maxofrome Posted October 26, 2012 Share #1 Posted October 26, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Lastly surfing the web I notice that some A3+ pro printer decrease in cost and now the Canon Pixma pro-1 is around 800Euro and the 10 at around 600. In the last few year since my boys were born I printed often picture of my family to professional lab and spent some hundreds of euros. Indeed I start to have some exhibitions and I like to print at home having some times. How is going with you? When is useful to invest in A3+ printer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 26, 2012 Posted October 26, 2012 Hi maxofrome, Take a look here Professional printer at home?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
IWC Doppel Posted October 26, 2012 Share #2 Posted October 26, 2012 I have recently purchased an epson 3880 and I am very pleased with the results so far, I am now appreciating the ability to print my own pictures It feels more than just the ability to print it completes the chain in many ways Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanyasi Posted October 26, 2012 Share #3 Posted October 26, 2012 Seven years ago I stopped sending my photos out for printing. Since then I have used Epson printers. To me the printing process is just as important as any step in the chain, so outsourcing it doesn't make sense to me unless it is for very specialized purposes. I enjoy printing my stuff. I am currently using an Epson 4880, which produces bigger prints than A3. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a printer. With that said, expect some frustration at the outset. You will need to get your monitor calibrated, so what you see is what you get, so plan on spending some money on a puck for screen calibration and some wasted paper. Once you get that worked out, you should be fine. My one suggestion: Print a sheet of paper at least once a week. It keeps the ink flowing. Oh, and make sure you have room for the printer. They can get big. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 27, 2012 Share #4 Posted October 27, 2012 Printers have matured to the point where there are no massive leaps to make anymore. Five years ago you would be looking hard at specifications to find out if a printer could do both great colour and B&W, but usualy it would only be one or the other it was good at. Now an Epson R3000 can do both, it can do it without any fuss, hardly any wastage of paper and ink, and you have a fantastic range of papers to choose from. So the headache of printing at home is over. It is a great time to buy an A3+ printer, and also a great time to go bigger than A3 with the growth of online print companies that can do fine art printing far more economically than running a larger printer just for the occasional very large print. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 27, 2012 Share #5 Posted October 27, 2012 My photo process isn't complete until I have printed, cut a custom window mat and framed my work. There are opportunities for aesthetic and technical judgments with every step from camera to presentation. I find particular reward in doing it all myself. Not everyone agrees, and that's fine, too. Different strokes. I use the Epson 3800, and have friends who use larger Epsons and other printers. I know some who use custom inks for b/w and/or color work (Cone inks, for instance, for 7 shades of black/grey). There are many steps one can take for incremental improvements (RIPs, calibration devices, custom paper profiles, monitor and software enhancements, etc). Just as in the darkroom days, it depends on your own standards and preferences...and more importantly, on your own abilities. Some people do much with little; some not. I'd rather work on my own skills than relinquish control to an outside service. Print size is a personal matter; I find 17" generally sufficient, even for exhibition work. Decisions must be made, too, on roll paper versus single sheets. Different machines have different feed capabilities. As Steve said, printers have improved immensely, but I find that feed mechanisms can still be a weak link in some. Keep in mind that manufacturers make profits on the inks; the printers are just the means to suck you in (think razors and razor blades). As such, there are often some incredible deals (discounts and/or rebates). Often the best deals are just prior to the introduction of a new printer series, but shopping around can always be beneficial. One friend of mine bought a new Epson 4900 earlier this year for under $1200 US. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanyasi Posted October 29, 2012 Share #6 Posted October 29, 2012 I think we may be at then end of the cycle on 4900 (and maybe other printers) because I have noticed some incredible deals. So +1 for shop around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted November 9, 2012 Share #7 Posted November 9, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I got my 3880 when a rebate was on for like USD850 with free shipping and no tax. Heck, a full set of ink can run about $600 alone so some I know sell the old one for like $300-400, buy a new one with 80ml ink cartridges and off they go. Sounds too much for me but that is what's happening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikhrafiq79 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #8 Posted November 12, 2012 the epson 4900 printer is far batter than 3800 printer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicakillen Posted November 21, 2012 Share #9 Posted November 21, 2012 the epson 4900 printer is far batter than 3800 printer. In what way? /Anders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 22, 2012 Share #10 Posted December 22, 2012 Epson sends me prints from every new printer trying to entice me. They are 16x20. Since they are direct from Epson, I would assume they the best that can be done. They pale against the Laser light prints on real photo paper I get from my pro lab. I only have monochrome laser printers for letters etc now. Make the image, soft proof to lab profile, send off to be printed with no color correction They are bright luminous prints like I have never seen with ink. I had a darkroom for 50 years and printed color. I miss it, but that is the price we pay for digital. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 22, 2012 Share #11 Posted December 22, 2012 Since they are direct from Epson, I would assume they the best that can be done. Bad assumption, despite the logic. Like saying that LFI magazine shows the best prints that Leica can produce. Or that samples from paper manufacturers show the best quality results (I generally use them to show texture and paper base color; not print colors). Often the cobbler has no shoes. Some laser prints I've seen have been fantastic, some not. Some inkjet prints I've seen have been fantastic, some not. Lots of variables and contributing factors there. And lots of room for incremental improvements, just like in the film days. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stitch Posted December 22, 2012 Share #12 Posted December 22, 2012 am using canon pro9000 mk II printer at home, so far im please with the result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted December 22, 2012 Share #13 Posted December 22, 2012 As I continue to go up the learning curve, I am reminded just how good the epson printers can be. I stare at anything printed I can find, I have not seen anything yet to match. Okay I don't wander around lots if galleries but no photography magazines can hold a candle to what comes out of my epson 3880 ( print quality not content I hasten to add ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted January 5, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 5, 2013 My Pixma 9500 MkII gives outstanding results - professional quality - and would strongly recommend the Canons for output quality:). However ink cartridges (9 series) are not cheap and sometime difficult to find:(. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 21, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 21, 2013 A good prolab that uses a laser printer on real photo paper is miles better than any inkjet I have ever seen. Epson sends me 16x20 prints made on the latest and greatest new printers. So far I have not purchased one. Add the cost of paper, ink, clogged jets, etc vs a print from a pro lab. Not that much different you will find if you factor in all the hidden costs. See my post in the digital forum today on how to get a good print from a commercial processor. 11x14 prints from my M9 are stunning and cost $4.00. Naturally you need to calibrate your monitor and it has to be a decent one, but you have to practice good color management to do home printing anyway. You can not color balance on a monitor that does not show good color. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your Old Dog Posted January 24, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 24, 2013 the epson 4900 printer is far batter than 3800 printer. Mine makes awesome prints! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruniroquai Posted January 25, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 25, 2013 Would You recommended the R3000 over the R3800, in terms of quality? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
esquire53 Posted January 26, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 26, 2013 the epson 4900 printer is far batter than 3800 printer. just got a 4900 and compared a few initial prints with a 3880 from a friend. From the b&w prints, the 4900 is finer in details. Both computer systems are with the same software driving the printer. Both printer are very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
banshy Posted January 27, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 27, 2013 Got the R3000 and am quite pleased with it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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