Hi All: I just sold my Epson Sylus Pro 4900 printer, as I wanted to downgrade. I am looking for a printer that can still print up to 13x19, but I don't want to spend more than $400. I was looking at the Epson Artisan wide format printers, but there are alot of negative reviews regarding difficulties replacing the ink cartridges. Does anyone have any recommendations for high quality, but relatively affordable printers?
thank you!!
Natalie
Posted by David Bostedo on January 27, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Unfortunately Natalie, $400 seems to be below any of the quality photo printers made by Canon or Epson. (HP made some previously, but has backed out of the market.)
The Epson Artisan line looks OK, but it's dye ink (which may or may not matter to you) and seems to be more of a general use printer that can also do photos, rather than a real dedicated photo printer. I'm not sure about that, but just looking at the online info, it reads that way to me.
For the price you're looking for, I'd suggest possibly looking for a deal on an older model, or even maybe getting a used printer. For dye ink, you could look to the Epson 1400, or Canon PIXMA Pro 9000, or 9000 MkII (or the newer PRO-1, which might be near your price range new). For pigment inks, it would be the Epson R1800, R1900, 2800, or 2880 I think, or Canon PIXMA Pro 9500, or 9500 MkII.
Posted by John Mumaw on January 27, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Have you considered outsourcing your enlargements?
With the high cost of ink and paper, not to mention the cost of the printer, it can actually be cheaper to get high quality prints done from photo labs. Best Online Print Lab Review
Posted by Eva McDermott on January 27, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Hi Natalie - I use an Epson R2880 which prints 13X19 and runs around $600. I like the quality it produces and convenience. For larger or specialty prints (metallic and true B&W) I use MPIX.
John: yes, I am using a photo lab for my larger prints. I just need something for my 8x10 and 11x14 prints. Anything larger, I send to Bay Photo to have printed.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 3, 2013 at 12:12 AM
Rats Natalie, had you popped this question up 6 weeks ago you would have landed a Pixma Pro9500 MKII for $100 after rebate (I leaped on that). OK, water under the bridge... My suggestion would be to look at the new printers that Canon has come out with the replace the beloved Pixma Pro9000 MKII (dye-based ink) and the Pixma Pro9500 MKII (pigment-based ink). Those are the dye-based Pixma PRO-100 ($449 at Amazon), and the pigment-based Pixma PRO-10 which is a bit over your projected budget but a superb printer/ It's normally $699 but has a $100 rebate through 3/31. Here it is on Amazon.
I had the 9000 for a few years and the prints were super if I used Pro Platinum mega-gloss paper, the dye ink just works well with that. But now on the 9500MKII, the pigment inks on many of the fine art papers are turning out amazing results. The new PRO-10 is the successor to the 9500MKII and does give you three cartridges for gray and blacks, so B&W printing is superior to the dye-based PRO-100 (successor to the 9000). I know it's $199 more for the PRO-10 but it's quite printer.
Just my 2 cents and some overly expensive ink!
Posted by Paul DeCesare on February 5, 2013 at 9:57 PM
Natalie, if you don't mind dye-based ink, here's a seller on Amazon that has some stock of the Pixma Pro9000 MKII's for $295 delivered. That 9000 gave me some stunning prints (I actually had the MK 1), but dye inks are said to only last 30 years instead of 100+ like pigment inks. Still better than the 8-10 you get from a walmart 8x10, lol. Anyway, with the money you'll save off of your $400 budget you can grab a pack of CL8 ink which I would do. The starter cartridges drain pretty quickly.
Discussion
6 repliesthank you!!
Natalie
The Epson Artisan line looks OK, but it's dye ink (which may or may not matter to you) and seems to be more of a general use printer that can also do photos, rather than a real dedicated photo printer. I'm not sure about that, but just looking at the online info, it reads that way to me.
For the price you're looking for, I'd suggest possibly looking for a deal on an older model, or even maybe getting a used printer. For dye ink, you could look to the Epson 1400, or Canon PIXMA Pro 9000, or 9000 MkII (or the newer PRO-1, which might be near your price range new). For pigment inks, it would be the Epson R1800, R1900, 2800, or 2880 I think, or Canon PIXMA Pro 9500, or 9500 MkII.
With the high cost of ink and paper, not to mention the cost of the printer, it can actually be cheaper to get high quality prints done from photo labs.
Best Online Print Lab Review
John: yes, I am using a photo lab for my larger prints. I just need something for my 8x10 and 11x14 prints. Anything larger, I send to Bay Photo to have printed.
I had the 9000 for a few years and the prints were super if I used Pro Platinum mega-gloss paper, the dye ink just works well with that. But now on the 9500MKII, the pigment inks on many of the fine art papers are turning out amazing results. The new PRO-10 is the successor to the 9500MKII and does give you three cartridges for gray and blacks, so B&W printing is superior to the dye-based PRO-100 (successor to the 9000). I know it's $199 more for the PRO-10 but it's quite printer.
Just my 2 cents and some overly expensive ink!