Epson SureColor SC-P800 review

[keithcooper]

After my recent P600 review, Epson UK called me asked if I'd like to review a new printer...

It's a pre-release printer, so the case is a bit rougher finish than you might like, but I'm assured that it's pretty much as will ship.

Anyway, I've written up a detailed review, that I hope is of interest

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/printer/epson-sc_p800_review.html

The printer is still here, so do let me know if you've any questions (and no, I will not take it apart!)

This is a 10 foot long print on 10" paper (took about 20 mins to print at 1440)

[JRSmit]

Keith,

Interesting read and as usual quite thorough.
Remark on the 51-step results, i get similar lineair results from both my 4900 and 9900. So indeed quite lineair. Actually with some profile optimisation one can get an almost perfect lineair L curve without the crunching in the deepest blacks.

As to this mouse over image about printer resolution, my guess is that with mouse over i get the 2880dpi . 

Did you also try the toggle finedetails = on when resolution set to 2880dpi?
In my experience that toggle is significant in its results. At least on the 4900 and 9900.

[keithcooper]

Thanks - you're right about the 2880/1440 image ;-) 
I wanted people to actually look at the image rather than see what supported any caption ;-)

I've just had a 16" roll of Epson PGPP turn up, so I'll try a few more detail comparisons.

As an aside, the press release (and article) wasn't due to go out till Wednesday, but after Epson US jumped the gun last week with the P800 announcement, it was moved to today. Fortunately, I'd written up most of the review yesterday...

[dwswager]

After my recent P600 review, Epson UK called me asked if I'd like to review a new printer...

It's a pre-release printer, so the case is a bit rougher finish than you might like, but I'm assured that it's pretty much as will ship.

Anyway, I've written up a detailed review, that I hope is of interest

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/printer/epson-sc_p800_review.html

The printer is still here, so do let me know if you've any questions (and no, I will not take it apart!)

This is a 10 foot long print on 10" paper (took about 20 mins to print at 1440)

Considering I just replaced the 8 year old R2400 with the 3880, I'm not going to jump on this any time soon.  Glad they upped the ink tank size from the P600 and removed the 37" and provided for roll paper support.  A little disappointing that droplet size stayed at 3.5ml and we still have to swap PK and MK inks to the same head location causing ink waste.  Of course, to change this would mean significant changes to head configuration and there for the control software and a wider printer.

This is probably going to be a great printer for us enthusiasts.  Considering I saved over $500 (w/ $300 rebate) over the cost of the P800, I'm not all that disappointed that it appeared so soon after purchasing the 3880 which is considered one of Epson's most reliable printers ever.

[MHMG]

Hi Keith,

The P600 has an "auto clean" feature which according to Epson technical support cannot be turned off by the user. I'm finding that due to this "feature" a manual nozzle check isn't always just a nozzle check. In some cases it leads to a "preclean" cycle before printing the nozzle check pattern (yes, before not after the nozzle check ).  Does the P800 share that same feature, is it the "default" setting, and can the user over ride it with a more manual approach to nozzle checks and cleaning cycles?

thanks,
Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com

[keithcooper]

Hi Keith,

The P600 has an "auto clean" feature which according to Epson technical support cannot be turned off by the user. I'm finding that due to this "feature" a manual nozzle check isn't always just a nozzle check. In some cases it leads to a "preclean" cycle before printing the nozzle check pattern (yes, before not after the nozzle check ).  Does the P800 share that same feature, is it the "default" setting, and can the user over ride it with a more manual approach to nozzle checks and cleaning cycles?

thanks,
Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com

I've not seen any setting relating to this. I've only done a few nozzle checks and they all worked exactly as I'd normally expect. I've still got the machine for a while, so will look out for it.

[lelouarn]

Hi,
I guess clogging is not something that you would see in such a review, as the machine is in pretty heavy use.
It would be interesting to have the printer sit there (turned off) without printing for 1-2 weeks and see if it starts to clog. Extra points if you have a 4900 next to the R800 and do the same in the same environmental conditions (essentially humidity)...
Otherwise, I thought it was a very interesting review. My prehistoric R1800 is due for replacement, and the R800 looks pretty sweet.

[keithcooper]

Hi,
I guess clogging is not something that you would see in such a review, as the machine is in pretty heavy use.
It would be interesting to have the printer sit there (turned off) without printing for 1-2 weeks and see if it starts to clog. Extra points if you have a 4900 next to the R800 and do the same in the same environmental conditions (essentially humidity)...
Otherwise, I thought it was a very interesting review. My prehistoric R1800 is due for replacement, and the R800 looks pretty sweet.

If you can sort it with the 'house authorities' for me to keep that many printers in the kitchen (unused) for a few weeks. ;-)
Also I'm in the UK, so low humidity is not something I have much experience of.

[Stefan Ohlsson]

Hi,
I guess clogging is not something that you would see in such a review, as the machine is in pretty heavy use.
It would be interesting to have the printer sit there (turned off) without printing for 1-2 weeks and see if it starts to clog. Extra points if you have a 4900 next to the R800 and do the same in the same environmental conditions (essentially humidity)...
Otherwise, I thought it was a very interesting review. My prehistoric R1800 is due for replacement, and the R800 looks pretty sweet.

