I would say, as someone emerging from a darkroom after 40 years, that the wastage is considerably less with my 4900, even though I am a beginner in this field. I tend to print straight to 17x22, because a small print isn't the same as a big print. I instinctively print a little lighter to compensate for the fact that a print isn't backlit like my monitor, however well calibrated. The hardest thing for me is green, especially grass. Don't like high octane National Geographic colours, and I am still figuring this one out.