Recommend Me A Printer.

[Ian D J]

Probably the most boring, common and tiresome question anyone could possibly ask, but all I want to know is this: What is the most reliable printer out there?

Price will be no object, I'm not fussed about makes, I wouldn't mind an A3 version, is inkjet better than laser? However, ideally I'd like a standalone version (not those multifunction ones). Naturally I'm looking for reliability more than anything after yet another £60-type printer had failed on me.

It's only recently that I'm starting to have people asking me to have prints of my photographs so I'd like to be able to produce one-off quality prints on glossy paper I can sell at a fixed price (have already sold a couple and the buyers were extremely pleased).

I'm aware that you can order prints online and I was very impressed with the "test" print I recently ordered on DSCL. But like I said, I'd like the ability to produce quality one off prints on the fly before I get too serious, hence the need of a good solid reliable printer and not one that packs up on me within 6 months! Hence my asking this question.

It's just I've just been made unemployed after 17 years as a farmer, so I thought I might as well make a go of it with my photography. I have absolutely tons of materials on me so I've got something of a head start material-wise.

Bear in mind that I'm also a long-time cartoonist so again that's another reason why I want that good solid printer I can trust and rely on. Like I said, if it costs me £300 for such a printer then so be it, I'll still be interested.

 

[nealeholl]

Found myself thinking the same thin a month or two back. Plumped for a Canon Pixma 9000, very pleased with the results so far, although people have warned of high ink costs...

 

[Ian D J]

Found myself thinking the same thin a month or two back. Plumped for a Canon Pixma 9000, very pleased with the results so far, although people have warned of high ink costs...

Hi, Neale and thanks for the very quick reply and will add that into the list!

That's the thing, it's the cost of inks I need to take into account and I'm not overkeen on compatibles as they seem to kill off printers (speaking from experience). But that is an age old matter which I'm sure everyone is aware of.

 

[EOS_JD]

Forget laser if you want any photo quality images.
Also "glossy" paper is what you get from jessops, I'd say use a lustre of semi-gloss for your images - a little more professional.

The new Epson 3000 looks very nice but you can look too at the other A3+ printers on theirbooks which are all very decent. Canon's printers too are nice

You will probably still be cheaper (per print) sending to a lab though - especially for smaller images.

 

[EOS_JD]

Hi, Neale and thanks for the very quick reply and will add that into the list!

That's the thing, it's the cost of inks I need to take into account and I'm not overkeen on compatibles as they seem to kill off printers (speaking from experience). But that is an age old matter which I'm sure everyone is aware of.

Look also at a CIS. I use a Fotospeed Continuous Ink Sysytem and saves me a fortune in ink and quality every bit as good as Epson's inks.

 

[Ian D J]

Forget laser if you want any photo quality images.
Also "glossy" paper is what you get from jessops, I'd say use a lustre of semi-gloss for your images - a little more professional.

The new Epson 3000 looks very nice but you can look too at the other A3+ printers on theirbooks which are all very decent. Canon's printers too are nice

You will probably still be cheaper (per print) sending to a lab though - especially for smaller images.

Hi Jim. My last printer, the one that packed in, was an Epson, but it was a cheapo £60 jobby anyway. :nuts:

I've just been reading up on the Canon 9000 and I think that's starting to look a very attractive proposition. I have no debts or outstanding bills to pay and have savings in my bank. Heck, I don't even have a car as my old workplace was local to me, so I might as well use some of the redundancy money to treat myself to a decent pro-level printer.

Oddily, I have noticed that the pack of 50 Semi-gloss from the local Wilkinson shop seem to produce better results print-wise than on the more expensive well known brand gloss paper.

 

[Ian D J]

Look also at a CIS. I use a Fotospeed Continuous Ink Sysytem and saves me a fortune in ink and quality every bit as good as Epson's inks.

I've read up about that only the other day, it looks very clever and would solve the having to keep pluggin in new cartridges situation. Unfortunately the printing head on my current printer is seriously glogged up (10% cyan, 70% Pink, 70% yellow only works no matter how often I ran it's head cleaning system) so it's no good in me getting into that if the ink isn't going onto the paper anyway.
Mind you, that does look like something that could so easily go wrong on me!

 

[ChrisH]

I have a Canon 9000 that I left for a few months and it was producing seriuos banding.

I bought a new head which is user replacable for an arm and a leg. Before I fitted it I decided to try Prinhead Hospitals cleaning fluid kit. Crikey I shouldn't have paid for the head. An overnight soak in the magic fluid and pumping some through the head and it's like brand new.

If you buy an Inkjet no matter what you think you can't leave it weeks between prints, it will block up.

