Go to the website for Red River Paper. They have good information, including printer comparisons and costs of printing in their "Support" area [http://www.redrivercatalog.com/infocenter/]. Perhaps you will find information that is useful for your search. If you do not find something on a printer you are considering, you can send an email asking about it and will get an answer. But ask a specific question, not for a recommendation!

Another thing to do is go to the Canon and Epson websites and look at what they have to offer. Those are the brands most recommended. You will see something in your price range there, and whether there are any rebates available. Make comparisons and decide what features are what you need. None in your price range will be specifically for photo printing, but will do a good job. The one I have is an all-in-one, uses 3 color cartridges and 2 black cartridges. I get very nice quality images on whatever paper I use (but I am now a devotee of Red River Paper!).

Ink is expensive no matter what printer you purchase. In fact, the ink for mine just went up and I am not happy about that. But I won't throw out the computer because of it. Will just keep in mind that my next one will be better, with larger ink tanks... When you have a couple of printers in mind, you can compare ink prices either on the websites or by going into Staples where they carry a variety.

Something else to realize is that when you change photo papers, you need to change the ICC profile you are using. RRP has ICC profiles for all their papers, and describes how to download them. I access the appropriate profile directly from LR, and it is easy to switch from one to another in the printing dialogue.

Hope this helps.

Susan

I will add that both the 9000 and Pro 100 are big heavy beasts but we find it (the 9000 mk II) to be easy to operate and to set up. We've had ours for 3 years now, and totally trouble free. It doesn't get used every week and no ink clogging problems. We do use Canon ink and photographic paper, but just standard inkjet paper (Office depot premium) for paper copies when we occasionally do them. Our previous Canon printer lasted for over 10 years before the print head died, and once again no ink clogs with Canon ink.

Another advantage with the Pro series is that Canon provides a 16bit driver and Print Studio Pro software which works with Photoshop and other tools to print 16bit quality prints which can be noticeably better than 8bit prints in some circumstances. We normally print on letter size, but it's nice to know that we have the larger size options We do use the CD / DVD print option occasionally.

As others have said, the deal is extended to end of April: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/893738-REG/Canon_6228b002_Pixma_Pro_100_Photo_Inkjet.html

Good luck