To Buy or Not to Buy and Why

[andalus]

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I shoot an M9 and really don't have reason to print more than, say 30 or 40 images a year. But those I want printed well need to be as perfect as possible.

So, the questions is, would it serve to buy an Epson 2880 or 3880? They are not that expensive, IMO, and it might be nice to have one on hand.

What do people do with digital photo files they want printed well?

Last I printed anything was transparencies into Cibachromes, which of course are lovely. Since I bought the M9, my first digital camera, my digital files are adding up, and some of them I'd like to print.

 

Any voice of experience commenting on what he/she does would be helpful. Thanks much!

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[holgerf]

I shoot an M9 and really don't have reason to print more than, say 30 or 40 images a year. But those I want printed well need to be as perfect as possible.

So, the questions is, would it serve to buy an Epson 2880 or 3880? They are not that expensive, IMO, and it might be nice to have one on hand.

What do people do with digital photo files they want printed well?

Last I printed anything was transparencies into Cibachromes, which of course are lovely. Since I bought the M9, my first digital camera, my digital files are adding up, and some of them I'd like to print.

 

Any voice of experience commenting on what he/she does would be helpful. Thanks much!

 

Keep in mind that the durability of the ink is about 1 year. So maybe if you print very few images you have to renew the ink.

 

Best

Holger

[jaapv]

You can also send your files here: They print better than I could and the mounting service is excellent.

 

http://de.whitewall.com/

[erl]

I have the 3800, essentially the same as the 3880.Great machines. Perfect print first time. Never been able to do that with the plethora of previous printers.

 

The first thing you can expect to happen is that you will be strongly tempted to print more, a good thing, and probably print larger than originally planned. That is because the M9 files look so good in print. A seriously big advantage is the ability to retain control of your printing and the timing. Being dependent on labs and service agencies used to drive me bonkers! YMMV.

 

You cannot put a cost or value on the joy of producing your own prints, analog or digital. My accountant never got his head around some of my habits. Poor him.

 

I am considering the next size up in printers. Big is definitely beautiful if your files will go the distance and the M9 will. It forces you to display them instead of storing in drawers or under the bed.

[delander †]

I have a Epson 3800 and if I was buying today, I would not hesitate to get the newer 3880 version. I would advise the 3880 and not the 2880 because of the ink cartridges being so small.

 

Printing oneself is great fun and also part of the complete photography experience. Do it yourself you will have complete control over the results.

 

Jeff

[Marty]

The cost is the ink not the machine, and you really do need to print regularly if you don't want to see your money evaporate, literally. My vote goes to the pro(!) print shops. This also takes a bit of research and trial and error but once you find one you like it is well worth it, and no less enjoyable.

[erl]

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The cost is the ink not the machine, and you really do need to print regularly if you don't want to see your money evaporate, literally. My vote goes to the pro(!) print shops. This also takes a bit of research and trial and error but once you find one you like it is well worth it, and no less enjoyable.

 

Marty, I respect your preference about Pro printshops. Problem is (for me) that they are fewer and further between. They do take time.

 

Regarding inks for self printing. Yes, they are the cost but still far cheaper than Pro labs. I have been running a 3800 for nearly two years now and I could never justify lab costs to print the equivalent I have produced from my own printer.

 

I acknowledge everyone has different requirements and would not dissuade you from your POV or practice. I simply offer my experience, as do you, for the benefit of the OP.

[microview]

It's a choice I still haven't resolved in my own mind. At least in the UK the r2880 has dropped in price until end December. Cost difference between the two machines would buy a lot of inks for the r2880. But the smaller cartridges are undoubtedly minuscule. It is essentially, as noted above, your anticipating the number of prints you might do per month, after the initial excitement of running off a batch of images you have stored and like. Of course, the 3880 allows A2 enlargement – and an A3 sheet is not that large!

[erl]

A2 prints look big when they are coming out of the printer, but when you mount and hang them on the wall they 'shrink.' I call it the 'postage stamp effect.' It does depend on the size of your wall space of course.

[delander †]

It's a choice I still haven't resolved in my own mind. At least in the UK the r2880 has dropped in price until end December. Cost difference between the two machines would buy a lot of inks for the r2880. But the smaller cartridges are undoubtedly minuscule. It is essentially, as noted above, your anticipating the number of prints you might do per month, after the initial excitement of running off a batch of images you have stored and like. Of course, the 3880 allows A2 enlargement – and an A3 sheet is not that large!

