papajacknow20 Loc: Glasgow Scotland

My old printer has packed in and I need to buy a new one. I have about $150 (£110)to spend but there are so many makes and models on the market now that I don't know where to start. I'd be grateful to any of my fellow hoggers for their recommendations. I only need it for printing my own photos and documents.

John Solak

Well, Hewlett Packard is the name. But I always had issues with ink jet printers clogging or running out of ink, or just drying out.

I went to a toner type, more pages and no other issuses. I bought a HP LazerJet 200 Color MFP m276 for $250.

Secret: I got this at Staples. Go and review it on line, I got a advertisement for $100 off. Then I went and, yes, I made less than a dollars worth of copies and got a 10% off coupon. $400 printer for $250!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I don't know the price in Scotland, but the Canon Pixma Pro-100 is a favorite on this forum. Do a search. If you include that current USA specials that include 50 sheets of paper, a rebate and a set of standard ink cartridges, the net cost is around $50. It is a photo printer and not very well suited for documents.

On edit: I decided to look it up on Amazon UK. It is far over your budget. Bad suggestion on my part.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Perhaps this one fits. Note that Epson calls it an "Expression Photo" printer and has more ink colors to support "Photo" printing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Epson-Expression-XP-860-Printer-Claria/dp/B00NAS4280/ref=sr_1_1?srs=3799868031&ie=UTF8&qid=1450286641&sr=8-1&keywords=expression+photo

This one is cheaper, does not have the scanner, uses 6 colors and includes the "Photo" designation.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Epson-XP-55-Expression-Photo-Printer/dp/B00OV2BXNQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450286852&sr=8-2&keywords=expression+photo

philo Loc: philo, ca

I use a Canon mg8220 for all of my prints up to 8.5 x 11. Does a great job and it uses third party ink.
I have no idea what the price is in your part of the world, but I paid under a $100.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I like the idea of cheaper ink, which is often more expensive than the printer itself. One of those Epsons will be my next printer.

I saw an article last night - Pop Photo, I think - about a new Canon that is trying to keep the cost down. The printer costs $1,300, and its 12 ink cartridges cost $60 each. I don't know where the lower cost comes into play.

Making the price of ink lower has to be a real problem for printer makers because they get a huge income from ink. Lowering the cost of ink will eat into their profits.

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

Cannon Pro-100 look on eBay many deals for slightly more dollars than you plan to spend.

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

If you want to print the best photo images on glossy paper, you will need a PHOTO printer. Good photo printers have six or more different ink tanks. If you are not interested in the best photo images, almost any inkjet printer will do. Generally speaking, the less you pay for a printer, the more money you will have to spend on ink. When you think you know which printer you want, check the prices of the ink tanks before you buy. In inkjet photo printers, I have always had good luck with Epson and Canon printers, not so much HP, but, in my opinion, HP makes the best color laser printers for printing color photos. Don't use inkjet photo paper in a laser printer, if you have one.

tmorgen Loc: Palm Bay, FL

My experience with printers has been with HP products. I can't say I am satisfied with them though all of them will begin to dry out from the moment you open the cartridge. It doesn't matter how large the capacity the cartridge is. My latest is an HP Photosmart. I would like to have the ability to print postcards on a 5X7 format but the printer no longer takes in the blank to print to. This is nothing new for HP either. So, recently I went to our local OfficeMax store and after speaking with a sales associate, walked out with an Epson printer. Considering cost of cartridges being right up there with the cost of the printer. I have to confess that I will be joyed when I delete all the HP Files in my desktop. It seems they have metastasized themselves and I rarely if ever use any of them. I get to watch HP play with itself on my computer rather than the other way around. The new Epson is a Christmas present so it hasn't been opened yet. I will await the opinions of others in this forum.
Ted

studavis

If you want to do photos get a Canon or Epson.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I purchased a refurbished Epson XP-950 6 carts. This printer with shipping was $139, good reviews. CISINKS.COM has a Continuous Ink System for under $100 including bottles of refill ink. This edition used small on cart switches to reset the chips. Good printer, low price, low upkeep.

bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.

What 3rd party ink do you use. I've used different ones on a canon printer and always had trouble. I still have the printer but haven't used it in over a year now and would like to try it again...Rich

philo Loc: philo, ca

I have purchased different brands from Amazon and they all worked fine. right now I'm running YoYo in both my pro 100 and mg 8220.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Here in the states you can pick up a Canon Pixma-Pro 100 for $149.00 after rebates from the larger camera resellers. I don't know if one of your camera suppliers in the UK may be offering the same program.

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

Our photo club did a presentation on printing, printers, paper & workflow. I partnered with an associate to build it. I spent 39 years in the commercial paper & printing industry & Jerry is an IT guy with 10 solid years tweaking his PP & printing skills. Not slick but it has plenty of data (builds categories). If you PM your email I can send you a copy.
High Yield ink cartridges do help keep the costs down as well as separate cartridges for each color. If longevity of your prints is important look at the hybrid dye based inks that marry ink with OEM Paper. Pigmented ink systems may break the bank with ink costs for sure. I personally struggle with consistency (fleshtones) most likely because I have not fine tuned my calibration procedures nor do I soft proof. I hard proof to get by with quick turn 4 x 6 & 5 x 7 of grandchildren that are changed often in my wife's frames. I would only use OEM ink and OEM Paper. Going to the Professional Printer level is a quantum leap relative to the commitment if you desire that level of perfection (cost, time & precise procedures--monitor calibration & color profiling for specific papers used). Jerry says, "I take the shot in 10 minutes and spend 2 hours tweaking it in Photoshop"