Need some advice - what's a reasonably good colour printer

BillN_33

BillN_33

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up to A4 size or what do you think?

£500 to £1,000 ......... is it worth spending £1,000

should I start with a "cheaper" one and see how it goes

Thanks for any advice that you can give
 
What's the intended purpose, office multi tasking or dedicated photo printing?
 
Based on photo use - Canon 200S or PRO 310, both A3+ though.

Some Epson models get good reviews and cheaper to run, I'm sure others will chip in with models.
 
Keith has a lot of info if you want to get lost in a rabbit hole ;)

youtube.com

Keith Cooper

Keith's photography, cameras, lenses, printing, reviews and how-to videos [100% AI Free] Hi, I'm Keith Cooper, an architectural and industrial photographer (Northlight Images) I also provide training in photography and modern photographic techniques to individuals and companies. Bespoke...
youtube.com youtube.com
 
Gav. said:
Keith has a lot of info if you want to get lost in a rabbit hole ;)

youtube.com

Keith Cooper

Keith's photography, cameras, lenses, printing, reviews and how-to videos [100% AI Free] Hi, I'm Keith Cooper, an architectural and industrial photographer (Northlight Images) I also provide training in photography and modern photographic techniques to individuals and companies. Bespoke...
youtube.com youtube.com
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Just watching him Gav .........his vids can be long but I covers loads of info ...... pity he never uses Lightroom
 
I have an old Epson ET2600 that uses bottled ink, been very happy with it for photographs and general printing. Took a bit of experimenting with different papers and print settings to get the best results. Not a 'professional' photographic printer but good enough for me !

When in finally gives up - I would most likely got for the ET-8550 for the 6 inks and odd A3 print
 
As others have mentioned, an Epson EcoTank is a good choice - we have the ET-3850 as a 'family' printer, and it's great, really cheap to run, had it over 2 years and no issues with nozzle blockages, even if left for 2-3 weeks without printing anything.
I've not tried printing photos with it (as I have an older Canon IP 8700 A3+ photo printer, which has a 5 ink system), but if I needed to replace that an EcoTank would be high on my list of options to investigate.
 
I use an epson XP-970 , had the 960 vesion for many years until it wore out.
Photos on a monitor are back lit- prints arn't. So be aware of a slight difference
printing ones own photos allows you to know if the colours are the same as place taken, Photos sent away for developement are guessed at
 
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The Duke of Bork said:
Epson ET-8550.

Bottled inks make printing much more affordable.
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Been looking at the ET 850 - Keith Cooper recommends it ...... but there are many negative reviews on Amazon, particularly to do with the paper feed

nearly "pressed the button" (until I read the reviews) as they have it at a good price
 
I've just bought one of the cheaper Espon Echo Tanks from Amazon (8561), was on offer too, replacing an aging 4155. I'm not doing any serious work though, just looking to save some money over the cartridges.
 
Brentor said:
How much printing are you likely to do?
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why do you ask? - I want better control and quality over sending away for prints........ plus it's all part of my interest in photography ......... so I could print a handful or 1,000 +
 
BillN_33 said:
Been looking at the ET 850 - Keith Cooper recommends it ...... but there are many negative reviews on Amazon, particularly to do with the paper feed

nearly "pressed the button" (until I read the reviews) as they have it at a good price
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Do you use heavy weight papers?

I can't comment on Epsons though, but Canon models have strong paper handling, love my 300.
 
Gav. said:
Do you use heavy weight papers?

I can't comment on Epsons though, but Canon models have strong paper handling, love my 300.
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never used a "proper" colour printer before ......... only a cheap ink jet ........ in the past I've always sent images away to be printed ....... uploaded to the internet ......... never been happy with the results compared against the computer screen
 
@

BillN_33​

I bought the Epson ET 7700 in 2019 for general use.
Good quality prints on A4 Print paper.
Reasonable priced bottle refills, they last for Yonks !
Never had a problem.
Wireless too, which is good.
 
BillN_33 said:
never used a "proper" colour printer before ......... only a cheap ink jet ........ in the past I've always sent images away to be printed ....... uploaded to the internet ......... never been happy with the results compared against the computer screen
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Take a look at Permajet, they have good papers and choice, plus offer ICC profiles for Canon & Epson photography printers.

They also have great after sales if needed.

Good luck with your choice and enjoy (y)
 
BillN_33 said:
why do you ask? - I want better control and quality over sending away for prints........ plus it's all part of my interest in photography ......... so I could print a handful or 1,000 +
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If Inkjet printers are not used regularly the ink left in the nozzles can dry and harden, blocking them, which leads to using a lot of (expensive) ink in repeated cleaning cycles to clear the blockages. My experience is that using 3rd party inks (rather than the more expensive manufacturers inks) can make this more likely to occur, and the EcoTank printers are less prone to this (or perhaps it's just that with the large ink reservoirs you don't notice the ink used this way).
If you are only printing a few pictures a year, you will gain the control, but may find you spend a lot of time just maintaining the printer (rather than enjoying the process of turning an image into a beautiful print).
 
