Z 3200

[dseelig]

I have one but with counting on after market heads should I stck with this printer or get a z9 I can get one used for a grand.

[kers]

I am not sure but I think the z3200 has some advantages: (see old posts) slow: more ink can be used ...  but slow  Z9 way faster
Z3200 better for thick paper like most art papers-   if you do not use them the z9 is probabaly better
Z3200 has a way to produce a more detailed ICC of a paper- more patches...

but i do not own one ... so you have to dig further

a grand is not much ....

[Kyle Jackson]

I dunno it probably depends on how much you use it and whether it's needed for business etc. If not and your only choices are stick with Z3200 or change printers to Z9+, maybe just stay with Z3200 so you don't need to buy all new heads/inks, which is the real cost. "If it ain't broke..."

But if it's more critical, then I'd probably skip any HPs entirely and go with a Canon or Epson (Canon 2600 / 4600 seems to be a strong option). As you probably already know, HP basically abandoned the wide-format photography market and deleted the entire engineering division that created and supported them pretty much right after they launched the Z6/9..., altho they still peddle the printers    From what I've seen around here, not many people bothered with the Z6/9 series, they either stuck with the legacy Z3100 / 3200 series, or they left HP completely. I'm amazed they still sell them.

[Kyle Jackson]

...Ok I just learned that the Z9+ uses a universal printhead for all colours, and the ink carts are more than double the size of the Z3x00 carts (and cost less per ml), so maybe a Z3200 to Z9+ switch breaks even on cost of supplies much sooner than I originally thought.

That said, there's still the "HP support issue" so I'd still be looking seriously at non-HP products. You do lose the very handy built-in spectro however, if frequent self-profiling is part of your gig. But more on that trade-off here:
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=145758.0

[dseelig]

HP Z are much lighter then Epson or Canon my office is on the second floor but also they  were the first truly long lasting inks we dont know about Canon but Epson 24 inch weighs a ton.

[Kyle Jackson]

HP Z are much lighter then Epson or Canon my office is on the second floor but also they  were the first truly long lasting inks we dont know about Canon but Epson 24 inch weighs a ton.

Yeah I've heard those printers weigh a ton compared to the HPs. If I get one of them someday I'm not looking forward to that part, but thankfully moving doesn't happen often and help is cheap! And on the plus side, options for dual roll handling would be so worth it!

Agree it would be great if reliable longevity test results were available for the others but I guess those days are long gone now. Either way, it certainly didn't stop the tide of users migrating away from HP..., because HP gave them little choice.

But it depends on your personal situation. For me $1000 is a very hard sell for another HP. If you can find a better price it might be more tempting. (I got my Z3200 for less than $100.) I'd add up the operating costs of the different printer choices before picking one. From what I've seen/read HP is still more expensive.

[dseelig]

 I ended up getting the z9 for 750 but needs a new head so orderer one. As much lighter as this one is compared to the epson and canon I can honestly say I dont know it I could have gotten any heavier printer up my stairs I did have help but damm to get something twie as heavy given the stair case I doubt it would have happened.

[sharadn]

Please let us know how it goes with the Z9. I have moved my HPZ3200 a couple of time with two people. When you remove the legs and stands it is much more manageable.

[Kyle Jackson]

I ended up getting the z9 for 750 but needs a new head so orderer one.

Hey congrats on getting a better deal, helps cover the cost of the head.

How old was the printer? Was it used much?