New ink jet or laser printer (Page 2): Then consider the Epson Sure Color P600 or P800 (the latter will do 17" wide sheets). They use pigment inks and with a little learning on your...

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

SubVet wrote:

I need to replace or add to my HP 8610 a good colour printer. Which is best for photo’s long term?l Laser or ink jet and which is best. My HP still works for B&W documents but not good photography. I am open to free standing or a good ALL IN ONE again. BUT not the size of a VW Bug.

Then consider the Epson Sure Color P600 or P800 (the latter will do 17" wide sheets). They use pigment inks and with a little learning on your part can produce quality results.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Although color laser printers are getting better, they are far outdone by a decent InkJet based Photo Printer. You need to set a budget and maximum size print and then select a printer that will work for what you want. Personally, I use an Epson P800 but the P600 would be a less expensive alternative. If you're not willing to get a decent one, consider having your prints made for you. Best of luck.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

elliott937 wrote:

Canon is the only way forward for being serious, and for long term.

On another day, I'll gladly share with you all what I learned about HP...from an HP supervisor.

Canon's the only way? I've used Epson printers since I started digital photography, and have been very happy with them. I think both brands deserve consideration.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

JohnSwanda wrote:

Canon's the only way? I've used Epson printers since I started digital photography, and have been very happy with them. I think both brands deserve consideration.

Eagle8

Just received canon pixma pro-10 from hunts photo . Under $200 with canon rebate (amex card). Printer uses 10 pigment cartridges, and max 13x19 paper. Looks like a great printer for price.Call Alan at hunt's 781 462 2383. PS I didn't pay for shipping and no taxes. Ordered Fri and received Monday UPS. Have not unpacked it. It's a beast. Box weighs 67lbs.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Fotoartist wrote:

Ink Jets are archival, not lasers.

Yes, Fotoartist, your work may be of high worth [a serious compliment to you], first, you must die, archival... hmm, consider tho...the digital coding of 1s and 0s will live on and can be printed again with the latest technology. For most of us archival is not a concern. At my age, 83, any prints will last a lifetime.

I never gave a thought to the wax laser imprints being unstable! To resist UV fading the additive is not expensive and so most reasonable quality inks have it. Most name brand papers are also long-lasting.

Print longevity:
https://www.shutterbug.com/content/how-long-will-your-digital-prints-lastbryou-may-be-surprised-page-2

A discussion here suggest that laser prints do not fade quickly
"In a general sense, color laser prints will have better fade resistance
than the average inkjet print. Most color laser printer toners do use
pigment in the toners, which is pretty stable. Also, the waxes and
plastics which the pigment is encased in when the toner is fused onto
the paper."
https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/fading-of-laser-printed-images.3778130/

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Depending on the size of your prints, I would opt for the Epson Eco Tank printers or the Canon that also have the refillable ink tanks. I personaly have the Epson ET-4550 Eco Tank printer. It has now been superseded by newer models. I have been using it for over 2 years now and only now just added it's 3rd set of inks. It is very economical. It does a good job on photos in spite of just being 3 colors plus black. It isn't museum quality but good enough for post cards and general everyday prints. Equal in quality to what we use to call in the film days: drug store prints.

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

To be contrary. I don't use an in-house printer for any images I care about. The cost per image including ink and paper is generally more than what i spend at a lab (wait for sales as they seem to happen every day). I've had terrible issues with Epson in the past with them clogging up and having to be tossed usually in less than in a year. I have an inexpensive b&w HP MFP laserjet for my document work and an inexpensive Canon MFP for the occasional color proof or my family color print (not images). With that said I looked at the Epson Expression Premium ET-7700 EcoTank Wireless 5-Color All-in-One which sells at Amazon for $449 because of the mention it uses bottles for refills. At $56 for the color bottles and $20 for the b&w, it is intriguing.

dick ranez

Three requirements, three different types of printers.
Photos - best for inkjet, 6 -8-12 color models - high ink and paper costs, best photo quality
Business graphics - color laser - expensive toner cartridges, handles higher volume
General printing - monochrome laser - cheap, but no color
As "they" say, speed, quality, price - pick any two

BebuLamar

dick ranez wrote:

Three requirements, three different types of printers.
Photos - best for inkjet, 6 -8-12 color models - high ink and paper costs, best photo quality
Business graphics - color laser - expensive toner cartridges, handles higher volume
General printing - monochrome laser - cheap, but no color
As "they" say, speed, quality, price - pick any two

I have both a color and B&W laser. The toner doesn't go bad unused so my cost if minimum. I don't have a photo printer because I don't print photos that often. I can't shoot that many shots worth printing. Photo inkjet printer leave unused would dry out the ink and can clogg the ink head. I have the lab prints my photos.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I have had several Canon inkjet printers and liked them all (both iP series and PRO models). Lasers are not a reasonable choice for image printing. I know, I tried once or twice with two different color laser printers and the results are abominable!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

SubVet wrote:

I need to replace or add to my HP 8610 a good colour printer. Which is best for photo’s long term?l Laser or ink jet and which is best. My HP still works for B&W documents but not good photography. I am open to free standing or a good ALL IN ONE again. BUT not the size of a VW Bug.

INKJET! Epson and Canon both make excellent photography quality home home and semi-professional and commercial printers. I have a Canon PIXMA PRO-100 and an older but higher model PIXMA PRO-9000. There similar current better model Canons like the PRO-10 and PRO-1. All these do up to 13"x17" or 13"x19" sheets of paper (depending on brand of paper and the software you use). Not familiar with specific Epson Models. And both Canon and Epson also have Professional Commercial floor standing models that yes, are a bit more like the size of a small car. I've also learned that different models do better or worse with B&W printing vs Color. I've lost faith in most HP products for many years now. They made great pocket calculators in the 1970's!

Bill P

Avoid HP at all costs. I got left high and dry by HP. I had a 13" desktop printer that made above average prints with dye ink, the model was 1890 or something like that, don't remember for sure. The along came Win 95. HP's print river was incompatible. Although they were still selling the printer, and it was stocked in stores all over, they made no new drivers. Nor would they ever. So my printer ended up in the landfill. I will never again get anything with HP on it.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Ednsb wrote:

With that said I looked at the Epson Expression Premium ET-7700 EcoTank Wireless 5-Color All-in-One which sells at Amazon for $449 because of the mention it uses bottles for refills. At $56 for the color bottles and $20 for the b&w, it is intriguing.

I paid £275 for mine at the show just over 15 months and that included two full ink bottle sets. I haven't done as much photo printing as I had intended but so far I'm not even halfway through my first fill. And I just hit print these days, not bothering for ink saving and greyscale etc.

rubble43 Loc: Oyster Bay, Long Island NY

I have an HP B9180 (13x19") printer I recently retired, not because he printer didn't work, but because HP no longer sells the inks (really got me POed at HP). HP is no longer making photo printers for that paper format and seems to have completely abandoned the semi-pro market. So I guess I'll be looking at Epson and Canon, although both seem to have jet clogging problems. Oh! what to do, what to do?