Epson 3800

[Bill W]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I currently have an Epson 2400 which was a refurb bought directly from Epson. It has been an excellent printer and does an excellent job. My previous printer was the Epson 2000P. It took a lot more work to get acceptable prints but I used it for over 5 years before I upgraded. I see that Epson has some 3800's as refurbs and am tempted to buy one even though I really do not need it at the present time.

My question is what have others experiences been with the 3800. I like to do B&W and I understand it does a great job in that venue. Is a RIP necessary?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[stunsworth]

Hi Bill, I have a 3800 and have found it a great printer.

 

I print mainly b&w - I can't remember when I last printed anything in colour. I don't use a RIP, the advanced b&w printing option does a brilliant job out of the box.

[wparsonsgisnet]

If I have the distinctions correctly, the 2400 and the 3800 use the same ink, the 3800 uses:

 

1. bigger cartridges,

2. will allow you not to switch the blacks, and

3. handles paper a little bit wider.

 

Both have no roll paper handler.

 

If you just got the 2400 and it's meeting your needs, then unless you want wider paper is there any advantage?

[EricC]

Hi Bill,

I have just sold an Epson R2400 and bought a new Epson Stylus Pro 3800 and straight out of the box it is producing superb prints. It is the best printer I have ever owned. Using Epson's own profiles, with their papers of course, and other manufacturers profiles for the appropriate papers, I get exactly what is on the screen on the print. :D

[stunsworth]

Bill, the ink costs are a lot lower on the 3800. Also changing from mat to glossy and back again wastes a lot less ink that the 4800 for example.

[Bill W]

If I have the distinctions correctly, the 2400 and the 3800 use the same ink, the 3800 uses:

 

1. bigger cartridges,

2. will allow you not to switch the blacks, and

3. handles paper a little bit wider.

 

Both have no roll paper handler.

 

If you just got the 2400 and it's meeting your needs, then unless you want wider paper is there any advantage?

 

Bill,

My 2400 has a roll paper adapter but I understand the 3800 does not which is not an issue really for me. I have a roll of canvas but have never gotten it to work on the 2400.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Steve,

 

I thot the lower cost of ink was due to the bigger carts. I knew that not changing them, for example because of the extra black, reduced waste.

 

Bill,

 

I am a little frustrated with rolls on the 2400 because Image Print does not handle the roll properly. At the end of the print, IP feeds paper forward rather than stopping and allowing rewind/removal. As a consequence, I now precut from the roll and feed the shorter piece that will handlily appear from the front of the printer at the end.

 

However, it's really hard to alilgn the short roll. As a result, I mostly use sheets.

 

All,

 

This computer stuff is only sometimes more fun than the darkroom.

[EricC]

If I have the distinctions correctly, the 2400 and the 3800 use the same ink, the 3800 uses:

 

1. bigger cartridges,

2. will allow you not to switch the blacks, and

3. handles paper a little bit wider.

 

Both have no roll paper handler.

 

If you just got the 2400 and it's meeting your needs, then unless you want wider paper is there any advantage?

 

Hello Bill,

To answer your points :

 

1. The cartridges, at least here in the UK, for the 3800 cost roughly 3X the cost of the 2400 cartridges but contain roughly 6X as much ink, therefore giving you ink at half the cost of the 2400 for equal amounts of ink.

 

2. The cartridges in the 3800 are permanently mounted in the printer and use very little ink when switching, whereas in the R2400 the photo black and matt black have to be switched manually and then purged.

 

3. The R2400 does up to 13 inches wide whereas the Pro 3800 goes up to 17 inches wide.

 

The R2400 will take roll paper but the Pro 3800 will not.

 

Have a look here to have all of your questions answered : Epson Stylus Pro 3800 FAQ :D

 

Eric

[medved]

Complex and finally depends on what you want and need.

 

 

Std. Retail Costs

 

Using std. B&H cartridge prices, the 2400 costs about ..69 a ml for ink, while the 3800 is a about the same at .69 per ml of ink. Capacity for the 3800 is 80 ml vs. 18 ml (I believe) for the 2400. If that 2400 cartridge is 14 ml it's advantage 3800, .69 vs. .88 per ml.

 

Discounted 3800 inks lower the costs but I'm not sure to what as I don't use them.

 

2400

 

The 2400 cartridges are just too small to be convenient, especially as I also run a 4800 with 110 ml cartridges. I'm always changing the 2400 cartridges and will be installing a CFS shortly, see below.

 

The 2400 takes roll paper to 13 inches; the 3800 only cut paper to 17 inches. Some roll paper is a lot cheaper than cut paper generally but that's another story.

 

 

However... there's another route to lowering ink costs where the 2400 comes out ahead.

 

If you're interested in B&W the 2400 is fully supported by Jon Cone's piezography including (his) refillable cartridges, the small ones (!) or a continuous flow system, both of which can reduce the cost per ml. to .17 per ml for his 7 black ink system buying in 4 oz bottles. It's a beautiful system which is very subtle and sharp and comes in neutral, split tone and selenium tones.

 

If you reload 2400 color cartridges from Cone with his color inks which have a good reputation, the cost for color comes down to .23 per ml. purchased in 4 or 16 oz. bottles. You can switch cartridges back and forth from Cone's system to Epson originals without flushing and losing a lot of ink.

 

 

3800

Unfortunately he doesn't support the 3800 yet so you're still stuck at .69 per ml from B&H and cut paper.

 

 

4800

I've managed to get the color ink costs for the 4800 as low as .24 per ml with a good purchase or two on e-bay. This would be .23 per ml using Cone's refillable cartridges for the 4800 and his color inks, so buying at a sharp discount can be cheaper but not as predictable.

 

 

 

Conclusion:

Refill your cartridges and the 2400 is a better bet as it takes roll paper and refilling ink cartirdges will be cheaper--so long as you don't want the 17 inch width. If you really have to have the 17 inches, buy a used or reconditioned 4800 and refill cartridges for the best long term economy.

 

My 2400 is dedicated to split-tone piezography; the 4800 to std. color and b&w with RGB toning. 4800 cartridges are common at a big discount right now; the 2400 is going to be refilled, probably cartridges refilled at first before I install the CFS as I can swap back and forth from neutral to split tone just by changing 3 cartridges in the system.

 

Of course, if you refill you need a chip resetter but they're cheap and easy to find.

 

Hope this helps sort out some of the variables.

 

 

Dave

[Bill W]

Thanks for everyones info. I will probably buy the 3800 and continue to use the 2400 till I have used up my supply of ink. I will probably sell it on ebay or Craigslist. I usually buy ink when Epson has a discounted sale and free shipping. I have heard it is best to use the Epson ink as it does not foul the print head like some of the after market ones. Since I do not use roll paper, the 3800 will work nicely to do larger prints.......