How about a nice printer.

[joeinmiami]

Hello there!

Can some one recomend a printer capable of printing photo quality prints up to 12 x 14 or 16 x 20?

Please keep it reasonable, how about less than $2,000.

I have been looking at the Canon Pro9000, is this printer any good? (It goes for about $400)

Thanks

Joe:cavig

www.jlm-photos.com

[pathfinder]

The break point will be whether you want prints no wider than 13 inches or whether you desire a 17 inch wide platen.

There is a significant price difference between the printers that are limited to 12 inch wide platens and the 17 inch wide platens needed for 16 x 20.

For a 16 x 20 , if quality is a key concern, it is hard to beat the Epson 3800 (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/ProImaging/ProductDetails.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=C635011UCM)


Review of the 3800 (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/epson-3800.shtml)

HP and Canon both make very good pro printers, but most of the pros I know use more Epsons by far than any other brand.

Unless you plan on doing a lot of printing, it really is lots cheaper to order prints from Smugmug. They look glorious. I have some printed at 24 x 36 inches.

I am biased, I print with an Epson Stylus Pro 4000, which I have had several years.

[Icebear]

:agree

But if you're willing to limit your output to 13" wide media, I'd highly recommend the Epson Stylus Photo R1800. I love mine. It's only about $400 with the current rebate.

[dmmattix]

Depends upon how much printing you do. The R1800/1900 use pigment inks and there have been many complaints of clogged heads ($$$$) if you do not print with them frequently. If you do a lot of printing that or run the head cleaning nearly every day then that range of printer should be fine. The R1800 is discontinued but you can find them "like new" or "refurbished" around.

If you don't do printing nearly every day then Epson has the 1400 which is a dye ink 13" carriage printer and dye inks don't have the pigments that sink to the bottom and then clog the heads. The major complaint about ALL Epson dye ink printers is the amount of ink they consume but the color is VERY good.

As Pathfinder says you can order from Smugmug but I always am wanting the print RIGHT NOW so that also can impact what (if anything) you need in the way of a photo printer.

Just a dye ink guy's point of view...:wink

Edit: Almost forgot. The 1400 can be had easily for $299 and you can find it for as low as $249 if you are persistent.

[davemj98]

I have the Pro 9000 and I like it very much. I did research on DPReview in the printing section on the various printers out there. Once I established my model, I checked the online stores and my local stores; my Camera shop was able to match the reliable vendors. When in doubt, B & H.

[Tango]

i have a pro9500 and the quality/clarity is better than local labs.
its pigment ink, so moab luster paper is the only option i have found to make nice photo paper prints...(i wish i had both the 9500 & 9000) (one for each type of printing im doing)
the 9500 is really for rag type stuff........
9000 for photo papers...

13 x 19 as mentioned is the limit, next step up your looking at 2000.....

getting a epson is a good idea since there is a big base of dgrinners to ask for help from.....

but just keep in mind...$$$
i spend more using my printer than if i used ezprints through smugmug.
but i get the print right then and there.....


one last thing to keep in mind.

printing isnt just easy as pressing the button....expect to learn alot of things you thought you already knew:D