Printer

Paul pminteriors

Paul pminteriors

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Paul
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Evening all. I'm sure this has been asked before, probably even by me! I'm taking lots of pics lately but my printer is pap. I'm after a good a3 printer that supplements my camera capability (d7100). Any suggestions would be great. What should I look to spend? 3-500 quid??

Cheers.
 
From the couple of reviews, the canon pro printers get very good reviews, been using my canon IP8500 for years, although admittedly, with 8 individual ink cartridges ranging in price from £6-15 per cartridge, it's not the cheapest way of printing. I know people have raved about the Epson pro range A3 printers over the years, but I usually use DS colour labs for most of my printing needs. http://dscolourlabs.co.uk/

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/04/27/best-a3-photo-printers-6-options-tested-and-rated/

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/04/27/best-a3-photo-printers-6-options-tested-and-rated/

http://www.photographyblog.com/category/printer_reviews
 
A3 printing is expensive in terms of upfront costs, ink and paper so you need to consider if doing your own printing is worthwhile or if getting it done by a lab is better value.

Personally I print my own as I want to use my choice of papers and have control of the output so that it matches my screen. I also want to print when I want rather than wait until I've got a few ready to go.

Personally I use Epson and have been very happy with it. The Canons are also excellent by all accounts so whichever way you choose to go (if you buy one) you will be happy. Check out the printing forum for more on printers and printing, this kind of thing is discussed regularly in there:)
 
I've used an Epson R3000 for the past couple of years now and am very happy with the output from it, whether it's colour or black and white. I have had it replaced under warranty though after 35 months (got the warranty ext'd to 3 yrs for free when i bought the printer).
The upfront cost is high, the ink costs are far from cheap and the paper can get expensive as well (eg Hahnemuhle photo rag pearl or canson infinity). However for me the convenience, control and output outweighs all of those things.
 
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Home printing to a standard making it worthwhile is a time consuming and expensive exercise.

I understand why some people will bother, but frankly I can't see the point. Decent labs are cheap nowadays.
 
rjbell said:
Just get them printed at Ds colour labs for a quid.
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Needed some large (A3) prints doing myself. So pleased I saw this. Uploaded the pics to DS Colour Labs on Monday morning at about 8:00. Deilvered to my door the following morning at 9:00 by the postman. Cracking quality. Fantastic service. Had previously considered buying an A3 printer. False economy and, in all probability, poorer quality.

Thanks for the heads up. They'll be getting all of my custom in the future.
 
I have some nice paper by fotospeed for when I fancy something but I just use an office printer. Comes out okay, especially after I got a profile made. The reality though is anything I want done right is ordered from the print space using textured paper. If I am less fussy or want a lot at once I will use DS Colour.

I ran the numbers on an A3 printer and it just didn't add up. At over £1 just in paper before you add the cost of ink, test prints etc never mind the printer you will have to print a lot to break even. Though I really can see the appeal of "I made this" home printing, just not at that price.
 
Go for it. Decent papers destroy crappy C-types you get for a quid. Proper print will cost at least a tenner plus delivery. If you are going to print a lot you may as well get Canon Pro 10 and a large pack of Baryta type paper.
 
daugirdas said:
Go for it. Decent papers destroy crappy C-types you get for a quid. Proper print will cost at least a tenner plus delivery. If you are going to print a lot you may as well get Canon Pro 10 and a large pack of Baryta type paper.
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This.

DS colour labs are fine, I've used them lots in the last, but the prints off my Epson, certainly the monochrome ones, are in a different league entirely.
 
adrianday said:
Needed some large (A3) prints doing myself. So pleased I saw this. Uploaded the pics to DS Colour Labs on Monday morning at about 8:00. Deilvered to my door the following morning at 9:00 by the postman. Cracking quality. Fantastic service. Had previously considered buying an A3 printer. False economy and, in all probability, poorer quality.

Thanks for the heads up. They'll be getting all of my custom in the future.
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As someone who only has prints done for club comps, I don't consider that owning an A3+ printer is worthwhile in terms of expense, running costs and most of all SPACE.
A3+ printers take up far more space than I can spare, and are so bulky that storing one and the setting it up when needed is not an option, plus printers need to be used regularly to avoid clogging - I speak from past experience.

I too have found the results from DS Colour labs to be excellent, reasonably priced and as good as I would expect to produce myself.
Their prints exactly match what I see on my screen, so I can't ask any more than that.
 
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I only print for club comps and whilst im sure that the quality from labs is more than adequate for me not printing my own spoils the whole camera to final product for me. I dont do that much printing but use an Esom R3000 which i think is excellent.

If I printed higher volume for business use then id probably look into alternatives.
 
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