Faldrax said:
If Inkjet printers are not used regularly the ink left in the nozzles can dry and harden, blocking them, which leads to using a lot of (expensive) ink in repeated cleaning cycles to clear the blockages. My experience is that using 3rd party inks (rather than the more expensive manufacturers inks) can make this more likely to occur, and the EcoTank printers are less prone to this (or perhaps it's just that with the large ink reservoirs you don't notice the ink used this way).
If you are only printing a few pictures a year, you will gain the control, but may find you spend a lot of time just maintaining the printer (rather than enjoying the process of turning an image into a beautiful print).
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Keith Cooper recommends that you "use" the printer once every 2 weeks ........"run a page through"
 
The Duke of Bork said:
Epson ET-8550.

Bottled inks make printing much more affordable.
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Another vote for this - they have an A4 version also. Incredibly cheap to run and superb results. I use it with Lightroom, and also Epsons own utility, EPL
 
Gav. said:
Take a look at Permajet, they have good papers and choice, plus offer ICC profiles for Canon & Epson photography printers.

They also have great after sales if needed.

Good luck with your choice and enjoy (y)
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I use exclusively Permajet. Their own profiles are excellent.
 
Thanks for all your replies ......... probably keep reading for a couple of weeks then decide
 
Have to chip in here with my 10 pence worth. I used Epson printers for a few years but only for myself as enjoyed the printing but got fed up with the blocked print heads on the Epson so couple years ago purchased a Canon Pro 200, using Canon inks cannot fault it, also use Canon's print pro software (free) and again cannot fault it once you have it setup for paper type (Canon) images print size A4 or A3 it just becomes click and print, yes the inks can be a kittle expensive but you only get what you pay for, Russ.
 
I have looked in to buying a printer for my fine art wildlife prints which I frame, and sell. The paper I use at a local print shop is Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl, or the Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta.
The issue I can see for me is the set up cost of decent printer ( used price ) £300 - £500, 10 x canon ink cartridges at £10 each, pack of Hahnemühle 25 sheets print paper apx £95
I probaly sell 1 print a month, so for me I use the print shop purely for a cost issue.
 
russellsnr said:
Have to chip in here with my 10 pence worth. I used Epson printers for a few years but only for myself as enjoyed the printing but got fed up with the blocked print heads on the Epson so couple years ago purchased a Canon Pro 200, using Canon inks cannot fault it, also use Canon's print pro software (free) and again cannot fault it once you have it setup for paper type (Canon) images print size A4 or A3 it just becomes click and print, yes the inks can be a kittle expensive but you only get what you pay for, Russ.
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I came from a Canon Pro 200 to the Epson 8550, and even my wife commented on hoe “cleaner” (her words) the latter looked. I have printed literally dozens of A3 colour prints and only used about a quarter of the ink capacity (you can physically see the levels).
 
Not sure if it’s of any help to you, Bill, but I’ve been a lifelong Epson user. My current 10-year-old 3880 is still going strong after 3k+ photo prints. I print A4 to A2.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments ......... will wait a few weeks until I have a Screen Calibration tool and have got used to it but the Epson ET 8550 does look good value plus the ink costs look reasonable .... strangely on Amazon the 8500 is priced above the 8550
 
jerry12953 said:
Although you pay for the ink upfront rather than every few weeks/months.
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presumably it comes with ink when purchased new ....... and I think Epson state over 2000 odd prints
 
BillN_33 said:
presumably it comes with ink when purchased new ....... and I think Epson state over 2000 odd prints
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It does, and even a full set of bottles is only about £90. I managed to blag an extra set free from the place who supplied mine (sorry, can’t just remember who it was, but they were competitive)
 
Amazon have the 8550 at £536 and I believe there is a £70 cash back at present too.
Mine has been faultless, prints award winning prints at my club and so very very cheap to run that I now print almost exclusively A3 just because I can!
Highly recommend.
 
I've recently purchased an Epson XP-970 from the Epson outlet shop on eBay. It's an A3+ printer with three paper paths, an A4 scanner and can print directly onto printable CD/DVD's. At under £150 (available elsewhere for just under £200) it's an absolute bargain (y) It will be fitted with a CISS in due course and always used with genuine Epson inks.

It replaced an XP-900 that I used (and abused) for more than a decade and clearly suited my purpose (printing card stock for my wife's cottage industry and photos for me) as the 970 is it's closest replacement.
 
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