Grandpa Loc: Sacramento, CA

I have the Epson XP860. I am impressed with the quality of the prints it makes. I print a lot of 4x6 and it has a different tray for the smaller photo paper.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Nope, that's a 4-color printer (cyan, magenta, yellow and black)... which are fine for pie charts, but lousy for photos. While they've gotten better, the highest photographic purpose I'd use a printer like that would be for low quality thumbnail catalogs. At least it's not a single cartridge printer, has a separate tank for each color (less wasteful than a single tank that includes all the colors). Even so, I wouldn't buy it for

You want at least a 6-color printer for photos (cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow and black). But many photo printers have even more. My Canon Pro 100 uses 8 colors (same 6, plus two gray for better black & white prints). Canon Pro 10 uses 10 colors and the Canon Pro 1 uses 12. I also have used several different 6-color Epson over the years... as well as an HP 8-color. In general, Epson have been the most expensive for ink consumption, the HP was the least expensive (big ink tanks that are pricey, but last a long time), and the Canon seems to be somewhere in between. The Canon has been the most trouble-free. Some of the older Epson were really prone to clogging and needed frequent head cleaning (and wasted a whole lot of ink doing that).

The HP is a pigment inkjet, which I prefer for matte finish prints, and has seen a few clogs when left sitting for too long, but it's heads are removable (and replaceable, if ever needed) and easy to clean without wasting ink. Pigment inks also are longer lived... rated for 200+ years. The Canon Pro 1 is also a pigment ink printer. Not sure which Epsons are now.

Most inkjets use dye based inks, including my Canon Pro 100. Used to be, those were quite prone to fading. But they've improved a lot and the ones the Canon Pro 100 uses are rated for 125+ years (long after I'll be concerned about it ). Don't know about the current Epson inks, but I'd bet they're about the same. I prefer dye based inks for glossy, semi-gloss and lustre finish prints.

The scanner in that all-in-one also doesn't appear to be anything special. It's 2400 dpi. "Better" flatbed scanners like the Epson V850 are 6400 dpi. Dedicated film scanners are as much as 9000 or 10,000 dpi.

Personally I'm not a fan of "all-in-one" printers... with scanning & faxing capabilities, as well as the printer. If any one feature of an all-in-one fails, you end up having to replace the whole thing, even though other functions might still be fine. I'd rather have a separate scanner... and a printer that's just a printer. But, if an all-in-one that's what you prefer, there are some 6-color, as well as with higher resolution scanners (both Canon and Epson).

But, you know, if you only make a few photo prints now and then, you might just outsource those for ease, low cost and better quality... and just get a printer for office work, not for photos. 4-color would be fine for the majority of that type use.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

My gripe with the 'all-in-ones' is that they do everything 'half-assedly'. Whenever I go looking for printers I see no dedicated-to-printing printers. Also, the 'all-in-ones' are just big awkward boxes that din't fit my space. Besides I have a dedicated scanner that sure does not need replacing.

LAJ Loc: Mesa Arizona

My experience with Epson printers is if you don't use Epson ink, the print head clogs. One other thing, the print head is part of the Epson printer and is very good printing photos. Other printers, the print head is part of the ink cartridge and quality is questionable. I have made some 81/2 x 11 prints on an Epson all in one and they turned out very good.

ecurb1105

I soured on Epson after their C66 model kept clogging on me. I run a Brother multifunction printer and an HP Photosmart, I recommend both brands. I can endorse Epsons scanners but not their printers.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Epson printers thrive on constant use. They do not "like" to be left idle. Get a much cheaper all-in-one and print at least a few pages each week. That will keep the nozzles clear, and make the printer last longer.

Remember, they make their money on ink, not printers... A set of full ink cartridges can cost as much as some printers.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Using third party inks in Epson printers is a gamble. Some of them are great, and some of them will clog your printer! Some of them will yield poor color reproduction using the Epson papers and ICC profiles applied by the driver settings.

After my wife ruined four Epson office grade printers with third-party inks, we finally switched to Epson inks and have had good luck since, as long as we print something once a week or more frequently.

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

I have been using an Epson XP-420 for three years, and it makes really great 8 X 10's. the only thing you need to do is make sure they don't run out of ink. If you do, the nozzles get clogged with dry ink and the printer is trashed.

j45 Loc: North Central CT

i'm learning a lot of stuff. thanks, all

one shot Loc: Pisgah Forest NC

Had an Epson Stylus R1800 when I was selling. Wonderful prints, pigment ink. Now use Epson Artisan 50, dye based ink, and get beautiful prints, just smaller, and no clogging even though not printing often. I always use matt paper. Have had it get wet and it dried without any problems. Also have Epson Perfection V39 scanner.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

You won't get the quality output from an-all-in-one printer compared to a photo printeder. I have used Epson for years.

DBQ49er Loc: Dubuque, IA

I have used Epson large format and had problems with clogging because of non use. I went to a Brother black laser printer and have no problems, GREAT little printer for the cost per page. I never hear anyone using a color laser printer for their prints. Why not????

Lundberg02

do not leave an epson on all then tme, a cleaning routine is run every time it is turned on. The XP-960 is supposed to be more clog free than lower priced AIO Epsons, but I bought a warranty anyway, tired of the clog scam. It makes superb color copies. Got it 100 off or I wouldn't have. I've had Ep[sons for fifteen years in a love hate relationship and finally wised up with the three year warranty which actually is only eight bucks a year.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Toners fade rapidly.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

EPSON pigmented inkjet prints last longer than any others, according to Wilhelm Imaging Research. WHY? Because they use the same types of solid pigments that cave dwellers used 30,000 years ago.

Unfortunately, the same properties that make the images so stable cause the pigments to settle out of the ink solution and clog the lines and heads. Lack of use causes clogs faster than anything else!

Epson Ultrachrome printers should be used in situations where they see heavy, and preferably daily, use.

I had two Epsons in a pro portrait lab. The 9600 never sat idle more than three straight days. It clogged about once every 18 months.

The 4000 was seldom used more than once a week to make 30"x10" panoramas. It clogged so often, we eventually gave it away. The new user ran it daily with rare issues.

The latest generation of Epson 'P' (pro) printers clog MUCH less often. But they still work best when they stay busy.