Running a printer at home has not seemed cost efficient for me in the past, but the Canon pro9000 is now going for $250 with a Canon rebate. At that price why not? I am considering it. Any recommendations - Thumbs up? Thumbs down?
Thanks, Scott
Posted by Fred Stearns on May 26, 2011 at 11:11 PM
I have the Canon Pro9000 Mark II and it works just fine. I have had no problem with it. I had the Pro9000 until the spent ink trough (?) filled up and it stopped printing. I looked it up and it was almost as expensive to replace I had paid for the printer new. Besides, the Mark II was out and it is a better printer.
I believe all printers have a similar arrangement for the ink they waste with all the cleaning they do, they just need to make them easier to replace. h, they need to make the replacement cartridges available as well.
I have the original 9000, just printed some 12x18's for a client tonight. The image quality is REALLY good, and so I imagine the MKII is even better. For $250, you can't beat it, but with all inkjets, prepare for ink cost. However, 5 or 6 bucks in ink and good paper turns into a $125 print that you'll be very happy to hand over to a client. There are so many great papers out now for the 13x19 format, that makes it worth it right there.
Fred, I have an Epson R380 that will do the same thing, stop working when the pad fills. I pulled the tube and redirected it outside the case and into a tiny Tupperware container to collect excess ink, been working great for years (here is the mod. I wonder if there's a mod for the 9000 series? I'll have to research that.
Scott, last thought, nature shots can come out dark and contrasty if you let the printer handle the color management (some may jump in here and argue, it could just me my printer). So if you get the 9000MKII, try these steps for accurate prints:
-In the Print dialog box, select "Photosdhop Manages Colors"
-Select the Printer Profile for the PAPER you're using
-Select Perpetual for Rendering Intent
-Turn Blackpoint Compensation On
-THEN go to the top of the form and select Print Settings
-For the 9000 XPS page setup dialog, make sure you select your paper again there
-Also make Color/Intensity be Manual, not Auto
That should get you accurate results!
For paper, some suggestions are:
-Glossy images, use Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum, no other glossy paper comes near it, it looks like wet metal IF you need a glossy solution. Someone just purchased a nightime skyline shot of Phoenix from me, and that paper made it scream.
-Matte images such as Portaits: Lots of choices, but Canon Fine Art Premium Matte is really nice and affordable.
-Fine Art Nature work: wow, this alone could spark a civil war, there are many brands that people swear by. I'll play it safe and suggest Moab Somerset Enhanced Velvet. I just bought some today at Adorama, they are the least expensive. But research that one, Somerset isn't the only excellent cotton rag out there. In fact, if anyone actually reads this far down and you use something on the 9000 that you really like, jump right in!
And of course, always always download the latest paper profiles.
Oy vey, I did it again, planned on a sentence ot two in reply, and ended up writing a book...
Having purchased my own Canon Pixma Pro9500 MKII about a month ago, I was quite shocked to see the price you quoted at $250 ... seeing as I paid the just over $800 ...... then I realised you're referring to the Pro9000 ;^)
It's the first time I bought a printer specifically for photos, and I have to admit I couldn't be happier. Here in Thailand (which is where I live) there's nowhere near the selection of paper brands that are on offer in the US or Europe, and while I initially went with what appeared the best, having spent some time at the Canon Customer Support Centre in Bangkok and seeing examples printed up on their own brand, even though it works out double the cost, I immediately jumped ship, as the quality is easily 10 times better.
Interesting to note what Paul wrote in reference to paper choice. Unlike your genres (looking at your galleries), mine is animals and birds, and having seen prints on several different Canon types I settled on Photo Paper Plus Semi-Gloss Satin. Never thought to ask anyone with more experience here before I made the decision, but I'd be interested to know if you or anyone else thinks wildlife images are better displayed on other types of paper.
I did buy one other type - Canon Fine Art Paper "Museum Etching" Fine Art - which, though more costly, does also look very nice, however, the nice effect of the textured paper is almost completely canceled out once glass is placed into of it, i.e. when framed. Is this kind of Fine Art paper not meant to be covered with glass I wonder? If so, what with the humidity levels in Thailand, I don't think this paper is one I could use in any case.
