OK, I've been using Epson printers for a couple of years - some smaller stuff and then the 1290. I've sued a bunch of different makes of paper (Epson, Ilford, Olmec, Permajet, Kodak), and both Epson and Permajet inks. I've been reasonably happy with the results.
But I decided I needed something to produce colour stuff on, so that I could dedicate the 1290 to being a b/w printer and stop having to mess with changing inks. Ona friend's recommendation I got the Canon iP8500 - friend is a theatre photographer, and I've always liked his b/w prints and he was raving about his Canon.
I am unbelievably impressed - right out of the box. It only works with canon papers, but the resuolts then are just flabberghasting. Fine details are phenomenal, shadow progression (which had always been an issue with the Epson) is perfect - really, I can't fault it - and what is more, with no messing with settings, black and whites (and those who know my work will know that that's a lot of what I do) and staggering - I prefer them even to the Permajet stuff, with which I was impressed.
Now, it's not a cheap printer. A full set of inks is fiendishly expensive - but they go on forever. The paper likewise isn't cheap; but it's all worth it - this is a beast of a machine.
Oh, and it's fast. 5x7 in under a minute, borderless A4 (which the 1290 would never do properly) in 2.5 minutes.
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