Which one do I get???

[Dutchdude]

Hello Printer-dudes (and dudettes),

I've never been into color photo-printers but I got a digital camera
for my birthday last year and have taken enough photos to fill my 20GB
hard-drive - hence I need to buy a nice photo-printer and do some
printing...now my dilemma; which one do I buy? I have around $200 to
spend and have heard great things about Canon's IP4000 & IP6000, also
been recommended Epson R300 in addition to HP 7690 ??? I mainly need
it for photo-printing but the odd resume or document could find its
way through the box, which one is best in terms of value & quality?
been told to check out ink compatibility too...

THanks,

DD

 

[Matthew]

I started a thread a few weeks ago asking a similar question. mainly
comparing the Canon iP4000 to the HP 7960. Got MANY responses mainly mixed
but since I actually had the opportunity to try BOTH I'll put in my 2 cents.
The HP 7960 was very nice. It has on board card readers, a small screen if
you choose to print directly from the printer. The photos on Kodak Premium
Picture Paper was fabulous, tough to tell from lab prints! Also the 7960's B
& W capabilities are well documented as about the best around certainly in
the $200 range. This printer can be purchased at COSTCO for $129 now!!
The 2 downsides of the HP: price of ink is prohibitive, the tricolor
photcartridge id $35 and the regular tricolor is ~$30. (I bought the THREE
separate color cartridges for the PIXMA at COSTCO for $27.
Second issue with the HP though it is not a big deal is it is rather wide.
Oh yes, and the card readers can chew up a bit of your RAM. Keep that in
mind.

The Canon PIXMA iP4000 is also very nice though it lacks the on board card
readers and the screen though you still can print directly to the printer
with a PictBridge capable camera. The prints at 4800 DPI were a TAD less
than the HP, something you would have to use a loupe to see, but the B & W
was not as nice as the HP.
The Canon has: Dual paper feeds, duplex printing, and blows away the HP in
the speed department, and all FIVE of the individual ink tanks can be had
for about 50 bucks.

There are many more pluses and minuses with both, check out steves digicams
http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html
and look at the reviews for the printers.

BTW, I kept the Canon and returned the HP. As much as I liked the HP, I do
not regret my decision.
Happy hunting,
Matthew

 

[Bill]

Hello Printer-dudes (and dudettes),

I've never been into color photo-printers but I got a digital camera
for my birthday last year and have taken enough photos to fill my 20GB
hard-drive - hence I need to buy a nice photo-printer and do some
printing...

If you want to print that many photos, you'd be insane to do it at home
with a printer and genuine ink. The cost of the ink and paper will be
very expensive compared to making a CD of the photos and having them
printed at a photo lab. We're talking anywhere from $1.00 and up for
each photo, compared to a lab at some 29 cents each.

But if you're willing to use bulk ink and refill your cartridges, and
also buy third-party photo paper, you can make it competitive.

Personally, I only print some photos at home, like quick snapshots from
parties or other basic events. Anything serious that I have a lot of
prints to make, especially second sets, I run down to the photo lab and
have them print off a few dozen for me there.

now my dilemma; which one do I buy? I have around $200 to
spend and have heard great things about Canon's IP4000 & IP6000, also
been recommended Epson R300 in addition to HP 7690 ??? I mainly need
it for photo-printing but the odd resume or document could find its
way through the box, which one is best in terms of value & quality?
been told to check out ink compatibility too...

If you're looking at all those models, also check out the competing HP
models (not the 7690) like the 8150, 8450, 6540, 6840. The 6540 is not
listed as a photo printer because it lacks the LCD displays, but it can
use the PictBridge connections and it prints as good as the other 6
colour printers, and very fast too. I never really cared about direct
photo printing anyway since I usually need to adjust, crop, or whatever,
a print beforehand.

I bought the 6540 to replace my now defunct Canon i850, and it performs
better than the old Canon. And in most respects, it performs better than
the new Canon Pixma series as well.

 

[CWatters]

Hello Printer-dudes (and dudettes),

I've never been into color photo-printers but I got a digital camera
for my birthday last year and have taken enough photos to fill my 20GB
hard-drive -

You need a DVD writer.

 

[Dutchdude]

Thanks Matt,

Your info was very helpful...
You mentioned the HP 7960 is going for $129 at costco, is that still
on or was it a special promotion??? I'm gonna decide to buy a printer
anytime now - although from reading your review and others its still a
toss-up between the iP4000 and the 7960...
I've heard colors tend to run/blend on the ip4000 ? is this true ?

CHeers, DD