The 9000 produces stunning prints, but if you have the extra go for the 9500, it uses Pigment inks which are supposed to hold up to fading longer and supposedly they have a better gamut.

Personally I'll still keep using refillable carts and cityink ink in my 9000 but I have some printhead fluid on standby.

If you want quick prints try Lidl Glossy photo paper, it's cheap as chips and produces fantastic results.

 

[Ian D J]

I have a Canon 9000 that I left for a few months and it was producing seriuos banding.

I bought a new head which is user replacable for an arm and a leg. Before I fitted it I decided to try Prinhead Hospitals cleaning fluid kit. Crikey I shouldn't have paid for the head. An overnight soak in the magic fluid and pumping some through the head and it's like brand new.

If you buy an Inkjet no matter what you think you can't leave it weeks between prints, it will block up.

The 9000 produces stunning prints, but if you have the extra go for the 9500, it uses Pigment inks which are supposed to hold up to fading longer and supposedly they have a better gamut.

Personally I'll still keep using refillable carts and cityink ink in my 9000 but I have some printhead fluid on standby.

If you want quick prints try Lidl Glossy photo paper, it's cheap as chips and produces fantastic results.

Hi Chris and thanks for your post. That's exactly what had happened to my current one, an Epson SX400, I hadn't used it in a good few weeks and when I tried to print off a quality photo, I noticed there was some banding, and then the ink ran out.
So I brought a new packet of cartridges and all was back to normal, but then in the second or third print off the banding returned and it got worse. So I started using the head cleaning thing and that in itself drinks a lot of ink anyway but it hadn't solved it, in fact the banding was worse then ever so I gave up on it hence the decision to get the new printer.

 

[Ian D J]

Just realised I've put this thread in the wrong section as this isn't a camera-related matter. So if any of you kind mod/admin can move it to the correct section then feel free to do so.

 

[ChrisH]

Worth having a look at this place before you bin your old printer even if you do buy a replacement.

http://printheadhospital.co.uk/

 

[Ian D J]

Worth having a look at this place before you bin your old printer even if you do buy a replacement.

http://printheadhospital.co.uk/

I'm sure it might be worth trying to salvage my current printer so could give it a go. Or at least be useful if I do go onto owning a more expensive printer.
Thank Chris, you have been a huge help!

 

[EOS_JD]

I've read up about that only the other day, it looks very clever and would solve the having to keep pluggin in new cartridges situation. Unfortunately the printing head on my current printer is seriously glogged up (10% cyan, 70% Pink, 70% yellow only works no matter how often I ran it's head cleaning system) so it's no good in me getting into that if the ink isn't going onto the paper anyway.
Mind you, that does look like something that could so easily go wrong on me!

Ian
I meant for use on whatever new printer you buy. If you print any volume the cost of ink is horrendous! A CIS may seem expensive but will save you a fortune and quality is every bit as good. I print wedding albums and proivide framed prints with no problems at all - in fact I get comments on the quality of the prints!

So think carefully. Read the reviews. Canon seem to produce good pro quality printers too but not so easy to use CIS systems as they put electronic chips on their cartridges. And running an A3 printer is not cheap

I did a comparison last night to look at Epson's R2880 against a 3880.

2880 = £480 (Amazon) and includes approx. £80 worth of inks.

The 3880 is around £925 (Amazon) but you get £400 worth of ink included!!

So overall not much difference in the price and cheaper to run longer term.

 

[EOS_JD]

If you want quick prints try Lidl Glossy photo paper, it's cheap as chips and produces fantastic results.

When using such an expensive high quality printer I'd suggest you should really be using a paper with an appropriate profile to provide accurate prints. When you buy paper from Fotospeed or Permajet of or the like they will help by providing free profiles for their papers - so you get a quality paper and a profile to match the paper/ink/printer you are using. This makes a big difference.

And if providing paper for customers, lustre or semi gloss will provide a more professional look to your prints.

JD

 

[ChrisH]

EOS JD

Your right about semi gloss and matt papers. I will add to my comments that I have a SpyderPrint print calibrator so I can make my own profiles, something that if you use non genuine inks is an absolute must have.

You can buy all the posh papers and get all the free profiles you want but if you don't then use genuine carts then your wasing your time.

As for the quality of Lidl paper I've used tons of the stuff, it's always consistant in quality and as I like glossy for me it's perfect. It's German made paper and is better than some of the high branded stuff.

But I suppose it's horses for courses

 

[EOS_JD]

EOS JD

Your right about semi gloss and matt papers. I will add to my comments that I have a SpyderPrint print calibrator so I can make my own profiles, something that if you use non genuine inks is an absolute must have.

