Epson R3880 or Canon Pro-10

[EinstStein]

Canon pro-10 max print size is 13x19, R3880 is 17x37.

Pro-10 starter kit price is $299, bare printer price (printer kit price - ink-set price) is $169, and ink per ml is about $0.96.
R3880 starter kit price is $829,  bare printer price (printer kit price - ink-set price) is $369, and ink per ml is about $0.72.

I dropped Epson R2000 and R3000 due to the higher printer price and ink per ml ($1.06~$1.28 per ml).
R2000 has disadvantage in printing B&W and matt paper.
R3000 has disadvantage in switching glossy/matt paper. There is significant ink waste.

Ink economy, the cost difference will cross over after using 800ml ink, which is about 1.2 ink-sets in Epson R3880 or 6 ink-sets in Pro-10. In the long run, R3880 is cheaper. ... If I do print that much.  
I'm still hesitate due to the starting cost. $829 vs. $299.  

I don't see much talk about Pro-10 in this forum. Epson is dominating.
Any more words about Pro-10, good or bad?

[Kanako]

honestly, I would go for the 3880 having been an epson user for many years now, I find that the support for 3rd party high end inks eg lyson and the like is much better with epson and I prefer the print that the epson gives personally.

I would say try and get a sample print from both and compare yourself.

or you could look at a middle ground like the Epson R3000 which is a 13" wide but also has a roll feed option.

in terms of cartridges the Pro-10 has a cartridge capacity of around 22ml the 3880 around 80ml so you get more cartridge meaning less changes etc the R3000 is around 25-26ml (25.9 to be exact) The Epsons also use a pigment ink rather than a Dye ink which means that it will produce a longer lasting print too (and water resistant)

Paperfeeds they both have the same but the epson (both the R3000 and 3880) have the option of a flat feed for up to 3mm posterboard and the R3000 also comes with a Roll Feed option.

The Epson R3000 is a closer comparison to the Pro-10 as the Pro 3880 is the next level up.

hope this helps

[EinstStein]

I compared all 13" printers. To my eyes, same image quality. What I can't tell is the hidden problems in the clog and paper handling.
This is where Ii am looking for first hand experiences.

A lot of comments saying Canon tends to be free of clog. I take that as ignorance since Canon is new to the pigmented printer. Canon's Reputation is built on dye ink, which would hardly applicable on pigment.

 However, I also noticed that pigment printer with larger droplet also tends to have less clog problem. Given that R3000 is 2 picoliter, R3is 3.5, Pro-10 is 4, I expect Pro-10 to be slightly better.

I was attracted by R3000 roll paper handling, it is almost a deciding factor until I get the comment that 13" roll paper choice has very limited choice. My I interest in roll paper is to print square, 2.7x panorama, and maybe 16x9, it seems 13" too small to make sense, for now.

So, I narrow down the choice to Pro 10 and R3880. Yes, they are not the same print size, but that is exactly I am coming to decide.

My question is more of 13" vs. 17", but with the meta decision it will be Pro 10 if 13" and R3880 if 17".

[jrsforums]

.

A lot of comments saying Canon tends to be free of clog. I take that as ignorance since Canon is new to the pigmented printer. Canon's Reputation is built on dye ink, which would hardly applicable on pigment.

 

Canon and HP printer heads are designed to be replaced.  When noozles clog, they are "replaced" by other noozles.  When too many are clogged, the heads need to be replaced...which can be done by the user...but is a cost that needs to be plaanned for.

Epson has a different design and the heads are not planned to be replaced.  Occasional cleaning is necessary....and is an add'l expense that should be expected.

For those old enough, it is like the Fram oil filter ad....you can pay now or pay later.  :-)

[Kanako]

Personally, I like the Epsons I run both a R3000 and a 3880 both are great and the increased ink capacity in the 3880 is a godsend! but in reality its up to you.

Personally I like the flexibility that the 17" pass has to offer as well as the completely flat feed for posterboard and very heavy fine art media.

[EinstStein]

Canon Pro-10 printer head costs ~$300. Considering the current rebate, a brand new pro-10 is only $299 ($699 - instant rebate $200 - $200 mail in rebate), I might as well just buy two sets?

Anyway, any first hand experiences on Pro-10, particularly any comment on the clog and paper handling? any other hidden problem?

There are a lot of Pro-10 review, but as usual, those reviews rarely tell the complete truth. I count more on the user's first hand feedback. Quote from other posts are welcome too.