New printer - P800 or 4900?

[BobShaw]

Hi. I have the Epson 3880 at the moment. It's a great printer but is getting a bit old now. It has had the motherboard replaced twice but they probably won't do it for free again. I have never had a clog problem that couldn't be solved with a nozzle clean.

I use roll paper often, currently by cutting it and feeding it in for panoramic prints or anytime I just want the full 17" of width. So a roll paper option would be a good thing. Borderless prints are not important. If I need borderless I print bigger and trim.

A larger gamut would be good as I do fine art reproductions. Whatever I choose needs to work with Mirage Print. I expect that Mirage Print will eventually work with the P800?

So if I upgrade and need to change inks anyway, should I go for a P800 or a 4900?

[Mark D Segal]

Stay tuned.

But as for Mirage - you'd best check with them whether it will support the P800.

[hugowolf]

The gamut difference is not great. I wouldn't base my printer selection criteria solely on that aspect.

If you  want to see gamut difference between the two, try soft proofing using profiles from both.

Brian A 

[Mark D Segal]

The gamut difference is not great. I wouldn't base my printer selection criteria solely on that aspect.

Brian A 

I agree - not solely on that criteria; but the gamut story is quite "nuanced". More anon.

[Czornyj]

A vote for SC-P800. New inkset is distinctly improved.

[Robert-Peter Westphal]

Hello,

you asked for the roll-option, but recognize that the SC-P800 comes without any build-in cutter.
T.b.h. I cannot imagine how to handle rollpaper properly without an automated build-in cutter. For me, this issue makes the roll-option meaningless.

Robert

[jed best]

I also have Mirage and have emailed them. They DO plan to support the P800 as soon as it comes to market.

[alain]

A vote for SC-P800. New inkset is distinctly improved.

How is the new inkset against the Canon ipfx4xx printers?

[BobShaw]

Hello,
you asked for the roll-option, but recognize that the SC-P800 comes without any build-in cutter.
T.b.h. I cannot imagine how to handle rollpaper properly without an automated build-in cutter. For me, this issue makes the roll-option meaningless.

Robert

A valid point. Certainly if you are making multiple prints.
Often though i am just trying to deal with printing a 2m wide panorama and the main problem is what to do with the 2m of paper and how to keep the thing straight. The P800 may overcome that, or it may sense the end of the paper and stop. Something to find out.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Find a carton core of about 6", put a paper tail on it in D-roller style. Lay that in front of the printer and slip the forward edge in between, roll the print successively onto the core, printside inwards. I have them 50" wide to take up 44" wide prints of several meters. On a roller bar but for a smaller core you can put some bubble foil layers on the table so the print does nog get pressure marks and the core will not roll away. Tissue paper at the start of the winding will keep the print free from the carton, further on it does not matter.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[dseelig]

I am no fan Epson but the new one maybe will not have the clogging problems of the old one. Also the new one has much improved print life compared to the 4900 .

[BobShaw]

Find a carton core of about 6", put a paper tail on it in D-roller style.

Thanks for that post Ernst.
I had not heard of the D-roller so I had to research it. Will either get one or make one very soon.

[Jeffery Salter]

Hi Bob,

The Epson 4900 has been out for quite awhile.  Mine is about 3 years old and to be honest it's been a bit of a clogging disaster.  Unfortunately I didn't use it everyday and sometimes going a couple of weeks without doing any printing.  Currently all the ink nozzles are clogged and I have tried various methods (including ordering the Ink Adjustment software from a tech in Eastern Europe)  with no luck in bringing it back to life.  To replace the head it will cost 1200 bucks.... for a printer I only paid $1995 for.

It seems that the P800 will do the same size prints as the 4900 but I'm under the impression that's it a replacement for the 3880.  I'm going to wait and see if Epson will release an replacement for the 4900.

[digitaldog]

The Epson 4900 has been out for quite awhile.  Mine is about 3 years old and to be honest it's been a bit of a clogging disaster. 

Mine too. I hated it, worst Epson printer I've used. The 3880 is the best.

So to the OP, either stick with the 3880, it's still a wonderful printer or get the newer P800. Or wait and see how the P800 pan's out.

[BobShaw]

Thanks guys. I will buy my 3880 inks one at a time and see how the new printer pans out.