High end printer vs getting images printed

chuck · 17 Mar 2013

I suppose my question is: When is right time to consider purchasing a higher end printer like the x pro-1 for example, rather than having someone else print for you, sending it away and paying per print (assuming the same print size)

A matter of cost, when would you suggest I would start to see value in my purchase?
Over a longer period of time?
Or is it immediately, does the control it offers make up for the initial price tag.

What stage in my photography journey?
Is it only suitable when I'm making a serious income or will the benefit of having a capable printer help me to get an initial boost ?

I'm considering the x pro 100, around £400. Only for home use, to print the images I'm taking for pleasure. With the hope that it's performance is strong enough to help with my transition into paid work.
For now it's more:
Move my images off my facebook wall and onto my ACTUAL wall.

In future it will be to help me have everything 'in house' as much as possible at least.

Has anyone been in this position, what decision did you come to?

Thank you for reading.

drooke · 18 Mar 2013

If you're talking about the Canon PIXMA pro 100, this can be had for just over £310 factoring in the current Canon cashback and Quidco cashback from Wex Photographic. I just bought one myself. This might help with your decision, although I can't comment on long term running costs yet!

Dan

cosmicma · 20 Mar 2013

the consideration has to be how many prints at whatever size you prefer can you have done for the price of the printer ?
then factor in how much it would cost to do the same amount of prints on the printer you plan to buy
add that to the cost of the printer and recalculate how many prints you could have professionally printed for the total amount

now work out how many you are likely to sell and how long it would take to break even

don't forget to add cock ups and duff prints to the equation and i think you will find that it becomes rather an expensive option to print from home

POAH · 21 Mar 2013

Using an A3+ printer to sell anything other than The odd print is not economical. For home use I recommend a decent inkjet over sendin away.

A decent pigment ink printer will have a wider gamut better Dmax and last longer than a print from a Fuji frontier etc

ikonic · 22 Mar 2013

its still cheaper to send away than print at home i worked in the photo trade for 12 years and you cant print any cheaper at home no matter what other people say, tried it myself got a canon A3+ printer at home and only occasionally use it even after buying lyson inks, still cheaper at labs, inkjet cant touch a wet lab print on quality yet, especially on a fuji make sure you're lab has a noritsu machine !.

Mystery57 · 22 Mar 2013

Printing at home whilst on the face of it seems a nice easy cheaper option is not always the case. Particularly if you intend selling items on.

The costs of the inks are usually expensive and so much is often wasted, then there is the curse factor when the print never looks like you hoped for and has to be redone and redone.

I dont know about longevity times of prints with the professional companies, but I have used decent printers at home over the years, and photos have faded a lot quicker than claimed by the manufacturers.

If printing for just yourself then yes go for it, although still not necessarily cheap. IF for a business use a professional company everytime and factor the cost into your fees.

simonkit · 22 Mar 2013

If you're planning on printing large quantities of prints and with your home printer intend using OEM ink & paper to achieve the best quality then you just can't compete with a decent lab like DSCL for price...I only use my home printer for one-offs or test prints

Simon

chuck · 22 Mar 2013

Thanks for the replies it clears a lot of things up and mentions things I hadn't even considered the longevity of the prints for a example.

(I like longevity, it's a good word I never get to use)

Daryl · 22 Mar 2013

you wont find a good Pro printer for under £2k that will give all round good ink and multi size print.

What stage in my photography journey?
Is it only suitable when I'm making a serious income or will the benefit of having a capable printer help me to get an initial boost ? When your last printing bill reaches £40k When you have a lot of printing/clients

For home use? what does it matter?

Pro ink jets life of print is now as good and better than a real Photograph