New Printer

[Martyn]

Well with my big number birthday this year Mrs B has agreed to contribute (quite generously) toward an A3 printer.

Now my quest starts to understand the options and qualities of the models available. Initially looking at the Epson 2880 and Canon 9500Mk2.



Each seem to have their merits and pitfalls and be of a similar price.

Reading reviews/ forums seems to resemble the Canon/ Nokin scenarios where you either love them or hate them brigade. Being a Canon Forum I would expect the 9500 to get a big thumbs up, but does anyone take the opposite viewpoint?

I will be starting at a local camera club soon and want to start printing some of my images at sizes bigger than A4. A friends A3 prints seem to just hold the attention and have such an impact that I can't resist the bigger size of image. I do have numerous A4 prints on the wall and would like to see some of them as A3 prints.

The disappointment with the A3 printers as I see it is, as usual, the quantity and cost of cartiridges. However I do like the home printing option for the control and instant results, rather than send away for prints. I have a few B&W prints and whilst both printers seem to do well at B&W the Epson requires a cartridge swap and subsequent head clead in preparation.

My Epson R800 plays up when printing borderless (seeming to suffer from blocked nozzles) but recently limiting the images to those with borders has improved things a little (using Permajet Oyster paper with their profile).

Well thats where I'm at and would welcome any thoughts, comments or experiences.

Cheers for now.

Martyn

[Lez S]

No experience of the Epson, I have the 9500 - stunning printer. If you intend to use it for CC competitions, it does B&W perfectly too.
I use it with Permajet Gloss & Matt paper, and also Hahnemuhle fine art paper and get superb prints.

[Pete W]

Reading the reviews and hearing peoples experience of both printers there seems nothing in it, so you could make the decision between the two on ink cost...

Personally I would get the Canon though as a friend has one and produces stunning images with it....

[CzWotzit]

I can vouch for the 9500 it produces stunning prints using the right papers. Cartridge costs are high but you are getting pigment inks. My only experiences with epson printers ( I had a few before buying canan) was with the jets continually blocking up and having to use cleaning solutions to get it printing properly

Andre

[James I]

Hi Martyn, I have an R2880 and the results are quite fantastic, ink usage is reasonable and if you go to Epson's website after you install the software and get the USA version this is better as the printer does less head cleaning so uses less ink. Also it will do A3+ this is 13"x19" and has a paper roll for panoramic shots, I can't vouch for the Canon as I don't have one.
Finally mono/B+W prints are second to none as this printer uses three black cartridges, Photo Black, Light Black and Light Light Black also giving excellent tones in colour prints with no blocking.


Jamie

[James Wheeler]

I have a few B&W prints and whilst both printers seem to do well at B&W the Epson requires a cartridge swap and subsequent head clead in preparation.

That sounds like a royal pain in the ass, that would sway me to the Canon personally.

I have a MkI 9500 and get on well with it, although I am yet to succeed in printing borderless!

[Ffion]

We also have the 9500 mkII canon and are pretty pleased with the results. We compared the 9000 and the 9500 and found that the colours were more realistic on the 9500, the 9000 colours were described to us as being a being a bit more saturated and "punchier", but we felt that the 9500 looked more like what you see on the screen and have not been disappointed. I have no experience of Epson to compare to.

[Martyn]

This is all really useful stuff guys and I thank you all. Please keen em coming I am erring toward the Canon at the mo, partly because of its B&W capability.

Looks like Calumet in Nottingham will price match and is a Canon Pro centre, 7 day shop seeming to have the cheapest Canon Cartridges. One I have made the decision my next question is likely to be around the papers you use. I have used Permajet Pearly and am quite happy but want to look at some of the other finshes and when it is best to use them.

Martyn

[Lez S]

I have a MkI 9500 and get on well with it, although I am yet to succeed in printing borderless!

I have the same printer James, and I have no problem printing borderless up to A3+ (unless it is a canvas type paper that needs feeding from the front, which gives a 35mm border)
What problems are you getting?

[Hugh]

One thing to consider is wherther or not you will be using RIP software to print. The best, which is called Imagetone RIP by Colorbyte will only work with Epson printers.

Hugh

[Martyn]

One thing to consider is wherther or not you will be using RIP software to print. The best, which is called Imagetone RIP by Colorbyte will only work with Epson printers.

Hugh

Hugh, what does RIP stand for, you have me puzzled?

Martyn

[Hugh]

Hi Martyn,

Sorry - stands for Raster Image Processing. I do not know a lot about it myself - I do not do a lot of printing myself yet so have only just started looking into it. People I know who consider themselves to be 'expert' printers (and are considered this way by others as well) speak veruy highly of RIPing and, this particular software. The software is suppossed to iomprove your printing workflow and produce much imporved results (especially with B&W and mixing B&W and colour).

The software by Colorbyte is quite pricey and there are others which cost less (even some for free) but it is suppossed to be the best.

Sorry don't know much more about it but if you want to print at the very highest quality it may be worth looking into this a bit more.

Hugh

[LarryFisher]

Hello! I’m not going to argue with previous authors. In my opinion Epson is better. I bought Epson 7700 a1 printer six month ago and it always makes me happy when I work with it!! Thanks!

[Martyn]

Thanks for this, I suppose it's a bit like the Nokin/ Canon debate you are either one or the other.

It does look like a large printer, A1 is quite a size do you print much at that size?

Cheers

Martyn:-)