Printers - DPChallenge Forums

12/21/2005 09:41:38 PM · #1

My better half wants to buy me something related to photography for Christmas. Can anyone reccommend a good printer? Are printers practical, cost wise or is it cheaper in the long run to just get them printed at a photographic store? Thanks in advance;)

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

12/22/2005 03:53:50 AM · #2

Do I have the plague or an odour problem?

MAK

Leica CL

12/22/2005 04:00:53 AM · #3

if you are running MAC the avoid epson because they have a few driver issues as i found out after getting the epson 960c i cannot use it with my mac... great..

Canon are good and epson too.. try not to get the all-in-one things with scanner and photocopy etc etc cos they are easy to break.

ZorbaTheGeek

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/22/2005 04:05:02 AM · #4

I really like my Epson R300 (Epson replaced it with the R320) for printing A4 sized pictures. I'd love an A3 R2400 or R1800 but they are just out of my price range at the moment.

Dye based printers like the R3x0 produce wonderful punchy prints on glossy and semi-gloss papers. The pigment based R800 is not quite so vivid (in my limited experience) but the resulting prints have MUCH longer lifetimes when hung on a wall.

As for the economics of "printing your own". For one-offs or large prints doing it yourself is the way to go, for runs of 4x6s take them to the store.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

12/22/2005 04:09:55 AM · #5

Thank you both so much for the detailed advice. Doesn't look like my husband will be home for Christmas, so it looks like I'll have time to do some more research based on your advice. Thanks again.

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

12/22/2005 04:11:22 AM · #6

canon i9100 - nice big A3 size competition quality prints.
expensive on ink, but to get A3 printed commercially would be much more expensive.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/22/2005 04:30:17 AM · #7

I'll second the Epson R300/R320. I have the 300 and it is great.

Pano

Pentax K10D

Pentax SMC P-DA 12-24mm F4.0 ED/AL (IF)

12/22/2005 04:31:11 AM · #8

yeah the Canon i9100 is soo nice, I got it about 3 months ago and i have give a few people gifts on panoramic photos printed on A3 and they look soo cool..
I made the decision between big A3 & good, or small A4 & excellent (newer higer resolution more expensive inks)

very happy with it

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12/22/2005 04:35:22 AM · #9

Thanks guys;)

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

12/22/2005 04:58:58 AM · #10

I have the HP 8750... the prints are stunning... the colors are accurate and the it does a great job.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/22/2005 05:04:18 AM · #11

I've had the Canon i9900 for about a year, and have been very happy with it. It prints FAST and beautifully, and I've been able to get excellent results on a variety of papers - most notably Canon Pro Paper, Kodak Professional Paper (black and whites aren't great on this), and all Ilford Papers.

This printer will only print to a length of 23.39 inches though, and I have found that to be a drawback. Canon has no plans to produce a RIP for this printer either, and no one else has.

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12/22/2005 05:07:04 AM · #12

One other thought... buy a wide format printer, whatever you do, those big prints are awesome:)

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/22/2005 05:41:11 AM · #13

I have just loved my Epson 2100 that I have had for a year and a half! It's brilliant!

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

12/22/2005 05:44:36 AM · #14

I like my i9900 too. And they're getting cheaper all the time.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/22/2005 08:40:18 AM · #15

Many fotog's here print on Epson 2200's. I use one as well. For simple 4x6's to go into albums, I use a local 1 hour photo. For wall prints or 8x10's I use my Epson. For large client orders (like 200 family portraits) I use a local professional lab.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

12/22/2005 10:21:05 AM · #16

Can't go wrong with Canon or Epson with 8 ink systems. Canon is faster and has a wider gamut (Epson is catching up). Epson has longer print life. Canon printers are cheaper but 3rd party inks aren't up to the quality of 3rd party for the Epsons. The print head for the Canon is user changable, the Epson has to be serviced. Lots of things to weigh off.