Supertank Printers?
Jun 13, 2019 12:22:46 #
Has anyone had experience with any of the so-called supertank printers, like the Epson EcoTank or the Canon G-Series Megatank or the Brother INKvestment tank printers? Would you recommend them?
Jun 13, 2019 12:45:35 #
They are not "photo printers" like the ones with 6 or 8 tanks. They will print photos that may be enjoyable but they won't be "wall hanger" quality.
Jun 13, 2019 12:57:45 #
bsprague wrote:
They are not "photo printers" like the ones with 6 or 8 tanks. They will print photos that may be enjoyable but they won't be "wall hanger" quality.
That I understand - I have an Epson Artisan 1430 for high-quality prints. I have an everyday printer that just died, and the supertank idea is somewhat appealing because ink costs are purportedly lower. I wonder how difficult/messy it is to add ink?
Jun 13, 2019 13:52:40 #
DWU2 wrote:
Has anyone had experience with any of the so-called supertank printers, like the Epson EcoTank or the Canon G-Series Megatank or the Brother INKvestment tank printers? Would you recommend them?
I bought the Epson ET 4750 and I can't say I'm wild about it. It is not intuitive in the slightest. If you want to print envelopes you have to remove all the paper, put in your envelopes and slide the sides together to keep them in the middle. Then you have to tell the printer manually that you are printing envelopes as it does not take its direction from what you've keyed into the printer instructions on your computer. THEN, trying to get it to go back to doing 8"X11" regular paper is a real trial. With my 8-year-old HP all I had to do was put an envelope on top of the paper that was already loaded, slide it to the right side on top of the loaded paper and that was that. The printer took its orders from the computer. I've had it less than a year so I can't give you an idea of how long the ink lasts per loading as I've only loaded it once. I've actually taken to handwriting my envelopes as it is too much of a hassle unloading and loading and then getting the settings back to reg. paper. I never expected to have envelopes problems with this printer.
Jun 13, 2019 14:13:06 #
ragon
Loc: Wisconsin
I have a Brother MFC-J5845DW inkvestment printer. Great printer, very economical.
Jun 13, 2019 14:28:52 #
jonjacobik
Loc: Quincy, MA
I have an Epson ET7700. It's fine for printing, but I wouldn't use it for photos, I have another printer for that. The down side it that it needs maintenance. This morning it was acting up and I when through the nozzle clean procedure twice, it needed more. I selected the 'power clean' procedure and it asked me to replace the maintance box - a spare came with the printer, but replacing it is $25 so I'm ready for the next clog. I'm not sure what the maintenance box does, but I think it's holding the ink that was bled from the lines.
The procedures worked, I'm still on my first bottles ink. Cheaper in the long run than $75 in new ink every few weeks.
The procedures worked, I'm still on my first bottles ink. Cheaper in the long run than $75 in new ink every few weeks.
DWU2 wrote:
Has anyone had experience with any of the so-called supertank printers, like the Epson EcoTank or the Canon G-Series Megatank or the Brother INKvestment tank printers? Would you recommend them?
Jun 14, 2019 06:27:21 #
I have a Canon G4200. Does OK on photo prints (only four inks) but not best quality. But the ink lasts forever.
Jun 14, 2019 07:36:21 #
How much printing of other than photos do do you do? How important is color in your prints?
If color not required, I would suggest a laser printer. Much cheaper toner than ink and thousands of pages per toner cartridge.
Good luck,
Dave
If color not required, I would suggest a laser printer. Much cheaper toner than ink and thousands of pages per toner cartridge.
Good luck,
Dave
Jun 14, 2019 10:30:21 #
n4jee
Loc: New Bern, NC
I have an Epson 2500 for everyday printing and an Epson Photo 1400 for photographs. The 2500, of course, has large tanks. I have installed refillable cartridges in the 1400. Unless you are loaded with cash, bulk ink is the only way to go. When you buy a kit, you get large bottles of ink and a syringe for each color. The syringe has a long metal tube which makes it easy to both load the syringe and fill the tank/cartridge. Filling is no problem, just go slow and be careful not to spill. You will get some on your fingers and it takes awhile to come off but it's worth the savings.
Jun 14, 2019 10:35:41 #
DWU2 wrote:
That I understand - I have an Epson Artisan 1430 for high-quality prints. I have an everyday printer that just died, and the supertank idea is somewhat appealing because ink costs are purportedly lower. I wonder how difficult/messy it is to add ink?
If you don't use the printer for photo I think the laser is less expensive.
Jun 14, 2019 10:49:32 #
foathog wrote:
I have a Canon G4200. Does OK on photo prints (only four inks) but not best quality. But the ink lasts forever.
That's like the restaurant where the food's not very good, but you get large portions.
Jun 14, 2019 12:48:25 #
rfmaude41
Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)
bsprague wrote:
They are not "photo printers" like the ones with 6 or 8 tanks. They will print photos that may be enjoyable but they won't be "wall hanger" quality.
Actually (can't remember the model #) Epson does make a 6-tank unit.
Jun 14, 2019 12:56:30 #
I use my Epson 2550 for printing 4 x6 snapshots and it works fine.
The ink lasts forever. I also use it to print holiday cards that have a photograph on textured card stock.
That works very well and I save $500 per year on ink over the cartridge printers.
The ink lasts forever. I also use it to print holiday cards that have a photograph on textured card stock.
That works very well and I save $500 per year on ink over the cartridge printers.
Jun 14, 2019 14:23:39 #
I have the EPSON ET-7700. I got two sets of ink bottles and I'm about a 1/3 through the first fill (note an ink bottle does about a fill and a 1/4 of an eco tank. I haven't printed as many photo's as I had intended, but of those I've done I've got nowhere the standard the demo produced.
I've not done a club competition print entry yet so I've yet to see how it will get marked. Like jonjacobik (above) I'm about to run a service. As a general printer I think it's great but unless you can get those settings correct between screen / printer correct (calibration) you'll struggle to get prints like any demo produces.
I've not done a club competition print entry yet so I've yet to see how it will get marked. Like jonjacobik (above) I'm about to run a service. As a general printer I think it's great but unless you can get those settings correct between screen / printer correct (calibration) you'll struggle to get prints like any demo produces.
Jun 14, 2019 21:12:59 #
The Epson ET (Eco Tank) units are nice. I own a couple and use them for everyday printing where the color is NOT for making photos. More expensive up front, but the ink is dirt cheap. I also have a couple of monochrome laser printers. For photos, I use an Epson P800. Best of luck.
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