Why Z3200 44" Sooo Cheap

[robertDthomas]

Looked at Atlex/IT Supplies and they have the HP Z3200 at $2795 with additional $800 rebate/trade in from HP if you currently own a 24" or larger printer.  This is a super deal.  Is something about to be released by HP?  I have had a Z3100 24" for over 3 yrs. that has worked perfectly but would like to have the ability to print larger every once and awhile and at this price it is cheaper than a 24" Z3200.  What gives???

[abiggs]

Competition between HP, Canon and Epson is very much in play, and these guys all want your business. Simple as that. Remember that their income stream continues after the hardware sale with the inks. :-)

[deanwork]

DAMN,  I want one of those too. The Canon 8300 is going for not much more that that and it is just been released. What an amazing time to buy 44" printers. This is hard core competition and none of these three corporations wants to leave the field. Good for us! I just love competition. It is about time Epson had these guys breathing down their necks. It is ALL about ink.

No, Hp has no new unit in this size at the moment. I don't think they need one. They just came out with a super ultra fast 60" 8 channel pigment printer for the graphics market.

john

[abiggs]

I have to say that I love all 3 of the current printers for different reasons. My 9900 will be leaving me next week, as I haven't been using it much and it didn't make sense to keep it around. The 8300 and Z3200 will still have a home in my studio, and for different reasons.

[John Hollenberg]

I have to say that I love all 3 of the current printers for different reasons. My 9900 will be leaving me next week, as I haven't been using it much and it didn't make sense to keep it around. The 8300 and Z3200 will still have a home in my studio, and for different reasons.

I would be interested in the reasons that the 9900 isn't getting much use, but the 8300 is being used.

[abiggs]

I just enjoy printing on the 8300 much more. There is no black ink switching, the printer wakes up quickly, is easy to use, and I like the quality of printing that I get from the Photoshop plugin. If I don't print for a few weeks, I just turn on the printer and go. I haven't had to wait for nozzle cleaning, and the 9900 wakes up slowly and often goes through the nozzle cleaning process. The 9900 is better for cut sheets, though, but it doesn't make sense for me to have the 9900 right now. I need to use the snot out of 1 printer, as it is more economical with ink usage.

[ternst]

Hey Andy, do you still use the HP much, and how do you compare it to the Canon? And if you had to choose just one between the two, which one?

[abiggs]

I do like the HP, but there are some things that the Canon does better that meet my specific needs. These needs are speed, a vacuum to hold down heavier media, a cutter for thick paper and canvas, and quick paper changing (the Z3200 rolls load from the rear of the unit, which means I have to move some things around in the studio to create the extra room needed).

The HP Z3200 really is a great printer, especially on glossy media. I have been struggling with the B&W printing mode, as I really want the printer to have a linear response when I introduce toning in the printer driver. I just cannot get what I want, but this seems to be a limitation in all B&W printing modes from the other guys.

I hope this helps-

[ternst]

Thanks Andy. I've had a big Z for several years and don't like the rear-load either, but I can't bring myself to replace what has been a jewel of a printer with never a clog. But the Canon might be a nice replacement - are you saying the Canon cutter will do thick canvas? That would be really nice. Now I only hope they continue the rebate in this new quarter...

[abiggs]

yeah, both the 8300 and 9900 printers can cut through canvas, which is pretty nice.

[deanwork]

I have very good totally uniform black and white and toned monochrome results with the Z on both Hahneumhe Photorag Baryta and the Canson and Hahnemhle matt papers. I've never used their internal color wheel, and never would unless I was doing split toning or something. It is the slightly better color gamut of the other printers that would entice me, along with the amazing speed of the Canon, though I've never used one.

 With the Z I assign an srgb color space to the file - create a Hue-Sat adjustment layer in Photoshop - assign a value of Hue-40 Saturation-2 and I totally match the hue of the Cone Neutral K7 print hue on the same media. If I send the file over there Grayscale or RGB with no colorized adjustment layers I get a nice selenium tone that does have a very slight split to it like selenium normally does, but it is very subtle and I like it. If I want any range of sepia I just crank up the saturation and use a hue somewhere between 20 and 40. I'm not seeing any crossover there either. But really I've used monochrome inksets for about 7 years and I'm very satisfied with this method. However, I do wish we had one more gray, a light, light, gray to equal the subtlety of a dedicated monochrome inkset. I don't know if that day will ever come with any of these printers, at least not in this economy. I would trade my blue channel for it.

john

[KevinWilliams]

They give away the printers so that they can sell you ink that they charge more than the price of platinum for. I imagine one day once using 3rd party inks becomes the norm, these types of printers cost will be higher. In the mean time there are plenty of places to get quality 3rd party inks, such as image specialist or macro enter. It will save you a ton of money on your printing costs.

[EvoM]

funny Z3200 44" here in Australia is still around 13,000 aud even with the Aussie Dollar at .97 against USD!

Evom

[Light Seeker]

I just enjoy printing on the 8300 much more. There is no black ink switching, the printer wakes up quickly, is easy to use, and I like the quality of printing that I get from the Photoshop plugin. <snip> The 9900 is better for cut sheets, though <snip>

Would you mind elaborating on 8300 cut sheet handling, and where you found the 9900 better?

Thanks.

Terry.

[abiggs]

The 9900 allows you to just drop the sheet into the printer, and the 8300 you have to line up the far edge of the print with some orange lines. Hard to describe with text, but the 9900 is just easier.

[dct123]

I just ordered a new Z3200ps 44" yesterday from Atlex and it was delivered TODAY! Great price, service, and knowledgeable salesperson (Teena). Atlex is highly recommended...and yes, the discounted Hp 44" printer prices are real.

[robertDthomas]

Wow, one day delivery.  I am out of the country waiting to return next week. Guess I should wait to return before ordering.  Hate to have waiting outside for a couple days before I return.