HP Photosmart 7960 vs Epson R300

[Aloke Prasad]

I did a comparison (on the supplied HP glossy paper, at the best quality
setting) between my HP at home and Epson at work. The result was a
toss-up. Too close to call. The Epson was just a teeny bit redder (it was
a portrait with lots of flesh-tones).

When forced to pick a winner, most folks picked the HP.. but it was really
too close to call.

It will come down to cost of the ink/page. Is there a benchmark or a
magazine that tries to quantify that (say by printing some standard set of
pictures at various settings?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

In fairness, although I would agree the printer output between Epson, HP
and Canon are very close these days (each have certain advantages and
disadvantages)... it isn't completely fair to print on HP paper to test
an Epson printer. The inks and papers are designed as a system. In
fact, most HP papers don't provide best quality possible with Epson
inks, and the reverse may also be true.

In general, HP printers use swellable polymer papers for their high end
papers. These papers tend to slow fading with dye inks, but are often
can pick up fingerprints is handled too much, and may not be waterproof.
Epson dye printers do well with micropore papers, which are "instantly
dry" on exiting the printer, but they tend to fade more easily
(depending on the qualities of the dye inks), and are usually
waterproof. but may have a more easily scratched surface.

Epson does make swellable polymer papers as well (Colorlife is one).
Pigmented inks, like the Epson Durabrite and Ultrachrome inks, are a bit
trickier, and Epson's web site provides a pdf "paper compatibility"
guide that offers suggestions of which of their papers work best with
which ink technologies.

Color balances will shift based upon the paper used as well. Most
inkjet printers come with paper profiles which alter the amount of ink
and color rendition to accommodate the differences in the paper
chemistry. For instance, I have found if I use the wrong paper profile,
the print may tend to show a color shift.


Art

 

[Aloke Prasad]

Absolutely true.
However, HP had bundled 3 sheets of their glossy paper, while Epson had just
a few 4 x 6 paper samples. I used the best paper I had (HP's) to test..

The prints were very close on regular plain paper as well.

 

[David Chien]

In general, the Epson printers will be cheaper to operate than the HPs
based on cartridge costs & paper costs. HP 4x6" glossy paper is
generally more expensive than Epson 4x6" packs at the stores and online
for example.

However, due to constantly shifting prices, check with www.shopper.com
and other online price comparison sites first to make sure which printer
is more expensive to operate.

In general, in prior Japanese magazine test reviews, HPs have been more
expensive to operate based on the Yen cost of consumables in their country.

Finally, keep in mind the printer costs as well -- here in California,
Fry's Electronics has the Epson 925 refurbished with full 1-year instant
replacement warranty for $49. This is the prior model to the Epson
R300, and produces prints just as good.

The difference between $49 and the $122 after rebate R300 (see
newegg.com for $152 - $30 rebate) = $73 difference. Vs. HP 7960 at $180
refurbished (www.shopper.com), $180 - $49 = $131, or HP 7960 vs R300 = $58.

Here, the $73,$131, or $58 difference when buying 100 packs of Epson
4x6" Premium Glossy Photo Paper at $9.73 (www.shopper.com lowest price)
= 7,13 or 5 packs = 700, 1300, 500 4x6" pieces of EPPG Paper = 29,54 or
20 equivalent rolls of 24 frames of 35mm film prints.

When you do the math like above, you can see that going with the R300,
or better, Epson 925 refurb'd, will signficantly save you money from the
very start, and give you up to 1300 free pieces of photo paper to print
on vs the expensive HP.

----

Here, going with the one generation older printer that matches the print
quality of the present generation at a blow out price will save you lots
of money in the long run.

And, if you so desire, you can even save the difference between the 925
and R300/7960 and use it to buy the R300 or 7960 next year when they
blow out on clearance at the same ~$50..... and you'll have two great
photo printers for the same price as one!

Smart shopping = huge savings!

No point letting the printer companies take your money anyways! They're
already earning ~$0.50 per 4x6" photo print (cost of ink + paper, in
general), so why spend more?

 

[Dave C.]

Which of the HP high end papers are swellable polymer papers, the Premium
Glossy or the Premium Glossy Plus (or maybe both).

Thanks,

Dave C.

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[Arthur Entlich]

I honestly don't know the exact chemistry of the HP papers. I currently
am not working with HP products, although I have used some of their
paper in the past. Perhaps someone else can reply.

In general, if you take a sample piece and expose it to warm water, and
it is swellable polymer, the surface will soften and get swollen. With
some the surface may get sticky or even dissolve off the paper surface
and the inks may wash off. A micropore paper exposed to warm water may
slightly swell, but usually pretty much remain as is, with minimal or no
ink running.

The swellable polymers hold the ink within the polymer surface, which
helps the dyes to get locked into place, giving it more resistance to
fading. The micropore papers usually have a ceramic surface which an
absorbent layer under it (often kaolin clay). The ink goes through the
surface and is brought into the lower level, but the surface, although
resistant to water, and dry to the touch, doesn't lock the dye molecules
in place, so they can slowly "escape" through the pores with exposure to
UV or oxidizing chemicals.

Art

 

[Dave C.]

I see, and prints I have made on Epson matte papers tended to fade easily.
I'll try the water test...I understand pretty much what you said. I worked
for Polaroid for many years, and the earlier dyes were organic which faded
even thought the receiving sheet had a gel coat. The later dyes are
metallic which resisted fading. My HP color printer has water based dyes,
so I am told....and probably are organic. I am a bit out of my league here,
but I'll give it more thought. I have used off brand glossy paper and have
seen fading after a short time in a room but not in direct sunlight. I
have yet to use HP premium plus papers with HP inks which as many have said
result in more fade resistant pictures....should use these for those that
need more permanence.

--
Dave C.

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