Topic: Advice Please: Ready to Purchase Printer (Read 7582 times)

Josh-H · « **on:** August 17, 2006, 11:28:21 pm »

Hey All,

I am about to purchase my first printer [ I have previously out sourced all my shoots to the lab ].

I need the following capability:

1. Up to A3
2. high Quality, Reliable and Easy To Use
3. Budget - anywhere up to $2500 US dollars.

I dont need roller feed facility [at least I dont think I do!]

Ability to print B&W and colour without changing inks - and ability to change papers without changing inks.

I would really like something that slots into my workflow nicely. I shoot Canon gear so one of the Canon printers is appealing. I read that the IPF5000 is a good machine and talks in 16 bit - which is also appealing.

Would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

BTW: My worklflow is fully color managed.

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:45:01 pm »

September 26 HP is supposed to be announcing their new pigment printers based on the same tech as the HP B9180. Hopefully they'll go from annoucement to availability faster than the B9180. (Due Sept 1.)

So, doings are afoot. You might want to wait and see what happens.

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2006, 11:31:27 am »

This is what I was mentioning...

http://www.photographyblog.com/index.php/w...ormat_printers/

ddolde · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2006, 03:58:55 pm »

I would get at least an Epson 4800. Much more economical to run than the smaller Epsons.

I print only on Crane Museo Silver Rag so no ink changing. It uses Photoblack.

Haraldo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2006, 11:58:21 pm »

Quote

1. Up to A3
2. high Quality, Reliable and Easy To Use
3. Budget - anywhere up to $2500 US dollars.

For A3 you only need a B-size printer (A3+, SuperB) for 13x19" or longer prints. Save yourself some money and get one of those. The new HP B9180 is $699 and meets your criteria.

Harald Johnson
author, "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition"
author, "Digital Printing Start-Up Guide"
DP&I.com ( http://www.dpandi.com )
digital imaging & printing consultant

Josh-H · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2006, 12:07:12 am »

Quote

For A3 you only need a B-size printer (A3+, SuperB) for 13x19" or longer prints. Save yourself some money and get one of those. The new HP B9180 is $699 and meets your criteria.

Harald Johnson
author, "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition"
author, "Digital Printing Start-Up Guide"
DP&I.com ( http://www.dpandi.com )
digital imaging & printing consultant
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=73974\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Are these type of $699 printers really the equal of something like the Canon IPF5000 for image quality though?

I would be pretty amazed if a $699 printer was turning out the same quality as a $2000 printer! It would save a lot of money!

I am prepared to spend the $ to get the image quality [if they need to be spent!]

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2006, 01:02:45 am »

Yes.

The $699 models are smaller and not designed for the same heavy usage.

Josh-H · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2006, 01:27:37 am »

Quote

Yes.

The $699 models are smaller and not designed for the same heavy usage.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=73979\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Obviously the cheaper printers are not designed for commercial use - but to state they offer the same quality seems ridiculous - they dont even use the same number of inks, same droplet size, the list goes on.

I would need to see a side by side comparison to beleive it.

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2006, 01:35:13 am »

So go to the store.

Haraldo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2006, 07:41:09 am »

Quote

Obviously the cheaper printers are not designed for commercial use - but to state they offer the same quality seems ridiculous - they dont even use the same number of inks, same droplet size, the list goes on. I would need to see a side by side comparison to beleive it.

The quality is -- or will be -- very close on the new printers, comparing the top of end the prosumer line and bottom of the pro line. Look at Epson (2400/4800). Even with Canon, you've got the ipf5000 for 12 inks for 17" for just under $2K. Then in 2007 you'll have the PIXMA Pro9500 with 10 pigment inks for 13" at price unknown but a lot less. Quality should be very close. And now with HP with the 9180 and what's to be announced at Photokina.

IQ between the B-size and the C-size printers will not be very different, but other things will be: build quality and service life, support, cost-per-print, color mgt options, software options, blah blah blah.

It all depends on your needs.

I devote an entire chapter of my book to this one question (which printer to purchase?).

Good luck choosing!

Harald Johnson
author, "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition"
DP&I.com ( http://www.dpandi.com )
digital imaging & printing consultant

Josh-H · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2006, 12:38:40 am »

Quote

The quality is -- or will be -- very close on the new printers, comparing the top of end the prosumer line and bottom of the pro line. Look at Epson (2400/4800). Even with Canon, you've got the ipf5000 for 12 inks for 17" for just under $2K. Then in 2007 you'll have the PIXMA Pro9500 with 10 pigment inks for 13" at price unknown but a lot less. Quality should be very close. And now with HP with the 9180 and what's to be announced at Photokina.

IQ between the B-size and the C-size printers will not be very different, but other things will be: build quality and service life, support, cost-per-print, color mgt options, software options, blah blah blah.

It all depends on your needs.

I devote an entire chapter of my book to this one question (which printer to purchase?).

Good luck choosing!

Harald Johnson
author, "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition"
DP&I.com ( http://www.dpandi.com )
digital imaging & printing consultant
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=73996\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks Haraldo - I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

In the interests of saving myself a few bucks at your advice.. I rang Canon Australia and spoke to both their sales dept. and tech dept [very helpful ppl there!].

According to Canon Australia the new Pro9500 will be released here [Australia] in 3 weeks - priced at around $1400-$2000 Australian [approx. $1100-$1500 US] - their tech dept. says this printer will be - quote 'revolutionary in its performance' at this price point. [whatever that means!] They wouldnt elaborate much further other than with its 10 inks its good for B&W and Colour and is archival with photo papers.

Their advice to me was:
1. to wait and check out the Pro 9500
2. Buy the 5500 only if I need roll facility and plan tp print hundreds of prints a month

seems like good advice - so I will wait and hopefully check out the 9500 in the next 3 weeks and make a decision then.

Interestingly the Canon USA website shows the 9500 for release in 2007 - the aussie website doesnt show it at all at the moment - but they are saying 3 weeks for release. *shrug* waiting game I guess....

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2006, 12:41:40 am »

I heard the 9000 was due "real soon now" and that the 9500 was still early next year. It would be really cool if the 9500 was out in 3 weeks. Is photokina in 3 weeks?

Josh-H · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2006, 01:25:40 am »

Quote

Is photokina in 3 weeks?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74049\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes - or thereabouts.

Haraldo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2006, 11:15:18 pm »

Photokina starts Sept. 26. That's when you'll see all the new announcements. But don't confuse announcements with shipping; there can be many weeks or even months between the two.

Harald

Josh-H · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2006, 02:29:15 am »

Quote

there can be many weeks or even months between the two.

Especially with Canon!

Author Topic: Advice Please: Ready to Purchase Printer (Read 7582 times)

DarkPenguin

DarkPenguin

ddolde

DarkPenguin

DarkPenguin

DarkPenguin