Multi-Purpose Printer: Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me well as a photo printer, copy, fax, scan has finally puked. So, I am searching for a new one that will...

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me well as a photo printer, copy, fax, scan has finally puked. So, I am searching for a new one that will accommodate my prior needs as well as produce good results as a photo printer. Even though I am a hobbyist/amateur photographer with A D850 on the way, I want a copier that will produce good quality photos as well as a general purpose copier. Lots of choices out there, so I am looking for recommendations from current users on what to buy. Would like to keep it in the $200-$400 range, and I am not Brand specific although HP has my history. Since I have a B&W laser printer for large volume work (print only), the photo feature ( low volume) is most important on a new machine. Appreciate any advise and recommendations coming my way. Thanks, and keep shooting.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Both Canon and Epson are making "All-in-Ones" that have enough cartridges to do good photo prints.

This is one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081851-REG/epson_c11cd95201_expression_premium_xp_860_all_in_one.html

This is another: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1356584-REG/canon_2231c002_ts9120_wireless_all_in_one_printer.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Indiana wrote:

Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me... (show quote)

Look for online reviews and recommendations. Sometimes, an all-in-one is not the best choice for photo printing.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Indiana wrote:

Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me... (show quote)

So why buy an all in one?

Do you have a requirement for 'office quality' color paper in any volume?

Do you want a built in scanner / photo copier?

Separate devices for each function typically function better than multifunction compromises.

My wife and I do a relatively high volume of b&w office printing so use a double sided laser, a reasonable amount of copy/scanning/some OCR, limted office color, and some higher quality photo quality scanning and printing. We find that separate printers and scanner are better quality, more convenient, and cheaper than using multi-function devices. If we had a need for high volume 'office quality' color we'd probably get another printer with high capacity ink tanks.

For printers, the media far outweighs the cost of the device in our experience.

AGO

I had a bad run of luck with HP printers (3 in a row died right after the warranty expired). After that I bought a Canon Pixma MG 8220. I've had it for several years and it is fine for most scanning and printing needs. It also came with attachments for scanning slides and negatives. I don't think they still make this model but there must be an equivalent.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

My suggestion for a good all in one is an Epson XP series. They are quite compact. We have had a XP850 for five years now. It is a great printer using Epson paper. The maximum size print is limited to 8.5x14 inches though.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

AGO wrote:

I had a bad run of luck with HP printers

This was my experience, also. When I was looking to get a new mono laser printer my primary qualification was "anything but a Hewlett-Packard".

ralphfr Loc: Long Island, NY

Just a heads up but MFP does not include fax anymore if that's an issue for you.

boncrayon

I'm an Epson WorkForce fan. As a graphics specialist, it serves me well, and lower cost than a laser printer. Epson inks are unique, as they dry soon after they print, and you can throw it into a sink of water and the ink will not run! It's a bubble jet with large ink cartridges. I can take a low-res photo (72dpi) and import it into Word, enlarge it slightly and print it with bubble jet and remove the pixel effect.

Boncrayon

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Indiana wrote:

Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me... (show quote)

IMHO, if you're spending the money on a new D850, you should also spend some money on a decent photo printer. All-in-one printers don't do a very good job on photos. Get a nice, inexpensive all-in-one to fill your needs and then get a separate photo printer. There are several Canon and Epson photo only printers available for great prices when the rebates are included. Best of luck.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I never was happy with the HPs that I tried in the beginning (paper feed issues, ink cartridge problems with OEM cartridges). I got my first Canon printer when one came as a package bonus when I bought a Canon camera from B&H. I have found Canon excellent for photo printing. I currently have an 8.5 inch wide one that will print non standard lengths for panoramas etc. I also have a Pro9500 MKII that I use for larger prints 11 inches by whatever length. I get excellent results with both. I use OEM inks and usually OEM papers as well. I have no problems with either printer and I have owned them for a few years printing color images.

VernzPix

I recommend Epson's All in One inkjet printers for home use. The new EcoTank systems offer individual black and color tanks instead of small cartridges, fast color printing up to 8 1/2 x 14 glossy photo paper, high quality scanner, document and photo copier. Using OEM ink and paper, this printer makes great photo prints that rivals store type prints. Epson inks will not smear or fade for a long time, outlasting many other brands.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Indiana wrote:

Well, my trusty HP Office Jet L7780 that served me... (show quote)

You should consider that an all-in-one printer is NOT intended for photo work. Limited color gamut and non-archival dye based inks are two big drawbacks. A dedicated photo printer will do a much better job of printing pictures and use pigment ink, but will be too costly to run or general purpose printing.

So it makes sense to get 2 printers - a cheap all in one printer for most tasks, and a dedicated printer for photo printing. Or just get the cheap all in one and send your photo work out for printing. It is usually cheaper than ink and paper and self printing. Just a thought.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

boncrayon wrote:

I'm an Epson WorkForce fan. As a graphics specialist, it serves me well, and lower cost than a laser printer. Epson inks are unique, as they dry soon after they print, and you can throw it into a sink of water and the ink will not run! It's a bubble jet with large ink cartridges. I can take a low-res photo (72dpi) and import it into Word, enlarge it slightly and print it with bubble jet and remove the pixel effect.

Boncrayon

I am also a big fan of the Epson WorkForce. I have a WF-7520 that has been working flawlessly for many years (I think 5 years). It prints up to 13X19. I use it for pictures and while there are better printers for that, for the few pictures that I do print, it does a fine job. What I like about this printer is that is uses tanks instead of cartridges (no printheads) and so the cost of ink is much lower.

When HP's quality departed, so did I as a customer and where once the house was full of HP equipment (from servers to printers,) the only thing with the HP logo on it is a sleeve of 13X19 photo paper because that's all Office Depot had in stock for that size.

Epson printers are far superior to HP printers in every way conceivable, in my not so humble opinion.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

VernzPix wrote:

I recommend Epson's All in One inkjet printers for home use. The new EcoTank systems offer individual black and color tanks instead of small cartridges, fast color printing up to 8 1/2 x 14 glossy photo paper, high quality scanner, document and photo copier. Using OEM ink and paper, this printer makes great photo prints that rivals store type prints. Epson inks will not smear or fade for a long time, outlasting many other brands.

Although I also recommend the EcoTank printers, and also have one, I can't recommend them for making photo prints at all. The prints made by this printer, with only four inks, are not even close to those made by your corner drugstore. I've not seen any multi-purpose and inexpensive printer make decent photo prints. OTOH, there are a few inexpensive (to buy), real photo printers made by Canon that do produce nice prints. If you're looking for photo output, you need to purchase a printer designed for it. Epson is the brand I prefer, but there are others. Best of luck.