 

 

Before my Epson 3800 I owned a Canon A3+ printer with 8 inks all available separately. I was forever buying ink cartidges. It was not just the cost but also managing my ink stock. Print a couple of prints and find an ink running low and then realise that you need to order more so you look at all your ink stock and then add in a couple of others that you might run out of. When I sold the printer I had a drawer full of inks, with some missing of course.

 

With the Epson 3800 this does not happen because ink cartridge purchases are not that often. In the year or more I have had the printer I've purchased four inks, mainly the black/grey inks because I like B&W prints.

 

I rely on how the print looks so I find that I often print more than one version of a photograph. Try doing that with a pro lab.

 

Jeff

[richfx]

I purchased the 3880 several months ago. With Epson's $300 mail-in rebate, the all-in cost was really $300 because the printer comes with a full ink complement ($450 replacement cost).

It has been great fun (and at times frustrating) learning to print my M9's images. Monitor calibration, color spaces, paper choices, .icc profiles, etc. are a world unto themselves. The neatest thing is having total control of the image, from depressing the shutter button to viewing large images in frames. I highly recommend it. You'll print more than you think once you have a 3880 or other printer.

Rich

[andybarton]

You can also send your files here: They print better than I could and the mounting service is excellent.

 

Online-Fotolabor: Kaschierungen, Rahmungen, Prints und Foto-Abzüge - WhiteWall

 

Plus 1 on Whitewall. I have been extremely impressed with their service and quality. I have a mounted print going through their system now.

 

For more prosaic uses, I have had excellent service and quality from Photobox.

[andybarton]

I purchased the 3880 several months ago. With Epson's $300 mail-in rebate, the all-in cost was really $300 because the printer comes with a full ink complement ($450 replacement cost).

 

I think that you will find that the ink tanks supplied with new printers are not as full as the replacements that you buy. Epson (and all the other manufacturers) make no money on the printer - it's the ink that is the profitable commodity.

[stunsworth]

It's quite a while since I bought my 3800, but I'm pretty sure it came with full cartridges.

[Jeff S]

Andy is right about where the money is made, but my 3800 cartridges came full. Cone Inks has done tests, however, and claim that the Epson printers read 'empty' when there is still roughly 15% ink remaining!

 

When my Epson acted up last year and it took an extra 2 weeks for the local rep to get a part to repair a head issue under warranty, the rep gave me an additiional full set of new cartridges for my trouble (worth about $450). Almost makes me wish the machine would go down again sometime.

 

Jeff

[Guest WPalank]

Cone Inks has done tests, however, and claim that the Epson printers read 'empty' when there is still roughly 15% ink remaining!

Jeff

 

I guess it depends on which Epson printer and possibly the cartridge size.

 

From experience with my own Epson 7900:

The "ink is low" light started blinking on my Light/Light Black cartridge and I probably got more than 50 additional prints out of it.

 

On the cartridge's last print, the machine stopped printing midway through and I was asked to replace it. That cartridge was absolutely bone dry. After replacement, the machine continued and finished the print without a hitch. Brilliant system IMHO!

[erl]

William, that has been my experience with the 3800 as well. I remain impressed.

[Jeff S]

I like my 3800, too. I'm only reporting the news from the Cone (Inkjet Mall) site.

 

Not the first time Epson has been challenged (and lost)...Pacific Ink Blog

 

There might be technical reasons for having some ink left...some suggest avoidance of air being sucked into the system, etc. Don't really care much; just pointing out what many have cited. Easy to Google many other reports where people have cut open cartridges and routinely found ink left...not specific to the 3800.

 

Jeff

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[erl]

Jeff, I am sure what you report is founded on fact somewhere. My bottom line is despite that, the economy of the 3800 satisfies me, with the knowledge that Epson (same as the others) are ripping me off with the inks anyway. It remains my best option.

[Jeff S]

In case it isn't clear, Erl, I agree 100%. The reports are the reports. I share them only to address those who insist empty cartridges are bone dry. But, I use the 3800 and love the prints...to the extent I might add a 4880 and/or eventually replace the 3800 with a newer iteration at some point. I find no need to switch brands; nor do I have any need for outside services. I've consistently recommended the Epsons to many on this forum.

 

And, I think the OP should get the 3880 (small but noticeable improvements over the 3800 according to some reliable sources)...but it's not my money.

 

Jeff