Photo printers....

[Mark42]

Just a quick note for anyone thinking about buying a photo printer: <br /><br />After much research and being able to to a "hands on" test of many different brands of printer in my office, my personal choice is the Canon brand photo printers. Cannon brand has a very good quality printer (the one I use at home is a Cannon i850, only 1 year old and already out of production it was $130) and the ink is not expensive. Plus a nice feature is that each color ink comes in its own container. So there is no waste of ink like the 3 color single cartridge setups that some printers use (like HP and Epson). It takes 3 color cartridges, and one black. When red runs out, you replace red. When yellow, you replace yellow, etc. And the price is very good. I bought a set of cartridges from Ink Country online that was 3 of each color and 4 black (16 cartridges total) for much less than any store around here. <br /><br />Also, I found that brand name paper works best. AKA Cannon paper works better than no-name paper in the Cannon, Epson and HP printers I have hooked up to this machine. The cheap-o paper is not worth the savings because the contrast gets all messed up.<br /><br />Prices keep coming down in ink and paper to stay competitive with the Walmart in store self-service printers. Also, printers that are going out of production are a very good buy! Hint, hint, hint. (two months after buying my $130 Cannon, it was available for $75 at some liquidators, DOH!)<br /><br />So keep printing, buy quality after market ink and paper and have a ball!<br /><br />Mark

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Photo printers....

For photos I use an epson 300 but it has 6 small cartridges. Great photo quality. For text I route through my HP. Non of the photo quality printers are fast. I agree that quality paper is the way to go but always need time to dry or they stick to things.

 

[Pony]

Re: Photo printers....

IMHO the HP 385, and 475 are the TOP of the line in photo printing. I have seen and tested them all at work, and find the HP pictures to be of the best quality. Also the HP ranks as THE best brand for photo ink and photo paper.

 

[Link]

Re: Photo printers....

Hey Mark<br />We do a little photo printing but a LOT of regular printing. We have worn out 5 printers since 1995.<br />Two HPs, two Lexmarks (sp)a cannon and now we have a epson photo R200.<br />Went with the epson because it was <br />A: Cheap<br />B: It uses 6 individual ink cartridges. And we can drain each one before replacing.<br />It has cut the cost of ink by almost 50 percent for us.<br />I would NOT recommend this printer if your looking for Great photo prints. It does OK though.<br /><br />Our next toy for the computer will be a stand alone photo only printer. <br />But thats going to be a little spendy.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Photo printers....

The HP's are good printers. Very heavy duty, very expensive. But not as good as the Cannon photo printers at half the price for photo printing. That is based upon th equality of the print overall and when viewed with loop/magnafier. <br /><br />Pony said "Also the HP ranks as THE best brand for photo ink and photo paper." That's what I read about Cannon. I think these reviews and ratings change every month when the latest printer is unveiled. When I bought my Cannon, it was rated top in it's class at that time. So it does pay to read the reviews to find out what best printer is when you go looking. <br /><br />The only brand printers that never had head problems from extensive use are the Cannon and Hp. Even after sitting 6 months with no cartridges, the HP fired up and printed without clogged jets.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Photo printers....

Canon has one "N", not two. Just in case someone is Googling or searching electronics sites.<br /><br />Thanks for the review.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Photo printers....

Stratocaster,<br /><br />Ooops! <br /><br />Mark

 

[artburr]

Re: Photo printers....

I recommend Canon. I have an i860 and could not ask for better prints. I believe in using Canon ink, too. Had major problems with generics. I buy mine at Costco.

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Photo printers....

and now we have a epson photo R200.<br />Went with the epson because it was <br />A: Cheap<br />B: It uses 6 individual ink cartridges. And we can drain each one before replacing.<br />It has cut the cost of ink by almost 50 percent for us.<br /> [/QB]

And more importantly it prints directly to DVD and CD's........ <br /><br />I have the Canon I-860 and the Epson R200....<br /><br />HP has the most expensive ink and paper.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Photo printers....

I have the Canon I-850 also (3-years now), and it still cranks-out good quality pics - but for true photos, I'll use Costco, or Target, or whomever.<br /><br />In that time, I've had the chance to try a lot of different ink and paper, some good, some not-so-good.<br /><br />I have been quite happy with a 3rd party ink I've been using for the last 6-months. HobbiColors good prices, GREAT service, and a good quality ink. I used to pull paper out so my kids (5 & 7) wouldn't print foolish stuff. They've learned, but I don't care as much anymore, since the $20 kit is only about half used-up.<br /><br />Usual disclaimers, just passing along the info.