You can buy all the posh papers and get all the free profiles you want but if you don't then use genuine carts then your wasing your time.

Actually that isn't the case - If you use generic profiles that are meant for compatibles I'd then agree with your point. Or if you use cheap compatible cartridges that do not have consistent inksets then I'd also agree but that is where a CIS comes in. Consistent inks many times cheaper than Epson/Canon inks are fine and so long as you profile with the ink/paper you use then you will get consistent output. My Fotospeed CIS has been excellent. You don't need to be tied to Epson/Canon to get fantastic consistent images.

As for the quality of Lidl paper I've used tons of the stuff, it's always consistant in quality and as I like glossy for me it's perfect. It's German made paper and is better than some of the high branded stuff.

But I suppose it's horses for courses

I use glossy papers too on the odd ocassion where an image suits it but when providing images for clients I don't use glossy papers - I just think a lustre like Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl or Fotospeed PF Lustre is a far nicer finish.

This depends on the effect you are looking for as I find some Matte papers better. Permajet Portrait paper is beautiful.

Just make sure as you will know, that you have a profile for each paper with the ink set you use in the printer.

Cheers
Jim

 

[ChrisH]

Your quotes

Consistent inks many times cheaper than Epson/Canon inks are fine and so long as you profile with the ink/paper you use then you will get consistent output.

Just make sure as you will know, that you have a profile for each paper with the ink set you use in the printer.

........................................................................................................


My quote

I will add to my comments that I have a SpyderPrint print calibrator so I can make my own profiles, something that if you use non genuine inks is an absolute must have.

As I said if you don't use genuine inks and paper then profiling is a must. That follows for CISS systems too, I've had a number and it depends on the inks you buy. Some are consistant, many are not. If you go for something like a Lyson system then they are good. Any other system is pretty much hit and miss.

I profile for every new supplier of ink that way I get consistency.

I stand by the fact that Lidl glossy is good paper.

If you don't use genuine carts and paper then profiling is a must do

I'm not sure whether my previous posts can be misconstrued other than maybe a Spyderprint is a must, any colour profiling device will do as long as it generates good profiles.

If you use anything but genuine inks and genuine papers whatever make and want colour accuracy then a profiling device is the way to go.

Strangely though if I use Lidl paper I use Canons Glossy photo II profile as it's even more accurate than my spyder for that particular paper.

 

[allanm]

I can second the CIS systems. I got mine from www.Cityinkexpress.co.uk and use them on an Epsom Photo 1400 ( A3+) and an HP multifunction.
Colours are very good, in fact I have had many comments about how the Epsom provides better colours and detail with the CIS. Its a 6 colour unit with a total of 600ml ink for jaround £60!

Allan

 

[ChrisH]

Allan I use their inks in refillable carts, I've used a number of CISS systems but decided this time I liked the idea of having the lid properly closed. I've used their inks for quite a while now and have to agree the colours are damned good.

I don't know how good their UV stability is as I've not left any in the sun, however I restored a picture for a friend 2 years ago and used some cheepy ink, the picture I printed in B&W is now Red&W LOL.

 

[EOS_JD]

As I said if you don't use genuine inks and paper then profiling is a must.

No more so than if you use original inks.....

That follows for CISS systems too, I've had a number and it depends on the inks you buy. Some are consistant, many are not. If you go for something like a Lyson system then they are good. Any other system is pretty much hit and miss.

You only need to search and the good ones are there. I agree Lyson are up there with Fotospeed and Permajet.

I profile for every new supplier of ink that way I get consistency.

That will ensure consistent output

I stand by the fact that Lidl glossy is good paper.

I don't disagree with that but it's not a paper I'd pass to a client.

If you don't use genuine carts and paper then profiling is a must do

Profiling is a MUST DO with ANY prints you make - genuine ink or not.

I'm not sure whether my previous posts can be misconstrued other than maybe a Spyderprint is a must, any colour profiling device will do as long as it generates good profiles.

I get my custom profiles from the paper manufacturer free. I'd like maybe a ColorMunki but £300 is a bit much when you can get the profiles free. I also profile my monitors with a Spyder 2.

If you use anything but genuine inks and genuine papers whatever make and want colour accuracy then a profiling device is the way to go.

Even with genuine ink and paper, if your whole workflow is not calibrated it will fail. A generic profile may work for you but often not - so i say get a proper profile no matter what paper/ink combo you use.

Strangely though if I use Lidl paper I use Canons Glossy photo II profile as it's even more accurate than my spyder for that particular paper.

