Question about P800 vs 3880

[huguito]

Friend of mine asked me about this two printers, I had not used either.
Most important question was how both printers deal with the photo black to matte black ink switch
How substantial and noticeable is the increase in print quality, if notcieable at all.
Is there any feature that one has and the other one doesn't Other than the roll holder?

Today seems like you can het a refurbish 3880 from Epson for $699 and after rebate a p800 will cost about a grand

Thanks, please help me to help this guy so he doesn't come to my house anymore to print on my 9600

Hugo

[dgberg]

I have and still run both.
Both have to be switched between either mk or pk black which I do from the printer control panel.
One printer is set for mk and the other pk so I rarely have to switch.
We use the 3880 almost exclusively for 8 1/2" x 11" or 13" x 19" prints.
The roll holder in my opinion is a must have if you go with the P800.
I do not see a whole lot of difference (If any) between the two printers output.
I would personally go for the new technology in the new P 800, the tipping point is that roll holder.

[Mark D Segal]

You may find my P800 review on this website useful.

The P800 has a new inkset that delivers deeper maximum Black and according to Epson Yellow has improved longevity.

The roll holder will be useful for those planning to make prints that exceed the maximum sheet length available. Also, those planning to print on canvas will benefit from the roll holder because much more canvas is available in roll form. Otherwise it isn't obviously necessary.

Buying a refurbished printer may or may not work out well for you. Check the warranty. If it is weaker than the warranty on a new printer, my suggestion would be to buy a new printer instead.

[Wayne Fox]

according to Epson Yellow has improved longevity.

No longer just according to Epson, Aardenburg is at the 60 Megalux point in fade testing for the p600 which is the same inkset.

From his last update
"The trends are very solid now, and the I* metric analyses are clearly demonstrating the light fastness superiority of the new UltraChrome HD ink compared to the older UltraChrome K3 ink set.

[Mark D Segal]

Great - that's good news coming from an independent respectable testing source.

[BobShaw]

The roll holder will be useful for those planning to make prints that exceed the maximum sheet length available. Also, those planning to print on canvas will benefit from the roll holder because much more canvas is available in roll form.

Also you can only print 420mm wide with canvas on the 3880 because it has to go through the from feed.

[aaronchan]

Buy a referb 3880
get a set of refillable cart and the chip resetter
buy the p800 ink cart, open them and fill them up into the refillable cart
make a whole set of new icc profile for your own
now you can get both adv of both printers

ok, not 100%, but pretty close

[huguito]

Thanks to all of you for your insight
Too bad the trip from Matte to Photo black ink and back still unresolved and costing some ink, other than that, seems like both of the printers will do a good job for my friend
Hugo