Epson Stylus Photo P50 - time to replace it?

[Rupert67]

I've had my P50 since April 2010 and it's never let me down and gives extremely satisfactory glossy prints up to and including A4.

Recently Epson has discontinued the cartridges for this printer model, so I've started using 'compatible' cartridges from a company called Cartridge People. They swear blind that their cartridges are filled with the correct colour ink formula and, more importantly, the appropriate anti-coagulant to maintain printer head viability.

Recently I've noticed a strange yellow/green bloom in the dark black areas of my pictures, so I conducted multiple head cleaning cycles, followed each time by the requisite nozzle check test prints. I spent ages in an online support session with Epson over this issue, and was told that the problem I'm having is down to the non-OEM yellow ink cartridge installed, which appears to be leaching into the black space.

I happened to have one genuine Epson yellow ink left in the drawer, and having installed it in place of the 'rogue' item, followed by multiple head cleaning cycles and nozzle check prints, I was disappointed that there was little or no difference.

I'm starting to wonder if I should replace the printer, but I see that virtually all of the Epson range are 'eco tank' models, i.e. not cartridges like I'm used to.

I'd appreciate some recommendations for a replacement printer that at least matches my P50. I don't want a combination unit, since I already have a document printer (HP) and a flatbed scanner (Epson). I'm not averse to a change of brand.. I'll probably have to chuck out a few new unused inks in the process anyway!

 

[Bristolian]

Practically every retailer of non-OEM inks claim they are compatible but not many are when it comes to producing the right colours. The best I found when I used cartridges was from Cartridge Save - https://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/ink-cartridges/Epson/Stylus-Photo-P50.html - but even then you might have problems.

If you want to extend the life of your P50 then consider a continuous ink system with Epson Ink Tank inks. Specialist Inks make a suitable system - https://www.specialistinks.com/epson-p50-continuous-ink-system-marrutt-inks.php - and have a tie-in with Marrutt Papers for non-OEM inks. Personally, I prefer to use genuine Epson inks which I buy from cartridge save - https://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/c13t09b-pack.html. Marrutt may even have ink cartridges suitable for your P50.

I recently pensioned off a 10+ year old Epson Expression XP-900 due to terminal mechanical problems and replaced it with an XP-970 from Epson's eBay shop. The new CIS system and inks arrived today so that will be a job for tomorrow

 

[Rupert67]

Thanks Bristolian.. plenty to consider there.

 

[ChrisR]

I've had my P50 since April 2010 and it's never let me down and gives extremely satisfactory glossy prints up to and including A4.

Recently Epson has discontinued the cartridges for this printer model, so I've started using 'compatible' cartridges from a company called Cartridge People. They swear blind that their cartridges are filled with the correct colour ink formula and, more importantly, the appropriate anti-coagulant to maintain printer head viability.

Recently I've noticed a strange yellow/green bloom in the dark black areas of my pictures, so I conducted multiple head cleaning cycles, followed each time by the requisite nozzle check test prints. I spent ages in an online support session with Epson over this issue, and was told that the problem I'm having is down to the non-OEM yellow ink cartridge installed, which appears to be leaching into the black space.

I happened to have one genuine Epson yellow ink left in the drawer, and having installed it in place of the 'rogue' item, followed by multiple head cleaning cycles and nozzle check prints, I was disappointed that there was little or no difference.

I'm starting to wonder if I should replace the printer, but I see that virtually all of the Epson range are 'eco tank' models, i.e. not cartridges like I'm used to.

I'd appreciate some recommendations for a replacement printer that at least matches my P50. I don't want a combination unit, since I already have a document printer (HP) and a flatbed scanner (Epson). I'm not averse to a change of brand.. I'll probably have to chuck out a few new unused inks in the process anyway!

I wouldn't turn down the ecotank printers out of hand... but you do need to consider the specs carefully; many only have 4 inks and some have weird paper delivery configurations (one Canon one only had a top feed!). I have an Epson 8550, which is A3, 6 inks which hardly seem to have gone down at all. There is an almost identical 8500 which is A4. They do have a scanner, but you can ignore that. Alternatively there's the 18100, also 6 inks and A3; I haven't tried this, but the print quality should be pretty much the same. (Keith from Northlight Images did a review, including a comparison with the 8550; he claims the 18100 is not suitable for quality black and white, if that's your thing. I can confirm that I've been able to produce reasonable black and white prints for the first time ever with the 8550, but it takes a bit of care).