Photo printer - value for money?

SusanWardrop

SusanWardrop

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Hi there

My husband and I have recently got married and with some of our wedding present money we have left we were looking to purchase a photo printer.

We're reading up on lots of different ones at present, trying to get one that's great quality and wireless but with inks that aren't too expensive.
We've got between £100 and £150 to spend on one.

Could anyone recommend from either personal experience or user knowledge of what are good and what to stay well clear of please?

Thanks
Susan Day :)
 
I'm sure I'll be contradicted here, but here goes.

Epson - usually the best picture quality. BUT - have a long history of clogging when not used regularly i.e. at least a couple of times a week, preferably daily (even if it's just a simple colour graphic). Ink prices - well up on the price range.

Canon - allegedly not quite as good as Epson, but most people wouldn't complain and would be hard pushed to decide which was better. Stand up to longer periods of inactivity without clogging. Ink prices much more reasonable.

HP - Probably third, behind the above two. Picture quality can be excellent depending on (top end) printer, but budget models probably just average. They have the advantage of cartridges with built in ink nozzles, so if you get an uncleanable blockage, a new cartridge gives you a new print head. But you pay for it in prices though. And - maybe somebody will correct me if I'm wrong - but HP budget models don't have the advantage of separate cartridges for each colour. So if one colour runs out you replace a cartridge containing usable ink. They have separate black cartridges though.

Kodak - I have no knowledge of these. Except they advertise cheaper printing but won't say what cost.

Lexmark - cheap and always the worst amongst batch reviews

To be honest, I've used my printer for photos hardly at all over the past couple of years, or more. I'm finding that online printing is very cost effective through the likes of Photobox. I do big batches of 6x4s and at 5p each for 500+ you can't get anywhere near that price at home. Up to 150 at 10p each. Again, I don't think you could better this at home. Excellent quality too. A4s at £1.20 - not so sure if home printing is cheaper with good quality (Ilford) A4 paper at say 40p a sheet (7DayShop), plus the ink, plus the wasted test paper, plus the wasted paper when your Epson printer clogs. I've just had 20 A4s printed by Photobox and I think I'll go back for more.

And for normal printing - get a colour laser.
 
just a note for people with epsons, legend has it that if you turn the printer off and on daily with the on printer switch and it'll do a mini headclean of sorts that won't use ink and should keep your heads from drying up :)

(would imagine the above might work for other inkjets also)

mister e pretty much has it, at the end of the day it depends on your usage if you're looking for colour critical stuff with a top end epson and calibration the results are impressive however a decent canon would be my next choice if you're not overly critical :)
 
MisterE said:
I'm sure I'll be contradicted here, but here goes.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't dream of contradicting my learned brother ;), but would like to add that I've used Epson for the last 7 years, my CX3200 is that old and has never clogged or ate the paper and is still going strong, I've always used compatible inks too.
I bought an Epson RX585 too, because it was a good deal, used individual inks and has better print quality.
The CX3200 is relegated to printing off web receipts and copying.
 
My mate just bought a kodak printer, lovely piece of kit, tempted to get one myself.
 
so much to saY :)

for that price, canon every time.
I agree with epsons clogging up and everytime they do that head clean, they use ink.

I've never been impressed...EVER with an epson photo (r200 and r300 etc) unless you look at the RX800 and A4 printers
canon pixma 4600 ish series and then the photo dedicated ones..also use the correct paper for best results
 
I have found that its a lot cheaper to upload prints online & have them printed. But then I don't mind waiting :)
 
MisterE said:
I'm sure I'll be contradicted here, but here goes.

Epson - usually the best picture quality. BUT - have a long history of clogging when not used regularly i.e. at least a couple of times a week, preferably daily (even if it's just a simple colour graphic).
Click to expand...

Susane said:
I wouldn't dream of contradicting my learned brother ;), but would like to add that I've used Epson for the last 7 years, my CX3200 is that old and has never clogged or ate the paper and is still going strong, I've always used compatible inks too.
Click to expand...


...apart from the legendary CX3200, after which it was all downhill ;)
 
I have a Kodak and the quality is superb using Kodak paper and its so cheap to run - £9 for a colour cartridge and £7 for black. You get a pack of 135 sheets of glossy 6x4 + a colour cartridge for £13.50. I just bought a pack of 50 Kodak Premium Photo Paper from PC World for £11.
I use it for club competitions prints and also wedding proof prints, its that good.
If you really need wireless the Kodak ESP7 is on sale for a little over your budget at £165.
 
I used various Epsons over the years
always getting clogged heads :(
since going digital I've had excellent results from Canon Pixma iP5300 :thumbs:
looking at going to A3+ next
 
By following what Dig Cam magazine suggested, I have a Canon MP620 Pixma, really happy with the results, and definately fall in to your price range.

Wireless too which is great, the kids don't have to be any where near me anymore when they print their homework..............

:thumbs:
 
Another vote here for getting them printed somewhere else. It's not much more expensive and a lot less stressful.
 
For home printing for proofs etc I am delighted with my Canon Pixma 4500. Had lots of problems in the past with Epsons that seemed to die too young!

Pixma 4500 is not wireless but results are pretty exceptional in terms of A4 printers.
 
...Canon only for me, would never buy epson again :)

I bought exactly what you're after. A canon ip4000r. Wired and wireless as well as usb with cd/dvd printing, full duplex and a 5 ink bay - £142. Sadly its not made anymore. Great results even now its quite a few years old.

Not sure if any of the replacements have the same connectivity.

If I was getting another printer now I'd probably just go for the ip4600 and save a bit for ink and paper. Obviously spending more will get a you a better printer but I think you'd need more than £150 for huge improvements.

Looks like there is an ip4700 out this month too. From specs it looks ideal.
 
Thankyou all for your replies, really appreciate all the info and advice.

We've settled on an Epson printer, I know a lot of you have said about the heads blocking, but the printer's going to be used quite a lot, so hopefully won't have time to block. We went for the Epson PX700W and have been astounded with the quality of it. We got a pack of the Epson photo paper with it, and we bought some kodak paper as well. There's a slight difference between the paper's but it's not major. We're really pleased with the quality of the prints.

Thanks
Susan :thumbs:
 
Epson head blocking has not been a problem for years Susan, it just doesn't happen any more so don't worry about it.
 
Had Epson printers before, but now using a Canon 4600 and its excellent

It isn't wireless, but that apart my only complaint is long start up time, but not in a rush anyway
 
mmcp42 said:
I used various Epsons over the years
always getting clogged heads :(
since going digital I've had excellent results from Canon Pixma iP5300 :thumbs:
looking at going to A3+ next
Click to expand...

I agree, good printer for the money i paid for it. I've since managed to break it, taken it apart and not been able to put it back together (don't ask). I've now upgraded to an Epson R2880.
 
...You never mentioned you were looking for an 'all in one'????

As long as it suits you it doesn't matter what we all suggested.
 
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