years and never a single blocked nozzle or similar, even with 5 or 6 months between use at times.

They do seem to get pretty good reviews. The iP4600 seems well thought of. I'm going the MP route, as it covers normal printing too, plus the wireless bit appeals.

[timhum]

I've got an R800, great pictures but the ink is incredibly expensive.

Tim

[Cabinet Enforcer]

Yellabelly said:

Eggle said:

Looking at A4.
I have seen an epsom R800, but the guy selling suggests a blocked jet, and google suggests it is a nightmare. It is one reason I have always had HP in the past, as the jets are built into the carts.
Never looked at Canon

I think you'll find that the jets are also part of Epson cartridges and have been for a number of years, so if you asked him for a print of the pattern test it would tell you which cartridge to change. If he wants the sale then he could do that and prove the printer while you are there with another pattern test.

YB

No, the jets are part of the print head and have pretty much always been so. The 13 year old one under the desk has them in the head and the brand new one on the desk is the same.

The main problem is the shift to pigment in the posh photo printers and that most people have central heating which lowers the humidity in the house, drying the heads out if they aren't used frequently. That said I have never had a problem that couldn't be cleared with one or two cleaning cycles despite leaving printers for months at a time on occasion.

For A4 I would get a R285 and a continuous ink system, just make sure it's good quality ink such as image specialists. The results are really very good and the printer is cheap as chips.

Having bought an A3 printer recently though, I would suggest reconsidering going for A4. I got an epson B1100 just before the prices went up recently, and despite being a 4 colour printer for office use it really does turn out some nice photos.

[Yellabelly]

CE, You are correct my error.

I agree with the point about central heating, as you say it just needs a few cleanng cycles.

YB

[LongQ]

Eggle said:

I am looking on ebay to replace my 2 cartridge printer with a better photo printer.
I am thinking 2 - 3 years old, but top of the range.
Anyone with any recommendations?

Buy used only if you can be sure it comes with at least a full set of inks AND that the price you pay does not exceed the cost of a full set of inks at typical internet retail delivered prices (not highstreet or RRP).

I think all manufacturers have a 'refurb' outlet on eBay - certainly Canon do - where some patience and careful assessment should allow you to pick up a fully warranted new or recent model for little more that the price of a set of inks. The only problem I could see with my Canon re-furb unit was some damage to the outside of the box it came in. Bear in mind though that the intial ink fill will pretty much use up a large part of the ink tanks contents so budget for a spare set from day one even if you don't actually plan on printing everything in your photo library in the first week.

You may already know this .... but I mention it just in case it has slipped your mind.

[Dogsey]

Epson for images & HP for documents has always been the perfect combination for me.

[wetny]

been happy with my pixma mp970 , scans negs as well