Raw & Post Processing, Printing > Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks
Which printer for large scale landscapes?
Huffie:
Being a one time photographer i have decided to follow my dream and get back to art-making.
I plan to buy a Pentax K-1 with the FA/31mm for large scale landscapes.
It seems Epson has been the fine art printing leader for years, is this still true?
Their current large format printer is the SureColor P-800.
Is this a good choice?
I need excellent detail rendering in color and B&W, stable colors so they are archival (and sell-able as art prints) as well as comparability with my iMac running OSX 10.7.
Is the extra RIP software needed for my needs?
Mark D Segal:
Large scale can exceed the 17" carriage width of a P800, but if you don't intend a larger width it's fine - and buy it with the optional roll holder for doing panos longer than the maximum sheet length. If you wish to go for a 24 inch carriage width and have pano capability, your options open to an Epson P7000 or a Canon Pro-2000, both of which handle sheets and rolls. Both are excellent printers. Both will deliver fine colour and superb image detail. Your choice should depend on where you are in terms of access to service and the particular features of the printers that are most important to you.
Huffie:
Thanks Mark!
Service may well be a big problem.
I live near Yosemite, which really is in the middle of nowhere (or everywhere depending on how you are thinking about it!?)
Is there a problem with Epson service?
If i buy it online or in San Francisco what will my approach to service look like?
Is Canon a better choice service-wise?
Since my plan is basically straight landscapes, what specific features should i be looking for in a printer?
Mark D Segal:
You would be dealing with Epson America or Canon USA (CUSA). I have no idea about the pros and cons of how either would service that area of the US, as I live in Canada. From Canada I haven't had issues with either. The choices for features don't depend on whether you are printing landscapes or other kinds of photos; it's basically about how the printers work. We have not yet reviewed either an Epson P-7000 or a Canon Pro-2000 on this website, but Keith Cooper over at Northlight Images has reviewed both and woould be worth your while reading. There are also hundreds of Forum posts on this website discussing the pros and cons of the Epson versus the Canon approaches to printer technology, also worth reading.
dgberg:
P-800 and smaller you take it to them for service.
24" and larger they come to you.
I would give more thought to what you think you can sell.
If canvas then I would not get anything smaller then a 24" unit.
I started with The Epson 7900 and 6 weeks later I ordered a 44" 9900.
A 24" printer is only going to get you around 20x30 gallery wrap (Or wider of course.)
Big jump from a P-800 to the 8000.
Good to get your feet wet first.
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