Not trying to hijack this thread and go off on too many tangents, just though this might be a good place to post these questions on, hope you don't mind Scott and best of luck with your new printer :^)
Adorama has the Canon Pro9000 Mark ( http://www.adorama.com/searchsite/default.aspx searchinfo=Canon+Pro9000+Mark+II+ ) for $449 with $200 dollar rebate until June 30, 2011.
Discussion
5 repliesThanks, Scott
I believe all printers have a similar arrangement for the ink they waste with all the cleaning they do, they just need to make them easier to replace. h, they need to make the replacement cartridges available as well.
Fred, I have an Epson R380 that will do the same thing, stop working when the pad fills. I pulled the tube and redirected it outside the case and into a tiny Tupperware container to collect excess ink, been working great for years (here is the mod. I wonder if there's a mod for the 9000 series? I'll have to research that.
Scott, last thought, nature shots can come out dark and contrasty if you let the printer handle the color management (some may jump in here and argue, it could just me my printer). So if you get the 9000MKII, try these steps for accurate prints:
-In the Print dialog box, select "Photosdhop Manages Colors"
-Select the Printer Profile for the PAPER you're using
-Select Perpetual for Rendering Intent
-Turn Blackpoint Compensation On
-THEN go to the top of the form and select Print Settings
-For the 9000 XPS page setup dialog, make sure you select your paper again there
-Also make Color/Intensity be Manual, not Auto
That should get you accurate results!
For paper, some suggestions are:
-Glossy images, use Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum, no other glossy paper comes near it, it looks like wet metal IF you need a glossy solution. Someone just purchased a nightime skyline shot of Phoenix from me, and that paper made it scream.
-Matte images such as Portaits: Lots of choices, but Canon Fine Art Premium Matte is really nice and affordable.
-Fine Art Nature work: wow, this alone could spark a civil war, there are many brands that people swear by. I'll play it safe and suggest Moab Somerset Enhanced Velvet. I just bought some today at Adorama, they are the least expensive. But research that one, Somerset isn't the only excellent cotton rag out there. In fact, if anyone actually reads this far down and you use something on the 9000 that you really like, jump right in!
And of course, always always download the latest paper profiles.
Oy vey, I did it again, planned on a sentence ot two in reply, and ended up writing a book...
$250 printer! Go for it!
Having purchased my own Canon Pixma Pro9500 MKII about a month ago, I was quite shocked to see the price you quoted at $250 ... seeing as I paid the just over $800 ...... then I realised you're referring to the Pro9000 ;^)
It's the first time I bought a printer specifically for photos, and I have to admit I couldn't be happier. Here in Thailand (which is where I live) there's nowhere near the selection of paper brands that are on offer in the US or Europe, and while I initially went with what appeared the best, having spent some time at the Canon Customer Support Centre in Bangkok and seeing examples printed up on their own brand, even though it works out double the cost, I immediately jumped ship, as the quality is easily 10 times better.
Interesting to note what Paul wrote in reference to paper choice. Unlike your genres (looking at your galleries), mine is animals and birds, and having seen prints on several different Canon types I settled on Photo Paper Plus Semi-Gloss Satin. Never thought to ask anyone with more experience here before I made the decision, but I'd be interested to know if you or anyone else thinks wildlife images are better displayed on other types of paper.
I did buy one other type - Canon Fine Art Paper "Museum Etching" Fine Art - which, though more costly, does also look very nice, however, the nice effect of the textured paper is almost completely canceled out once glass is placed into of it, i.e. when framed. Is this kind of Fine Art paper not meant to be covered with glass I wonder? If so, what with the humidity levels in Thailand, I don't think this paper is one I could use in any case.
Not trying to hijack this thread and go off on too many tangents, just though this might be a good place to post these questions on, hope you don't mind Scott and best of luck with your new printer :^)