I've let my P600 stand still for 3 weeks in a very dry room. When I started printing again I had to do one cleaning. After that everything was running fine again.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Keith,

The Pinnacle Lustre 300 gsm may look like Epson PLPP 260 gsm but its OBA content is much higher if I consider your b -7.81 in the QTR -out file. Epson PLPP hits b -3 at most.

Not so long ago there was a discussion on split toning. The favorite color toning was warm highlights to cool shadows. I wrote it wouldn't be easy to achieve that. Your B&W measurements on more papers here show that. Either the Dmax has to suffer from cooling the shadows or the highlights do not blend well to the paper white. On OBA and non-OBA papers.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[alain]

Hi Keith,

The P600 has an "auto clean" feature which according to Epson technical support cannot be turned off by the user. I'm finding that due to this "feature" a manual nozzle check isn't always just a nozzle check. In some cases it leads to a "preclean" cycle before printing the nozzle check pattern (yes, before not after the nozzle check ).  Does the P800 share that same feature, is it the "default" setting, and can the user over ride it with a more manual approach to nozzle checks and cleaning cycles?

thanks,
Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com

Hi

I've noticed that on my (now old) 3800 to, even when printing a few A2's I sometimes had it the following day.

On my 3800 I see a difference of about 25-30% between ink bought and ink accounted for inside the printerlogs.  I do at least an A4 a week (except a few times on holiday), mostly more.

Alain

[alain]

A question as you have (had) some canon ipf printers in the house to:

I'm interested in the difference between a ipf6400 and the new SC-P800.  Handling, roll handling especially, print quality,...

I know the price difference :-( and that the ipf6400 can print 24" :-) and I've also read you're reviews and comment on having a large format printer.
I happen to have a minimum volume of about 1 10" by 16" almost every week and now almost always pre cut it from a roll (baryta paper).

[keithcooper]

Keith,

The Pinnacle Lustre 300 gsm may look like Epson PLPP 260 gsm but its OBA content is much higher if I consider your b -7.81 in the QTR -out file. Epson PLPP hits b -3 at most.

Not so long ago there was a discussion on split toning. The favorite color toning was warm highlights to cool shadows. I wrote it wouldn't be easy to achieve that. Your B&W measurements on more papers here show that. Either the Dmax has to suffer from cooling the shadows or the highlights do not blend well to the paper white. On OBA and non-OBA papers.

Thanks for the detail there Ernst. It is indeed quite bright, very much a paper I use for 'decorative' prints for commercial use ;-)

I've a neutral/warm baryta paper that I do like for B&W, but only 44" roll in stock, so not tested with the P800.

[alain]

A remark about the skewing of larger papers.  I had this with my 3800 until I noticed a small plastic turnable piece on the right of the rear feeder, it's on the first part that can be pulled out and about 3cm long.

I adjusted it and made it about a mm wider (closer to the print) and almost all my prints are now straight.

[keithcooper]

A question as you have (had) some canon ipf printers in the house to:

I'm interested in the difference between a ipf6400 and the new SC-P800.  Handling, roll handling especially, print quality,...

I know the price difference :-( and that the ipf6400 can print 24" :-) and I've also read you're reviews and comment on having a large format printer.
I happen to have a minimum volume of about 1 10" by 16" almost every week and now almost always pre cut it from a roll (baryta paper).

Paper handling - well the 6400 has powered roll feed, but no straight through paper path or feed tray

Print quality - the extra R/G/B inks of the Canon do make a difference on some papers, if you've got some intense colours in your images. Not a lot, but I can see it on some of my test images. Probably falls into most people wouldn't notice category though ;-)  

Uncorrected B&W neutrality (BW print mode) seems better on the Epson, but I can adjust for that easily in the Canon driver (I also love using the Canon PS print plugin)

I've the space, so my big iPF8300 isn't problem. Things could get 'interesting' when the  Epson 9900 gets updated and my 2010 iPF8300 next has a head failing ;-)

[keithcooper]

A remark about the skewing of larger papers.  I had this with my 3800 until I noticed a small plastic turnable piece on the right of the rear feeder, it's on the first part that can be pulled out and about 3cm long.

I adjusted it and made it about a mm wider (closer to the print) and almost all my prints are now straight.

The skewing was likely my fault for just putting big heavy lustre papers into the sheet feed - no issue with PGPP and PLPP

I've just checked the printer - I'd not noticed that little part... thanks

[keithcooper]

Just tested a longer print on 16" Epson PGPP.

124" at 720ppi fell over
124" at 360ppi printed in under half an hour

I used a custom media size 3.2 metres long
CS6 print dialog (at the size that failed)

[alain]

Just tested a longer print on 16" Epson PGPP.

124" at 720ppi fell over
124" at 360ppi printed in under half an hour

I used a custom media size 3.2 metres long
CS6 print dialog (at the size that failed)

Hi Keith

How do you cut the paper?  It seems tricky to me, although that I can image to make a cut guider from wood and metal to makes thinks easier.

[keithcooper]

Hi Keith

How do you cut the paper?  It seems tricky to me, although that I can image to make a cut guider from wood and metal to makes thinks easier.

Good quality scissors and a steady hand...  ;-)

[alain]

...
I've just checked the printer - I'd not noticed that little part... thanks

Maybe you can place a picture of it in you're review, that small plastic part is very useful, but not well known ;-)