Printer advice please

[Dinsdale]

Hi Guys,
I realise I'm going to open up a whole can of worms here with varying opinions and taking sides, but...
I'm currently running a HP Photosmart 5524 all-in-one printer and it's good at what it does. I'm not a have user and don't print off reams of photos etc however we do seem to be forever buying inks for it. Tonight we paid the best part of £70.00 on a full set of XL capacity inks. The wife near had a blue fit when she realised we could buy a new printer for the same amount.
Question is this. I want to be able to print very good quality photos but not have to pay through the nose for the privilege of doing so. Don't we all!? So I need to find a good balance between economy and quality, erring to the quality side if possible.
Can I ask you for your opinions on this subject please?
Oh and appleologies if this is covered in another thread somewhere

 

[Paul-H]

Hi

If you are happy with the results you get from your printer it might be worth seeing if a continuous ink system is available for it

I run an old Epson R360 and a 1500w and have a CIS Fitted to both and over the years it has saved me a fortune in inks.

I wouldn't buy a printer if a CIS was not available for it.

Paul

 

[viewfromthenorth]

It may be cheaper to just get them printed by a lab? I personally print my own for exhibitions and portfolios as I want to use my own choice of papers and have full control of the output, but for large quantities or proofs, I get a lab to do it.
Continuos ink as mentioned above is also an option but I think you need to be printing in sufficient quantities to make it economic, I'm sure Paul could enlighten us.
There is a website somewhere that gives running costs for different printers, I'm sure Google will reveal it with a suitable search.

 

[Dinsdale]

Cheers Guys,
I'll look into the CIS system for sure, but as Andy said, I'm probably not going to be printing enough to make it work.
One thing "chief accountant" suggested is that we stick with the current printer, but invest in an ink cartridge each month in the shopping so that it doesn't come as a big hit each time.
Again, thanks.