alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Ok, I might be completely off my rocker for even considering this, but I like the specs of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550. I looked on the printer section of UHH, but the latest post was 2017, so nothing I could find about this one. I've read many reviews an many of them were from people who were beta testing their free printer for a review. I'm hoping some of the more experienced photographers here might give me any inside on this printer or if staying with Bay Photo would be smarter. I'm expecting to use it to maybe sell up to 10 photos a week at the most. I might find I don't sell one in which case I was stupid. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks, Charlie (Alberio)

Quixdraw Loc: x

Can't talk about the printer, but I don't think there are lot of enthusiast folks selling 10 photos a week. You obviously need to bottle and sell your secret marketing formula! Like napalm in the morning - smalls like victory!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Great home/office printers.
Terrible photo printers.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Ex lab guy here:

I love Epson printers. I put several large format pigment-based Epsons in a photo lab in the early 2000s. They made the best prints we ever shipped. The output cost around $1.20 per square foot in 2003, with volume discounted Epson inks and paper. At the same time, we were paying less than $.20 per square foot for Kodak Portra Endura paper, but we bought that stuff by the tractor trailer truck load.

Ink jet makes sense if you print for sale or exhibition and you're a control freak. It makes sense if you print frequently enough to use all the ink in a batch within six months of opening it (so it doesn't dry out or precipitate and clog the lines or heads). It makes sense if you need a wider color gamut than you can get with silver halide chromogenic papers.

Ink jet printing makes no sense at all if you don't print regularly, if you don't know beans about color management, or if you don't calibrate your monitor with a hardware and software kit.

That said, the 8550 is a six color Claria DYE ink printer, about the least expensive to operate inkjet photo printer there is. Output is decent, on par with photo labs if you know what you're doing.

WIHorseman

MT Shooter? When you say they are great home office printers but not photo printers are you referring to all Epson printers or just the Epson 8550 using Ecotank Ink vs. their photo models that use dedicated photo ink cartridges? I’m also interested in looking at and knowing if the new 8550 model they have introduced is as reliable and economical as the non photo Ecotank I use in my home office. Can you expand on your comment and help us out a little more? Thanks

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I think my reply speaks for itself, the subject was the Epson Eco-tank printer(s). You wanting to read something more into it? That's up to you.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

i have a dye ink Canon photo printer for personal use. I like it. Dye ink prints don't last nearly as long as pigment ink prints.

If I were selling prints, my personal ethics would require me to buy and use either a Canon or Epson pigment ink printer. They would be either the 13" Epson P700 or the 13" Canon Pro-300.

Are there any other 13" pigment ink photo printers on the market now?

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Yeah, I've told my wife that many times, but she is my biggest fan and I told her she would have to be the sales lady 😎😎😎. I was just using those numbers as a base to see if it would justify getting one of these. I'm really only thinking that when someone wants one of my photos, I wouldn't have to order it and have it shipped to them, I could have it ready by time they get done with the hike they just went on of the place they just went to. Probably a pipedream.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Been places where they do just what you propose - never bought, but enough do, or they wouldn't be in business. Where I've seen it done, what impressed me most were not the photos, but the logistics. Best of luck!

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

I've heard they are pretty good photo printers, but I'm sure like anything there are some models that are worse than others. This one is a dedicated photo printer as I understand, but having never seriously printed any photos then I'm clueless. Thanks for your response.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I must appologize and retract my statement.
The original Eco-tank printers were 3 color and produced terrible photos. I have been out of the business for 2 years now and was unaware of this models introduction. It is a true photo printer (even though it is dye inks with only 3 colors but adds 2 greys to the printheads) and a big advancement from the 3 color home/office units I was familiar with. Still is not an archival pigment ink printer but looks like a good entry level unit on a budget.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Even a cheap Epson or Canon printer can make decent photo prints if you know what you're doing. But the BETTER printers in their lineups make better prints.

The best prints come from the pricey pigment ink printers that use 8 to 12 colors.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Wow Thanks Bill, lots to digest. I know printers like cameras have improved over the years and I really wanted something that would print a photo at the spur of the moment that uses quality ink and paper. Also I might have a job to do with this that would require 5 or more prints a week, usually 11x17 or the 13x19.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Thanks for the info about inks and printer suggestions, I'll research them and learn more about inks.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

No apology necessary, opinions usually come from experience. Well the ink issue might be the deal breaker as I wouldn't want to sell someone something that fades away in a couple years like I've seen some printers do. My biggest issue is I've had Bay Photo print anything I've had printed and they do an excellent job. The issue is sometimes people see a photo of mine and want a print, then it gets into this give me your shipping address etc. and ordering from BP then maybe have them drop ship which has its issues. This way I can have one for them before they head back home.