dwirt1957

Finding my all-in-one printer not adequate for producing quality photos. I would like to know everyone's opinion on these two printers. Or should I look at it Epson? Thank you in advance. Dave

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I had the Pro-9000 Mark II and when it wasn't working up to snuff I got the Pro-100. I really thought both were great printers. The Pro-10 is slightly better in that it uses pigment instead of dye type of ink. But you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. Now I upgraded to the Pro-1000. I can't really say that I see a lot of difference between the 3 that I've owned so far, other than the Pro-1000 does larger format prints and that I think that since the ink tanks are much larger they will be more economical in the long run. But, as with all printers, the first set of inks don't last that long because they have to fill a bunch of hoses and go through a big priming etc. After that, they seem to last forever. I buy OEM ink, but pay about half price on eBay for ink that has been in stock too long. They have a sell or use by date, but I really don't think it amount to a hill of beans.

I wouldn't buy an epson because they have known issues with the print heads clogging up because of sitting too long. In other words, you must keep using it or if it sits around too long you'll have dried up ink clogging things up. They seem to be noisy to me as well. Not that the Canon is whisper quiet, but some are louder than others.

dwirt1957

Thank you very much for the timely response. I greatly appreciate your input! I'm kind of leading my way into buying the 10 because of the pigment versus die but who the heck is going to last 200 years on this planet anyways! Thanks again.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Pro-100 dye ink probably the best of the dye ink printers a this time. uses 8 cartridges, $124 list per set I used OEM ink until the 1 year warranty was run out then started loading/refilling cartridges with Precision Color gear. Under $2 a fill for each cartridge. Works great, colors great.

Pro-10 pigment ink with 10 cartridges. I have never owned one but the local photo shop keeps a couple of them for their "print your own" service. The classroom where Canon and other reps hold classes is set up with Pro-10s also. Outstanding images.

I never asked what they use in the back room when you pay them to print for you.

dwirt1957

Thanks Robert!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have 3 printers I use for photos, the Pro-10, Pro-100 and TS-9020. For small prints, color prints 8.5 X 11 that don't have a broad spectrum of colors and 8.5 X 11 and under black and white, I use the TS 9020. It uses 6 cartridges, 3 color, 2 black and 1 grey. For the "good" stuff I use the Pro-10 and everything else comes off the Pro-100; it's cheaper to run than the Pro-10 and it's pretty hard to really tell the difference. My only real complaint about the 10 and 100 is their max print size of 13 X 19, plus the 10 seems to use more ink keeping its print head clean. I like the 10 but if you're not selling a lot of large color prints, seriously consider the 100, and get it when it's on sale. With the rebate and paper it's basically free.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Pro 100 does an outstanding job printing photos. Of course, as with any printer, make sure you have a calibrated monitor, and use the proper printer profile in your software setup for the printer and paper you use. I use printer manages versus photoshop manages the color. Works fine.

johntaylor333

I have the Pro-100 and haven't had a single clogged nozzle in 2 years (despite only occasional use).

Right now they are on sale at B&H for $70 after MIR!

sathca Loc: Narragansett Rhode Island

My walls are filled with prints from the pixma 100. They say the difference in the inks is how long they will last without fading. The inks in my printer will still be sharp when I’m not anymore!

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Most of the above is correct, though I don’t agree with two items in particular:
The Epson pigment printers in my experience have fewer clogged head problems than Canon; I have and use both. Currently the Epson P800 is my go-to machine for anything larger than 8.5x11. I rarely use my Epson 9600 - it’s just too big for most situations.
Second, in a brightly lit room,, particularly sunlit, the ink based prints don’t last more than a few years without noticeable fade, particularly the red-based hues. The pigment prints so far show no sign of fading spread amongst groups of prints from both types of machines.

jedcardio

I have use the 100 for years and have been quite satisfied. I print mainly 13x19 prints

mrpentaxk5ii

The sun will fade every thing, the best way to display prints is out of direct sun light. I have bee printing with a Canon PIXMA Pro 9000 MKii, I have prints in our home that have been framed and on display for several years and show no sign of fading, they look as if they were just printed. I use Canon Ink and Canon, Epson and RedRiver paper. I just sold a 13x19 print framed in a flat black gallery style frame with a white mat, that was in my bedroom for a few years for 280$. The print was in perfect condition. This is a photo of the print that was just sold. The photo was printed on Red River Paper, Polar Pearl Metallic. This photo was taken in Bombay Hook NWR at sun rise.

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bweber Loc: Newton, MA

I have a Pro 10 and really like it. The prints are very good and I have never had one fade. I mount them under glass and I am not very careful about where I display them. The OEM inks are not cheap. However, if you purchase the ink directly from Canon they throw in free paper, and not just 4x6 size. Their pro paper is excellent, and I now have a collection of more paper, in all sizes up to A3+, than I can ever use.

TonyBot

I'm for the Pro-10, and absolutely love it!

The longer-lasting pigment inks on the -10 cost more (by about 15-20%).
The dye-based inks on the -100 tend to be slightly more saturated (especially the reds). However, since they fade faster, especially if in a sun-lit room that is quite bright, they will match the pigment version's colors in a few years, and "fade-away" after that.

Note, however, that the newer dye-based inks are quite good (be they Canon or Epson), and "fade faster" still may mean decades instead of months, as was expected only ten or fifteen years ago.

And, most importantly, the proper care, display, and handling of *any* print you do with either of the -10 or -100 will extend its life considerably.

If the *cost* of a print is a concern - a 13x19 from either one of the Canons will be in the vicinity of two or three dollars each, for the ink alone - and you could spend as much as four or five dollars for a really good "fine art" paper. The Pro-1000 and its much larger tanks is roughly one-half of the ink cost of either one. So is the initial cost*, but then you'll be able to print those 16x20s to your heart's desire.

You should check out the Red River site. Some very good info there, as well as quality products. http://www.redrivercatalog.com

*Right now, with sales and rebates the -100 is virtually free, the -10 is around $400 to $500, and the -1000 is about $900 to a grand.

Good luck, and I hope I didn't murky the water too much.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I have a pro 9000 MKII and a pro 100. I use both of them, the 100 I use more for b+w prints because it has black, light grey and grey inks. The 9000 has more color inks. Sometimes they sit for months without use and they work fine. I have read that the photos will fade if you display them in direct sunlight, and also they will get a pinkish cast form long term fluorescent lighting. I look for frames that have UV filtering glass.