Epson Stylus Pro 3880 or Epson Stylus Pro 4900

[jsch]

Hi,

I want to buy a new printer. I use a Epson 4000 since 2004. Now I think about the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 or Epson Stylus Pro 4900. My questions are:

1) Is there a difference in print quality?
2) Are they equally good for b/w and color?
3) Is the ink price per printed area different?
4) I use mainly two papers: Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk and Hahnemühle Photo Rag.
5) I print approx. 500 sheets of A3 (11x16") or A2 (16x24") per year.
   a) Would this be a problem for the 3880?
   b) Do I have to feed every sheed by hand or can I load more than one paper at a time.

As far as I understand both models don't need a change of the black if you work with different papers - true? I understand also that the 4900 is in built quality like the 4000 and the 3880 is not.

Thanks for help.
Best,
Johannes

[Alan Goldhammer]

The 4900 is not yet available so it's difficult to answer some of your questions as prices are not listed for the replacement ink.  I can only go by the Epson published specifications.  I imagine the ink costs will be cheaper in the long run with the 4900 as it can take 220 ml ink cartridges vs. 80 ml for the 3880 (though be careful here as it ships with 110 ml cartridges and 'no' matte black so you will have to order that to print on Hanemuhle Photo Rag).  Other big difference is the 4900 can take roll paper which could be more convenient in printing A2 size prints for you.  There won't be any difference in the B&W performance with either printer as the two extra colors (orange and green) are not used by the Epson ABW print driver.   My understanding is that the extra colors are mainly important for proofing purposes but others with expertise can weigh in if I am mistaken.With the 3880 and the papers you list, you will have to feed sheets in one at a time.

You might want to check to see what the price of the 4880 is given that Epson may be replacing it with the 4900.  It takes the same size ink cartridges as the 4900.

Alan

[Farmer]

You might want to check to see what the price of the 4880 is given that Epson may be replacing it with the 4900.  It takes the same size ink cartridges as the 4900.

Nope.  4900 uses 200ml carts.  The 4880 uses 110ml or 220ml.

[Alan Goldhammer]

Nope.  4900 uses 200ml carts.  The 4880 uses 110ml or 220ml.

I saw that after I posted.  Rather strange that they supply the 4900 with only the 110s to begin with and don't list those as optional cartridges going forward.

[Randy Carone]

I have not heard that the 4900 will ship with 110ml carts, but the standard ink for this printer will be 200ml carts that will sell for $86.95 (list $99.95). The printer will ship with all 11 inks, including Matte Black and will employ the same method of switching between black inks as the 78/9890 and 79/9900. My guess is that the switch will use a bit less ink than the 24" and 44" Epson printers as the lines to be cleared are shorter than on the larger siblings. We had one at our booth at PhotoPlus in NYC last month and it is an impressive unit.

[Ernst Dinkla]

The printer will ship with all 11 inks, including Matte Black and will employ the same method of switching between black inks as the 78/9890 and 79/9900. My guess is that the switch will use a bit less ink than the 24" and 44" Epson printers as the lines to be cleared are shorter than on the larger siblings. We had one at our booth at PhotoPlus in NYC last month and it is an impressive unit.

Randy,

When the 3800 was introduced the PK>MK>PK cycle used 6 ML. I do not know whether that has changed on the 3880 but the 7900 and 9900 waste less on that cycle according Epson information. I guess that the PK/MK switch on the 3800 (3880?) is near the carts so the thinner-shorter ink lines have to be cleaned but there is less weight added to the head carriage that way. On the wide formats it will be the opposite so only what is buffered in the head has to be changed and the switch and an extra tube add to the weight of the moving parts. The waste on the 4900 will be a direct result of the concept used, my bet is that it follows the 7900 and 9900 and only the head buffer has to be changed. The waste will be like what is wasted on the 7900/9900.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

Try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

[barry685]

The Epson 4900 ships with 80ml starter cartridges according to their spec sheet. I also have considered it but am leaning toward a canon IPF6300 instead.

[mfryd]

At $87 for a 200ml cartridge, ink for the 4900 runs about 44¢ per ml.  This is less than the 56¢ per ml I pay for 3880 ink.  It appears that 4900 ink is about 21% less costly per ml than 3880 ink.

I get excellent color out of my 3880.  The 4900 is supposed to have a slightly larger color gamut.  If your images are within the color gamut of the 3880, you may not notice a difference.

Yes, I can preload a few 17 by 25 sheets in the 3880 and not worry about feeding by hand.

The 3880 can print on sheets as small as 4" by 6".  I believe that the 4900 has a minimum sheet size of 8" by 10".

The 4900 can handle roll paper.  The 3880 does not.

I believe that the 4900 has a vacuum mechanism to hold the paper.  My understanding is that this is a big help if your paper has a curl to it.

Epson says that the inks for the 3880 are good for 2 years from the date of manufacturer, or 6 months after being installed.  I assume there are similar recommendations for the 4900.   Many people report that these are conservative recommendations, and the inks last much longer (although you may want to remove the carts and agitate them every few months).

If you don't print very much, the ink carts in the 4900 may be too big, and the ink could go bad from age before you use it up.  THis would negate much of the advantage of the cheaper inks.

[Alan Goldhammer]

There is confusion on the Epson website regarding the specifications for the printer:  http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Pro/SeriesStylusPro4900/Overview.do  In one section it mentions shipping with 80 ml cartridges and footnote 'B' says it ships with 110 ml cartridges but no matte black; that needs to be ordered separately.  That's where I took the information on my earlier post.  I don't know which is correct.

Regarding the switch between PB and MB, the 3880 does appear to be pretty economical.  I don't think 6 ml is lost during the switch over as that would be just under 10% of the total capacity of the cartridge and one would expect to see a big drop in the ink amount on the user panel.  I did not observe this (but it's difficult from a bar chart to judge how much ink was lost).

Alan

[Farmer]

The switching is done closer to the head, so ink line lengths don't come into it.

The printer has PK and MK onboard at the same time (to be able to switch) so it must ship with both - it won't operate while missing a cartridge.

It may vary by region (but I doubt it), but the 4900 will ship in Australia with 80ml cartridges.

[mfryd]

According to epson (http://www.epson.com/_tys/_assets/content/proddetails/Downloads/3880/StylusPro_3880_ProdPreview.pdf)

It takes the 3880 about 3 minutes to switch from Matte to Photo black, and about 4.5 ml is use in the switchover.


It takes the 3880 about 2 minutes to switch from Photo to Matte black, and about 1.5 ml is use in the switchover.

[Christopher]

Just got my 4900, comes woth every ink but only 80ml. Much nicer built qulaity compared to the old 48xx.