Yes I too have mixed profiles with different papers with decent results.

 

[EOS_JD]

Allan I use their inks in refillable carts, I've used a number of CISS systems but decided this time I liked the idea of having the lid properly closed. I've used their inks for quite a while now and have to agree the colours are damned good.

I don't know how good their UV stability is as I've not left any in the sun, however I restored a picture for a friend 2 years ago and used some cheepy ink, the picture I printed in B&W is now Red&W LOL.

I too have had this issue with cheapo inks. I have a lovely pink image in a frame inthe girlfriend's room (Scrub that just changed it) ! What a difference! Was printed on an old Canon A4 inkjet a few years ago

 

[Ian D J]

Ian
I meant for use on whatever new printer you buy. If you print any volume the cost of ink is horrendous! A CIS may seem expensive but will save you a fortune and quality is every bit as good. I print wedding albums and proivide framed prints with no problems at all - in fact I get comments on the quality of the prints!

So think carefully. Read the reviews. Canon seem to produce good pro quality printers too but not so easy to use CIS systems as they put electronic chips on their cartridges. And running an A3 printer is not cheap

I did a comparison last night to look at Epson's R2880 against a 3880.

2880 = £480 (Amazon) and includes approx. £80 worth of inks.

The 3880 is around £925 (Amazon) but you get £400 worth of ink included!!

So overall not much difference in the price and cheaper to run longer term.

Mornin' Jim. Ooouch, £480 and £925 is a little too rich for my liking.

I'm still leaning towards the Canon Pixma 9000 as that does seem to be a nice compromise between a cheapo inkjet that has the lifespan of a fruit fly and the seriously more expensive ones as mentioned in here. I'm only expected to run off perhaps two to three prints per week "on the fly" to sell (I can always do bulk orders via DSCL if it needs be) and it'll be handy to have that A3 print option so that particular printer should serve me well - although I will have to take into account that I will have to find new space for it due to it's larger size.
I'm still very unsure about that refillable inkflow system, though. I've been watching Youtube videos on how it is done and they seem to make it look so easy and once done properly and successfully I can see it will work very well, but I just know it'll end in tears at my end! (Bearing in mind that my house is quite small and cramped with no workshop to do anything messy or major in).

Thanks for the healthy response to this thread!

 

[ChrisH]

Refillable carts are easy to use. A quick regular check by setting the printer to cartridge swap position.

Flick out each cart in turn and there's a clear part of the tank you can see the level in. Pair of cheap plastic gloves or borrow some from the petrol station. I syringe full of ink through a bung in the top. Job done.

You could even go for a more expensive ink if you wanted to.

It's the way I went because it keeps the work area free of tanks of ink and it also keeps out the dust because thee lid can remain closed.

 

[EOS_JD]

Refillable carts are easy to use. A quick regular check by setting the printer to cartridge swap position.

Flick out each cart in turn and there's a clear part of the tank you can see the level in. Pair of cheap plastic gloves or borrow some from the petrol station. I syringe full of ink through a bung in the top. Job done.

You could even go for a more expensive ink if you wanted to.

It's the way I went because it keeps the work area free of tanks of ink and it also keeps out the dust because thee lid can remain closed.

I do that with my cheap Canon A4 printer.

 

[EOS_JD]

Mornin' Jim. Ooouch, £480 and £925 is a little too rich for my liking.

I'm still leaning towards the Canon Pixma 9000 as that does seem to be a nice compromise between a cheapo inkjet that has the lifespan of a fruit fly and the seriously more expensive ones as mentioned in here. I'm only expected to run off perhaps two to three prints per week "on the fly" to sell (I can always do bulk orders via DSCL if it needs be) and it'll be handy to have that A3 print option so that particular printer should serve me well - although I will have to take into account that I will have to find new space for it due to it's larger size.
I'm still very unsure about that refillable inkflow system, though. I've been watching Youtube videos on how it is done and they seem to make it look so easy and once done properly and successfully I can see it will work very well, but I just know it'll end in tears at my end! (Bearing in mind that my house is quite small and cramped with no workshop to do anything messy or major in).

Thanks for the healthy response to this thread!

No bother there are other options like the Epson R1400. Not sure what the differences are but to be honest the Canon will perform perfectly for you I'm sure.

I prefer pigment to dye inks but I think dye inks are better than they used to be a few years ago.

THe CIS is pretty simple really and I had the same worries but it works pretty well in reality

So long as you are aware of the ink costs as well as paper and the initial outlay then go for it..... You could probably have bought many hundreds of prints before (if ever) you make savings.

But it is handy having a big printer and nice to see your work getting printed pretty big