24 or 44” ?

[samogitian]

I have a 17’ Epson P-900 and am trying to decide between a 24” 7570 and a 44” 9570. I don’t photograph in medium format and my highest resolution camera is a Sigma FP-L, otherwise I mainly shoot with the Leica M-10R/M-10Ms and Q2/Q2M. The cost isn’t a major issue, and space is an issue although less of an issue than it might be for some people. I have had 44” large format printers before and, in truth, most of my images were in the 24” realm.

Obviously the decision is mine to make, but I am leaning toward the 24” simply because it is a little bit more manageable sizewise and maybe slightly less insane to buy and install.

[arobinson7547]

I think your last paragraph says it all.

[dgberg]

If you are doing gallery wraps I would go straight to the 44" We started with a 7900 and realized in a month it was too small.
If you do canvas on gatorboard then you can do 24x36 with the 24" printer.
When the 9900 finally quit last month we looked at everything and I mean everything.
Solvent, latex and the 9500 series. We now have 2 P8000's. $3295 with free delivery, $1500 less then the 9570.
Probably the best bang for the buck right now. Doing gallery wraps with 1 1/2" depth you are at about 18" for the width using a 24" printer.
If you are only printing papers I must say you will probably be more than satisfied with a 24" model. If that is the case the 7570 may be right for you.

[samogitian]

Thanks to you both, clearly it makes more sense. I’m a bit obsessed with 28” as a friend has beautiful 28” prints he traded me for an essay in his book, but he is a medium format photographer and I am not (yet). So I can get more coverage with a sheet of 24 x 36. And even if i get s GFX 100s, that works for it too.

I don’t print on canvas. I’m an old school photo person. I leave the world of canvas to my father who is long gone but made enough canvas paintings he filled a museum with them.

[Richard.Wills]

Those M mono's are very capable of going big in the printing.
It'll take at least two of you to install a 24" printer.
You can always run smaller papers in a bigger printer.

If cost and space aren't an issue, I'd go big!

[Mark Lindquist]

I have several 44" wide format printers and for printing on paper, I use a 24" printer almost exclusively. If you print mostly paper and won't go over 24 x 36 - maybe the 24" is a good choice. I know it is for me. I don't print small prints on my 44" printers very often - only large canvas, etc.

The idea that a 44" is better because it's bigger is not necessarily so. Let your instincts guide you. Flat files for up to 24" x 36" are way easier to find than those for the huge prints that can be made on 44". Dan Berg is correct - if you are doing canvas, then the larger printer. But if you're doing paper prints 24" is preferable in my not so humble opinion. Space is always an issue.

Best,

Mark