Gregory, I have the Innova IFA09 which I shipped in from the UK (
www.on-linepaper.co.uk delivered it to me). Not sure what size you want to print, but you might find the surface texture at A3 / A4 sizes interferes with fine detail - I seem to recall you shoot birds. The texture isn't so apparent whilst looking at an unprinted sheet, but it gets more noticeable once ink's applied. I print a lot of events photos (stage shots mostly) where there is a lot of dark space, and for me this surface is too intrusive.
On the plus side it has fabulously deep blacks, better than Hahnemuhle FAP and Crane Silver Rag, and on a par with (if not better than) a gloss paper but without the mirror finish. All excellent qualities and just what I want. If that darn surface texture was eliminated then this would be my paper of choice - shame I can't get past that @#*@! surface.
Can you get a decent profile for the IFA09 and your 1290? I tried a profile for the R1800 that the nice chaps at Innova pointed me to (not Booksmart), and it was truly foul. I got far better results (though not neutral) using the canned Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper profile: you might try that as a start point if you buy the paper.
I've been making enquiries about printers. I'm holding off until I get to play with the new Z-series from HP, which I'm going to do at their HQ in Singapore in a few weeks' time. I have a good business relationship with HP (not as a photographer), they're trying to get me a loaner. It was easy to find a Singapore retailer who would ship an IPF5000 to HK, provided I paid the shipping, but this HP looks attractive to me. So my powder's staying dry for now...!
