rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

So does the XP-960, same inkset, specs, etc. It also scans and copies... Even up to 11 X 17 !!!!!

Billy Bob

I have 10 of these so for I'm go to get two more today. Prints great. Prints 8x5 x 11 has the ink for $30. but refill is $25. when you need it so I BUY OTHER.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322340010973?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Billy Bob

READ and make sure it says with ink.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Im using the epson eco Tank it was about $300. so far Ive printed over 100 pages and about 75 8x10 photos and the ink has hardly moved. They say you can get thousands of prints before you have to refill the tanks. There are 4 tanks and INK is $12.49 per tank and then your set for thousands more prints.
The prints are ok, it took a while for me to get it acceptable by that I mean adjusting PS output for that printer. For photos around thehouse and for my friends its great. You want quality prints you'll have to go to a much better printer.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

On average, the do-it-all-printers (scan, fax, print), are usually not so good at printing photos, they are of much lower quality, compared to printers made for printing photos!!

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Thank you for clarifying your previous post! I agree it is important that people understand the dangers inherent in ANY purchase - especially ones of a costly nature. Have you considered returning the P-800? If I spent that much money for something I thought would be good, and discovered otherwise, I certainly would not want to keep it!

Doing the research before purchasing is so important. I always look for information on important items before buying. Manufacturers' websites are a good place to start, but they mostly tell you about how wonderful their product is. Usually more detailed information is available there, but you have to look for it. Reviews found in different places can also be helpful. There are always disgruntled customers with lots of complaints, so you cannot take all that you read at face value. I also like to look for professional reviews - DP Review (but they don't always have what I am looking for), and Red River Paper are two. Red River has always made a point of reviewing and comparing printers and publishing those on their website. Part of their great service for their customers!

So many people write in to ask questions, and it is good to be able to help them. But so often it is obvious they have not done any research on their own, and are relying on other people to provide the answers! This is not a good idea, because others mainly know what THEY like, and no matter how earnestly they attempt to be helpful, it is not so easy when they do not truly know what the other person really wants.

I also would like to print larger at home, and 17x22 capacity is an attractive solution. Not that I would do too many that large, because as you point out, it can get expensive when you add up the cost of the larger paper and the large ink tanks (not to mention the initial investment in the printer...). I generally like 11x14 with a few 16x20 thrown in. Without a printer that will do that, I have to send out for them. The printing company I deal with has regular sales, so unless I am impatient, I just wait for one that gives a hefty discount on what I want! In the meantime, I print 8x10 or smaller!

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

I wouldn't buy Epson for just that reason EXPENSIVE INK.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

The ink is expensive because you are getting almost 8x the amount as are in the regular size ink tanks. And for what I am paying now for those smaller ones, it is a better price - only 4x the amount. I guess if you don't mind paying more for less... The newer printers from both Epson and Canon that print larger size papers have these larger ink tanks. So you are spending $60 for each one, but you don't have to buy all of them at the same time, and you won't be purchasing them as often.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well stated.

There is a good reason Epson inks are expensive that isn't related to greed --- They actually make great, archival quality ink. Wilhelm Imaging Research has estimated the life of EPSON prints to be roughly FIVE TIMES the life of silver halide papers. Do the third party ink sellers ever make claims about their light-fastness?

In quantity, Epson inks are less expensive, but you have to deal with a volume dealer.

There is a reason top museums, celebrity photographers, high end graphic service bureaus, ad agencies, in-house creative services departments, and many others use Epsons.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Hi Burkphoto - so far no-one has compared the costs of using print companies - or even Cosco, who I understand produce good prints at very cheap prices - I wonder whether you have experience of them? unfortunately I do not. Del.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Thank you. The pigment inks are touted as better for picture life as well as great color. What do you think about Canon in regard to quality of printers and ink? Reason I ask is to help in making a choice between the Epson P800 and the Canon PRO-1000. Both print 17x22, both use pigment inks, their inks are the same price, and both are supposed to be good printers. In addition, I do not know where Epson's customer service is based, but Canon's is in the US, which makes it SO much easier to communicate with them.

As for a volume dealer, I have no idea where to find one. Also, I suspect that quantity might mean more than one full set of ink tanks. That would mean a much larger investment than I am prepared for! Still, it would be good to know how it works to deal with a volume dealer.

Susan

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Susan,

You won't be able to solve the Canon vs Epson quality question. The printers you reference are so good, you can flip a coin.

For a "volume" dealer, I use B&H. For my Canon printer I keep one of each color in reserve on the shelf. In practice, I could do less. If I get the "low ink" warning, shipping is fast enough that I would probably not get the "out of ink" alarm.

With B&H, I prefer to get "expedited" shipping since they are in New York and I'm in Washington State. To do that, you spend $50. If I have to, I will order and extra ink tank or some other needed item.

B&H, and their New York high volume competitors, do not charge sales tax. If for some reason I was in desperate need of an ink tank, another "high volume" source is Amazon who can get it to me a little quicker. However, they charge sales tax of nearly 10% where I live.

jmcgloth Loc: Ocean Park, WA

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

bsprague, it is kind of like the camera issue - Canon vs Nikon...

Ordering one ink tank should cover that $50 minimum! It definitely takes more time with regular shipping over large distances. Living in Vermont, I can generally get my order within 2 days. Very fast. From other places, not so fast!

The "no sales tax" phenomenon will undoubtedly be ending soon. More and more online vendors are starting to change that policy. I believe they will resist as long as possible, partly because it decreases their market share, and partly because it is more book-work for them! But each state has to decide whether to force the issue - they are losing sales tax revenue, but may not want to put a small business in a precarious position.

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

Just checked the Epson USA site. Their P800 Printer Service Center has a 562 area code which is located in East LA.