DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a spin-off of dpreview. We are a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. From smartphone to Medium Format.

DPRF is a community for everybody, every brand and every sensor format. Digital and film.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

Finally ready to get a private photo printer

We don't have a very good printer for photos...it is just a home all in one office thing by Epson and it fails on all levels to do things well for photography.

So, have decided to get a printer. For BIG stuff I'll go third party but my goal is 13x19 or 16x20 for myself and to be able to use bottle if possible (costs of cartridges are really not ok...and the chip games with OEM cartridges are also not ideal...). I have a 100mp sensor camera, so I want a printer that can really show off the images well on photo paper.

As a corollary question, is there an affordable good paper out there - or if not, what is the best paper (matte and glossy versions) that are in 8x10 and larger sizes?

Super thank you all. I want ot keep the printer at say 900 or fewer dollars....and I am ok buying used if such an option exists....without too many issues....we have space for a stand if need be too. We don't need a ferrari but we do want something reliable and that will make us happy to look at things on the wall. The plan is to do this for say 4 to 10 images a month and if one sticks up on the way for a long time to consider taking it to a BIG size....
 
Most it seems in the USA or Canada seem to swear by Red River papers (which sadly we can't get here in UK afaik) Printer wise I would suggest looking at the Canon Pro-graf 1000

Shelton.
 
Thank you.

I am torn between this printer with epensive ink options or the Epson 8550 with bottles of ink but imprecise color...wondering if there is a way to "calibrate" the Epson and have the best of both worlds..... Am leaning toward the Canon and doing InkOwl refills....at present.
 
I have owned and used Epson 2880, 3800 printers and 3880 a printer which is still working after 7 years. When the 3880 goes belly up, I plan to get the current Epson equivalent, right now that's a P900. This is the cheapest Epson that does 17x22" or any size smaller. There is almost always a rebate going from Epson that brings the price very close to your budget.
I am partial to the so-called Baryta papers, such a Canson Baryta Photographique II. It's not plastic, I like the surface, and prints should last a long time. The ink tank type home printers I've seen are all dye ink units whose prints will start to visibly fade after a few months of display if put up on the walls of your home. They're good for document printing, but IMO junk for photography
 
After a LOT of youtube video watching (there are some really talented people in photography) and reading, I am leaning to the Epson P900. I am not happy that it is locked into OEM cartridges in this country....it is perhaps against the law for them to do that given the Magnuson Moore law....the reason you can get 3 kinds of oil filters or more...oil, gas, etc. I am really amazed no one in this country hasn't fought that one....like the EU seems to have. Anyway, one quick question: can I put junk paper in the P900 in say a tray for timed prints to keep the nozzles clean (and is there an app for that that is free) and leave it in the printer for when I go to print my big stuff on good paper(s)? My ideal set-up is put super cheap photo paper, get a test image from the net that balances the ink to minimal but enough to jog the nozzle, and just print that every say 45 hours....or whatever is just enough.

So I need:

1. paper can be left in for big paper printing
2. app for windows that will print a 4x6 every X hours
3. an image that is an ideal nozzle jogger (but not ink waster)
4. what is the best interval for the p900?


Thanks!

Jeff
 
I am on my second Epson P800 printer. This was replaced by the P900 but you can still purchase factory refurbished P800s from Epson for a bargain the last I checked. The first P800 was flawless for 4 years (with extended warranties) and Epson sent me a great refurbished copy when I began to have issues. The second one has been great as well. This is also a 17 inch wide printer with a roll feed option as well. It uses larger (80ml) cartridges making the per print cost less expensive than printing with the P900. Just buy and use Epson inks...it is one less thing to think about. This is archival pigment inks using 3 black cartridges.

I have not had an ink clog issue with either copy....print a couple of nozzle tests every week or two and download one of many test images available online for testing.

I am a fan of Epson's papers. For matte papers (which I mostly use) try their hot press bright and hot press natural papers. I also use Red River's Aurora papers. For more traditional papers that use their photo black ink I use Epson's Platine or RR Palo Duro SoftGloss....both excellent papers.

Be sure to get something to calibrate your monitor and use Epson and RR print profiles and you will be happy!

Best,
Michael
 
Using a Canon ProGRAF1000 for a couple of years now. Always worked/works (and I do not print every week), and the results are simply stunning...over and over again. I always use original Canon ink (not the cheapest, but definitely worth the money). Whenever/if it dies, I' ll buy a new one for sure.
 
Back
Top