"best" photo printer

[arri]

hi
im looking to buy best quality photo printer - i know there is no such
thing as the BEST .. here is what im looking for a priter to provide

- broderless prints
- size upto 8x10 is okay
- inexpensive print cartridges
- price in the range of $200

thanks in advance

 

[Jan Alter]

hi
im looking to buy best quality photo printer - i know there is no such
thing as the BEST .. here is what im looking for a priter to provide

- broderless prints
- size upto 8x10 is okay
- inexpensive print cartridges
- price in the range of $200

thanks in advance

If you're looking for the 'best' photo printer in the range of $200 then
you'll be thinking either Epson or Canon. If you're asking for 'inexpensive'
ink cartridges then you're thinking ten years ago. There ARE no cheap ink
cartridges anymore, unless you are considering refilling them yourself. On
the other hand, what do you consider cheap?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

As you said there is no such thing as best.

The question is what is best for your needs?


Let's talk about the output...

Does it need to be glossy or matte of both?

Does it need to be archival and relatively fade resistant?

Doe sit need to be waterproof?

Is speed to print important?

Is a wide color range more important than other factors?

Do you need to print onto other than paper, such as to CD or DVD label
side surfaces or very thick materials?

Do you need to produce back and white photo-quality prints?

Will you be printing output on a regular basis or intermittently?

How many pages a week?

Do you need the printer to have an LCD readout?

Do you need the printer to have other features like scanning, fax, etc?


Art


If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[arri]

Thanks everyone for your feedback... here are some answers

 

[Adam]

For that few prints, have you checked out the price of having it done at
a local photo store instead? That might end up being the cheapest way,
and the store probably has better-quality equipment than you could afford.

Adam

 

[arri]

For that few prints, have you checked out the price of having it done at
a localphotostore instead?  That might end up being the cheapest way,
and the store probably has better-quality equipment than you could afford..

Adam

Thanks
I undetstand your point but I want flexibilty and print when I want
to and not depened on store hours

I was looking at canon PIXMA ip4500 and ip4600
although 4500 is significally higher in price than 4600
are there any ESPON printers that would match my needs as well?

 

[Adam]

I understand your point but I want flexibility and print when I want
to and not depend on store hours

I was looking at canon PIXMA ip4500 and ip4600
although 4500 is significantly higher in price than 4600
are there any EPSON printers that would match my needs as well?

I really have no idea what's available these days. You might want to
check out the customer reviews of various models at epinions.com and
newegg.com.

Adam

 

[Jan Alter]

I really have no idea what's available these days. You might want to
check out the customer reviews of various models at epinions.com and
newegg.com.

Adam

With Epson paper the C88+ will produce some pretty nice photos, but besides
that one can actually easily refill spongeless cartridges with either dye or
pigmented ink for waterfast, fade resistant and archival work. It's one of a
small group of printers that by refilling you can also have your 'cheap
cartridges'.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=c88+

Read the Neweggg customer reviews to get more information.

For the limited amount of printing that you're doing I think this printer
might be a good choice.

Even with the standard DuraBrite Ultra pigmented inks it fits what you ask.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

OK, this helps.

If you want archival images, you will need either pigment inks or high
quality dye/hybrid.

In Epson, I would suggest either printers using Ultrachrome inks like
the R800 (the smaller version of the R1900)if you can still find any (I
believe it has been discontinued) it does best with glossy images, but
does acceptable matte.

The C88+ uses 4 Durabrite Ultra inks. The print quality is not "the
best" but quite reasonable. It uses pigment inks, the only problem is
that it really needs regular use to keep from clogging. It can use a
wide variety of papers. You can also consider the Workforce 30 which
uses similar inks. Both of these are cheap printers, but the cartridges
are not.

The other option is the Artisan 50, which uses Claria 6 inks, which
gives a better result, and more accurate color, but it is not as durable
an ink as Durabrite, and again cost per cartridge isn't cheap. eh paper
choices are a bit more limited with these inks, but the results are
better looking.

In Canon, there are a number of inexpensive printers in the Pixma line.
Most use dye inks which are not that stable over time. A few use the
"e" inks which are pigmented and waterproof, but none are cheap,
however, they are less costly than Epson for the same yield.

Art





If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[arri]

OK, this helps.

If you want archival images, you will need either pigment inks or high
quality dye/hybrid.

In Epson, I would suggest either printers using Ultrachrome inks like
the R800 (the smaller version of the R1900)if you can still find any (I
believe it has been discontinued) it does best with glossy images, but
does acceptable matte.

The C88+ uses 4 Durabrite Ultra inks.  The print quality is not "the
best" but quite reasonable.  It uses pigment inks, the only problem is
that it really needs regular use to keep from clogging.  It can use a
wide variety of papers.  You can also consider the Workforce 30 which
uses similar inks.  Both of these are cheap printers, but the cartridges
are not.

The other option is the Artisan 50, which uses Claria 6 inks, which
gives a better result, and more accurate color, but it is not as durable
an ink as Durabrite, and again cost per cartridge isn't cheap.  eh paper
choices are a bit more limited with these inks, but the results are
better looking.

In Canon, there are a number of inexpensive printers in the Pixma line.
  Most use dye inks which are not that stable over time.  A few use the
"e" inks which are pigmented and waterproof, but none are cheap,
however, they are less costly than Epson for the same yield.

Art

If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
   I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

       http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/





- Show quoted text -

Thanks everyone for your time and feedback.
C88+ sounds like a good choice.