Hi all
I've asked this question on a different forum, but was pointed in this general direction by one of the locals, so thought I'd ask here!
What printers would you suggest for someone who wants to print A2 and above in a panoramic format and sell? The largest prints I've sold to date have a maximum width of 16.5" / A2, but
may wish to go larger in the future. Just to add to this, I also shoot infrared and generally convert to black & white, so I'm not just looking at excellent colour performance, but also B&W. I'd like it to take cut sheets as well as roll if possible. This would be my first grown up printer, and I understand I'll need to learn a fair amount to get the best out of it, but print labs just aren't an option any more after one too many faulty orders.
This started with someone locally offering a Canon IPF8000 for £350, though I've since found out it needs all 12 inks, at least 1 head, a maintenance cartridge, and I couldn't find native Windows 10 drivers. (He thought it was an IFP8100 labelled as an 8000, which might have been worth further consideration as at least drivers exist, but that was based on his belief that the 8000 was a 6 colour printer and his was a 12 colour printer. I think he saw the 8000S and got confused perhaps). I'm thinking that's not as good a deal as I originally thought, and am now looking at other options.
I like the idea of larger format printers, mostly because it doesn't size restrict me, but I'm aware of the potential expense after looking into the IPF8100, and the need to use it regularly. Having said that, I don't want to be paying out for ink after 20 prints, as seems to be the case with the desktop printers I've used in the past (and then not used cos they're just expensive to run), so larger ink capacity options is a bonus.
I don't have a limitless budget, but I think I'd realised I could be spending in the couple of thousand price range, with a possible need for more for consumables. I would happily pay less, but possibly a bit more if it's genuinely worth it. I need to be conscious about size / space (the IPF8100 just planted the seed of in idea - I hadn't actually figured out where to put it yet!) so something more compact would obviously be a bonus. I'm also aware that some printers need cartridge changes for different papers / print types which wastes ink. I'd like to avoid that, but it's possibly not a showstopper - as long as I know.
Used is an option, so could be interested in vague ideas on used prices, but I don't want used to mean "this is on its last legs, the wheels are falling off, the head(s) are dead and the main board is likely to fry"
I have a "great idea" of offering my print services locally to help subsidise this. This is of course silly, and it'll never happen, but if any of your suggested printers would allow for this, do please let me know!
Epson SC-P800 is probably the front runner at the moment, but other ideas / suggestions have been the Canon Pro-2000 and possibly a used IPF8400. The Canon Pro-1000 might still be a consideration if there would be any advantage, but obviously I'm aware there is no roll option, so no panoramas.
Any other suggestions or advice?? Thanks in anticipation!