schimmey Posted December 7, 2014 Share #1 Posted December 7, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi All, Just wondering if anyone can recommend/suggest a good printer for printing my photographs rather than having to go to a pro site? Looking at something that can handle print sizes up to A2+. Thanks, Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 7, 2014 Posted December 7, 2014 Hi schimmey, Take a look here Which Photo Printer. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
algrove Posted December 7, 2014 Share #2 Posted December 7, 2014 Don't know about A2 limitations, but Epson is coming out (maybe it's already out for all I know) with a new printer for sizes up tp 13x19 with new and better inks and the like. They had one at Photo Plus in NYC I was told. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 7, 2014 Share #3 Posted December 7, 2014 Wide format printers are very expensive and the cost to ink up is in the hundreds of dollars. Plus the ink has a shelf life. Further I have yet to see an ink print that matches real photo paper exposed on a lambda printer. I feel your pain in that I enjoyed my years printing photos, color and monochrome. Digital has killed that part of the hobby for me. Home processing is simply not cost effective, not even close. After you spend thousands on a wide format printer, you better have a stack of prints to show for it that you can sell or display. I also would not get into this without pro level calibration equipment. Looking at a grand here alone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 7, 2014 Share #4 Posted December 7, 2014 Different strokes. I wouldn't bother with photography if I couldn't make my own prints. With the quality of equipment and materials today…including papers…the user is the only generally limiting factor. This is no different than in the darkroom days….some get excellent results from minimal gear, while others struggle with top of the line. It's all about understanding the craft and developing a disciplined workflow. I hang inkjet prints along with my silver prints with no problem. The Epson 3880 is a terrific 17" printer (no rolls). Anything bigger than that gets into heavy beast machines. I'd steer clear of the Epson 4900 due to clogging issues….other machines have improved greatly in this regard. I suggest you go over to the Digital PP section of the forum….and do some searches. There are dozens of informative threads already on printers….and printing. Jeff 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanyasi Posted December 8, 2014 Share #5 Posted December 8, 2014 I am glad to hear that Epson is upping the game in 13/19 printers. I am on my third Epson 4900 and its predecessor printer. Three months into the game with the new printer, I am getting clogs again. It is clear to me that unless you are print shop that prints daily, this printer is not for you--I am assuming continuous use is the solution. I am biding my time, and will probably switch to the smaller printer. At that time, I may buy two, one for Cone black and white inks and the other for color. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 8, 2014 Share #6 Posted December 8, 2014 (edited) I am glad to hear that Epson is upping the game in 13/19 printers. I am on my third Epson 4900 and its predecessor printer. Three months into the game with the new printer, I am getting clogs again. It is clear to me that unless you are print shop that prints daily, this printer is not for you--I am assuming continuous use is the solution. Nope, as I cautioned the OP above, the 4900 has clogging issues not specific to other Epsons; a dealer cautioned that production had even stopped for a period. You might try this approach. Jeff Edited December 8, 2014 by Jeff S 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted December 8, 2014 Share #7 Posted December 8, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have to agree with Jeff ..... I got a good deal on a 3880 and can't really fault it. I print intermittently and even after several months it fires up and prints perfectly first time. I was also rather astonished to have to change ink mid print and can find no sign whatsoever where it stopped for 15 minutes and then started up with the new ink ...... It is however big and you need a fair bit of space ......... and of course it tempts you to print everything big so you find yourself selling the family silver to finance the ink and paper costs ..... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 8, 2014 Share #8 Posted December 8, 2014 My 3800 is still going strong (6 years), but if it died, the 3880 would be even better. I wish there were a '3900' that had the additional inks as in the 4900, but I fear that might not be feasible with the current footprint or anything close. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted December 9, 2014 Share #9 Posted December 9, 2014 .....Further I have yet to see an ink print that matches real photo paper exposed on a lambda printer...... You need to look at a few more prints, then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 9, 2014 Share #10 Posted December 9, 2014 Epson sends me prints from each new model. I assume they are best that can be made in order to sell me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 9, 2014 Share #11 Posted December 9, 2014 Epson sends me prints from each new model. I assume they are best that can be made in order to sell me. Bad assumption. Plus, they didn't take your pic, didn't ask for your interpretation and certainly didn't use paper other than Epson. No wonder you're not pleased with print possibilities. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbers Posted December 12, 2014 Share #12 Posted December 12, 2014 +1 on the 3880. brilliant machine. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lals Posted December 14, 2014 Share #13 Posted December 14, 2014 Chiming in with another question.. If I only expect to make 5x7 prints usually, is the Epson 3880 still the best choice? Or are there printers that work for that size and are do not cost 1K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted December 14, 2014 Share #14 Posted December 14, 2014 I am extremely happy with my Epson 3800 for -ty years now, flawless Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted December 14, 2014 Share #15 Posted December 14, 2014 Chiming in with another question.. If I only expect to make 5x7 prints usually, is the Epson 3880 still the best choice? Or are there printers that work for that size and are do not cost 1K. Now that I know how my Epson3800 blossoms, I certainly would have done the same thing even with only 5*7 in mind, because it is much better than my former 2800. Although I can understand your idea about such a big printer for 5*7, I'm afraid you'll regret a smaller Epson, mainly because of thisandthat with ink everytime Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 15, 2014 Share #16 Posted December 15, 2014 Chiming in with another question.. If I only expect to make 5x7 prints usually, is the Epson 3880 still the best choice? Or are there printers that work for that size and are do not cost 1K. The Epson R3000 (13" printer) costs less, and various members here have used it with success. One also must consider ink usage and costs over the longer term. The R3000 cartridges are 25.9 ml versus 80ml for the 3880. There are various other differences….easy to check the specs. Keep in mind, too, that printers often are subject to both manufacturer rebates as well as dealer discounts…sometimes substantial. The money is made selling inks, much like companies practically giving away razors to sell more blades. A friend bought a 4900 a while back, and paid not much more than a 3880. [He also uses 3rd party refillable ink cartridges to save even more.] It's worth checking around and/or patiently waiting for the next bargain. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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