"z3100 - best printer I've ever used - hands down. "
"I'll cast my vote for the Z3100. I really like mine."
But do you have a good bit of experience with an iPF and Epson printers to contrast your experience with the Z?
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Previously I used numerous Epson printers, including 7600 and 9600. The lack of clogging in the z3100 alone makes it a dream come true compared to my extensive experience with Epson printers over the last 8 years. The Epsons were clog monsters. To date, I have had no clog on the z3100!
The z3100's built in spectrophotometer / automatic profiling system is the other most important feature for me. Profiling is fast and easy and extremely accurate. I'm not aware of another printer with built in spectro. It's a lifesaver and timesaver for me and far superior to my previous profiling system. As has been noted in several reviews, someone with even limited experience and knowledge of color and profiling can be up and running with the z3100 and producing perfect prints right off the bat. Literally, the first photographs I printed on the z done for a client were an absolute perfect match to what was on my monitor. I was amazed. Pretty sure I posted something to that effect here on the forums.
As I said, the B&W prints from the z3100 are the best I've seen. Prior to the z, I printed my B&W's exclusively in the darkroom. I see no bronzing on B&W prints made with the z3100 on HP Satin and, thanks to the gloss enhancer, there is no gloss differential. People I have shown these prints to cannot tell that these are not darkroom prints and often don't believe me when I tell them they are inkjet. The gloss enhancer in the z3100 is one of the best ideas ever in my opinion as the prints have a truly consistent surface and are virtually indistinguishable from traditional lab photographs. Framed, the B&W prints from the z have an appearance (but not the tactile "feel" obviously) of Ilford fiber gloss darkroom papers.
I do giclee' prints for artists. The z3100 has been gangbusters for my business in this respect. I have done numerous series of prints, art prints and photos, for high-end galleries. Everyone's happy.
For my own photographic artwork, I do a great deal of large-format B&W. Output from the z3100 is the first, and so far the only, prints that I am comfortable using for my art instead of B&W's created in my darkroom. I chalk that up to the z3100's use of multiple gray inks to produce truly neutral B&W's with no hints of color in them and equally important is the gloss enhancer for a consistent surface and reflectivity across the print.
I considered Canon, but the lack of documentation with the ipf5000 and the experiences of users documented on the Canon wiki scared me towards the z3100. As for Epson, I'll be quite content if I never use another Epson machine. I like that the printheads on the z3100 are user-replaceable and inexpensive. Hopefully the new printers from HP and Canon will drive Epson to make improvements in the future.
That's a long-winded mini-review. I've been a photographer for almost 20 years now, and the z3100 is one of the best tools I've ever used.
