Printer suggestions....

tingting44

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Martin
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Hi guys, ive never printed my pictures before, and im looking to get a printer soon, mostly for printing my pictures, general printing (like kids drawings they have done on paint lol), id like the option of printing on CD's/DVD's but not a must, and be great if the ink was cheap.

I was looking at this canon one but a lot of reviews are saying the ink refills are veryy expensive...
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...6314182|rnd:2098517720745425753|dvc:c|adp:1o5

again any suggestions would be great as im not sure what is good or not as printers go...budget of say around £100-£150(max) i will only be printing pictures for normal house hold picture frames, no massive printing, well not yet lol
 
look at the Epson 1500 and buy a ciss system for it for cheaper inks....maybe a bit more than your budget but once you start printing your own images it gets hard to stop!!
I had the 1400 and it performed great with the Ink Express system.
http://www.inkexpress.co.uk/catalogue/Ink-Systems/Epson/Stylus-Photo-1500W.html
If you want any further info. speak to Alex at Ink Express great bloke who will give you genuine advice.
Dave
 
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Be aware that if you don't print regularly with Epson printers, the ink dries in the pint head, and that's pretty much the end of the printer.

I have had four Epson printers over the years, a 400, 500, 680, and an R300. The 500 suffered the dried ink fate, the 400 died of mechanical failure, as did the 680, and the R300 blocked print head, because I didn't print anything for about 4 weeks.

However, I managed to rescue the R300 using the Print Hospital flushing system, which was a relief because it is an excellent photo printer. BTW, this was quite a messy job.

I now have a Canon Pixma ip7250, and despite being a five cartridge system, as compared with Epson R300's six, the print quality is impressive. Probably due to the 1 pico litre print head, as opposed to the 3 pico litre system on the Epson.

Epson are excellent photo printers, but you must use them fairly frequently if don't want the problem described above. Perhaps print a test sheet, at least once a month.

Dave
 
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I think I'd consider if it's just cheaper to get prints done somewhere like Tesco of every day stuff, rather than buying a printer. Even doing proper 'fine art' style prints can often be cheaper at a professional lab when you consider maintenance costs of a good printer.
 
If its just holiday/family 'snaps' you are after, then the likes of Tescos is fine.

However, if you want something better, then use either one of the online photo labs to print them, or get a reasonable printer and print them yourself.

Bear in mind that Charlotte is right, the running cost of a decent quality photo printer, can be quite high, i.e. photo paper and ink.

Printer manufacturers sell their printers at relatively low cost, but make their money on inflated ink prices.

Dave
 
Be aware that if you don't print regularly with Epson printers, the ink dries in the pint head, and that's pretty much the end of the printer.

I have had four Epson printers over the years, a 400, 500, 680, and an R300. The 500 suffered the dried ink fate, the 400 died of mechanical failure, as did the 680, and the R300 blocked print head, because I didn't print anything for about 4 weeks.

However, I managed to rescue the R300 using the Print Hospital flushing system, which was a relief because it is an excellent photo printer. BTW, this was quite a messy job.

I now have a Canon Pixma ip7250, and despite being a five cartridge system, as compared with Epson R300's six, the print quality is impressive. Probably due to the 1 pico litre print head, as opposed to the 3 pico litre system on the Epson.

Epson are excellent photo printers, but you must use them fairly frequently if don't want the problem described above. Perhaps print a test sheet, at least once a month.

Dave

Just got to say I don't use my epson every day off the week and I have never had any issues that you have described. And I have had few epson printers my last one being the dx4850 served me well for 6 years and still prints great, recently upgraded as I wanted a printer with wireless.
 
You have been very lucky then Mandy, as ink drying in the print head through infrequent use is a very well known problem with Epson printers, and I have had it with two of my four Epsons.

Its not a case of having to use them every day of the week, and once a month is fine, and then only needing to print a test page to keep the print head clear.

Much longer than that, and you risk the dreaded Epson blocked print head.

Dave
 
You have been very lucky then Mandy, as ink drying in the print head through infrequent use is a very well known problem with Epson printers, and I have had it with two of my four Epsons.

Its not a case of having to use them every day of the week, and once a month is fine, and then only needing to print a test page to keep the print head clear.

Much longer than that, and you risk the dreaded Epson blocked print head.

Dave

I guess I must be lucky then tho I only use my printer when I have to every couple of months or so mind you I do run a nozzle clean every3 months.
 
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