Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Thinking about trying photo printer again. Gave up printing at home years ago since it was less expensive going to a lab than paying for paper and ink while printing an image 5 times before it looked good. And unless printing almost daily, jets clogged.

Figured new tech might have produced a reasonably priced printer with excellent print capabilities, more than 4 color inks for subtle colors, able to print up to either max 8x10 or ones that allow 11x14’s. Like to keep it under $1k. Apparently Elson or Canon lead the pack.

Any thoughts?

nison777 Loc: illinois u.s.a.

Ink jets seem to be about the same as in the past...
So if you want to give them a retry for fun and complete control you need to count the usual cost and maintenance...

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Check out the Canon Pro-200 and Pro300. The Canon Pro series of printers are essentially bulletproof. The 200 series uses dye ink while the 300 series uses pigment inks for longevity. Both are under $1,000. I've been using an older version (Canon Pro100) and in all the years I've been using it I can't remember ever having it clog. If your monitor is calibrated and you use Canon paper and ink you should have no issues with color matching.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I have a Canon Pro 200 and have learned that if I turn down my monitor's luminance that I get pretty good results. When I first started printing the prints were unacceptably dark and that is because the monitor was brighter than the actual image. The only other thing that I would suggest is that you have to pay particular attention to white balance, if you see even a small bit of color tone in your whites you will certainly see it in your prints, make sure that your whites are white.

If you do purchase a Canon photo printer definitely download and use Canon Professional Print and Layout software.

Vlemasters

I use a canon pixma pro 100. I know you can’t get it any more but the reason I chimed in is the clogging jets. I have gone months without printing, but it works perfect every time. Someplace I had heard that if you keep them covered up the jets will last a whole lot longer. When I got it I immediately ordered a dust cover for it and keep it covered unless it is in use.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Canon is the way to go. IMO Canon printer hardware and software is the best at all levels.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

How serious of printing? Casual use for photos I picked up a Canon TS3522 after not having a photo printer for a couple of years, just for family prints, under $100.00 with extra ink if my memory is right, perfect for the use, we do have another printer for documents so the ink doesn't runout that fast.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I've had a good number of Canon and one HP printers, never a problem with ink clogging in spite of intermittent use. Now I have an Epson ET2750 and it's the opposite. Always clogged print heads, but the massive ink tanks are really cheap and last forever as long as you don't do a "deep cleaning" which eats a LOT of ink.

The only "photo" printer I had was the HP but they all gave satisfactory prints except the Epson. I quit trying to get the Epson to print a good photo.

Also the Epson interface is horrible on this printer. I've been into computing since the early 80's and line printers, and this Epson is terrible. Constantly getting useless upgrades over the net that seem to do nothing much. The printer always saying there is a mismatch of papers between what the printer thinks I'm using and what the print software says I'm using. Never had any issues like this with Canon printers. Not saying all Epson printers are like this one, but I'll not buy another Epson myself.

I will say that it's good for printing documents, not photo's and you can print 1000's of pages of type, double sided and it works great in between nozzle cleanings, and cheap ink to say the least.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Some Epson printers in the past have had significant clogging issues and problems with internal ink leaking, resulting in ink splotches on the paper and ink leaking out from underneath the printer. I had the ink leakage problem with my Epson photo printer in mid-2015. Epson replaced the printer, which subsequently developed the same ink leakage. After that I switched to a Canon Pro-100, which has never clogged, never leaked, produces excellent prints and is still going strong 8 years later.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I bought my Epson ET 2750 in 2017. I didn't mention before but it also suffers from ink splotches on occasion, in addition to clogging. Doesn't leak under the printer I don't think, never looked really. Personally, I don't print photo's much, never did. If I have something worth printing I'll send it out for larger prints.

I view all my pics on TV Screens nowadays. Seems that Sams Club and Costo and possibly Walgreens? are not printing photos any more, indicating a drop off in print demand I reckon. My pictures look great and then some on my big screen TV's and my walls are already filled with pictures.

RogStrix Loc: UK

I added this in a similar thread, so apologies if you've already seen it:

The problem with the Epson (I have the ET-7750) is the design of the drain into the waste tank, effectively the head parks over a sponge area leading to the drain, waste ink tends to coagulate and build up on this area and transfers to the head mechanism. Fairly easy to clean, once you know how. Turn on the printer, then switch the mains off whilst its doing its initial head cleaning run. With the power OFF you can easily slide the head to the left out of the way and see the sponge area, wipe that off with some dense kitchen towel, use a bit of solvent/lighter fluid to clean off stubborn areas. As for blocked heads, the only really effective remedy is to keep using your printer. Leave it for a month and you're asking for trouble.
Avoid very thick photo paper, the ET range seems not to like them?
Otherwise the Eco Tank system is a economic way of printing.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try for sure. The big issue so far is the blocked heads. I don't print all that often, never did, yet never had a problem with the Canon or HP printers.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Can’t say enough good things about the Canon Photo printers. I’ve had a Pixma 9000 Pro (precursor to the pro 100, 200…) for 6-8 years. Sometimes it sits for a year or more between uses, but when I turn it on, always works perfectly. - zero clogs and great prints. Wouldn’t consider anything else for a photo printer. The only downside is the factory inks are expensive, but I’ve used 3rd party with no issues yet. Definitely another Canon (if this one EVER dies). BTW, this is a large printer!

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

I also go sometimes for a couple of months between printing on my nearly 6 year old Canon Pro 100 and I also bought a cover for it and keep it covered when not printing. Knock on wood but it has never had an issue with clogged nozzles. A note though, I Only have used OEM Canon cartridges since I bought this printer new from Canon. Although the Pro 100 is not available any more, if I had to replace the printer I would only purchase the Canon Pro 200 for around $200 dollars.
I have purchased several Epson printers because readers have expressed how good they are, I will never buy an Epson printer again, they have driven me mad with constantly needing printhead cleanings.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The cost of ink for an ink tank is negligible. I'm still using the original colors that came with my Epson ET-2760, although I have started on another black. A complete replacement set cost about $68, and the bottles of color are still unopened after almost 5,000 pages. I think it prints beautifully, but look for reviews. The 2760 has been discontinued, but there are others.