all-in one printer with quality photo printing: I have a MAC desktop and want to replace my printer. I would prefer an all in one rather than a dedicated photo printer accepting that...

cameradoc1420

I have a MAC desktop and want to replace my printer. I would prefer an all in one rather than a dedicated photo printer accepting that the quality will not be as good. Any suggestions or am I looking for a printer that doesn't exist? Thanks. You folks are the best.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It depends on your quality definition and requirement.
I have a Canon MX922 and am very pleased for the printing I need.
Usually, if I want a "great" print I'll send it to Costco for archival printing on photo emulsion paper (and it's probably cheaper).
Can you go to a place that has the printers and can print samples?

cameradoc1420

Good point. What brand gives the best quality photo prints of all the all in ones.

BebuLamar

For a general purpose printer which is an all in one color laser is a good choice. It does just about everything well and the consumables are inexpensive but it doesn't print photos well. So a dedicated photo printer is better.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

cameradoc1420 wrote:

Good point. What brand gives the best quality photo prints of all the all in ones.

I'd check for printer reviews on-line for starters.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

cameradoc1420 wrote:

I have a MAC desktop and want to replace my printer. I would prefer an all in one rather than a dedicated photo printer accepting that the quality will not be as good. Any suggestions or am I looking for a printer that doesn't exist? Thanks. You folks are the best.

I have used an Epson WorkPlace (WP-4540) printer for several years. I'm satisfied with the quality of the print (4x6, 5x7 and an occasional 8x10) I get from it.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have several printers, both ink jet and laser and the one I use most often is my Canon TS 9020 inkjet. This fairly small printer produces excellent quality text prints up to 8.5 X 11 and it also produces excellent quality color prints and the quality of its black and white prints is second to none. For under $200 it is an amazing printer. I'm personally very happy I bought it. The TS stands for Touch Screen.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

cameradoc1420 wrote:

I have a MAC desktop and want to replace my printer. I would prefer an all in one rather than a dedicated photo printer accepting that the quality will not be as good. Any suggestions or am I looking for a printer that doesn't exist? Thanks. You folks are the best.

All in One and Quality are mutually exclusive. You can get acceptable quality on photos from some all in ones, but only on images that have somewhat lower contrast range (dynamic range), and standard gamut color. No, they will never produce the quality you get from a 10 or 12 color dedicated photo printer.

Better off getting a really cheap all in one and sending out the good images to the lab. You'll be much happier with the result and the lower cost.

gmw12 Loc: Indianapolis & Windsor/UK & Montreux/Switzerl

Following a 2017 review in Amateur Photographer (a UK weekly pub) I bought the Epson Photo Expression XP-960 which seems to be their high-end amateur all in one printer. It uses 6 dye based color cartridges and print up to A3 (30x42 cm). Using original inks and Epson paper I am rather happy with it. It's very compact but lacks an auto document feed for the scanner and copier.

droaden

Hp envy 7855

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Longshadow wrote:

It depends on your quality definition and requirement.
I have a Canon MX922 and am very pleased for the printing I need.
Usually, if I want a "great" print I'll send it to Costco for archival printing on photo emulsion paper (and it's probably cheaper).
Can you go to a place that has the printers and can print samples?

“Photo emulsion paper” is indeed cheaper. In controlled tests, it lasts half as long as the best dye inks, and one fourth to one fifth as long as the best pigment based inks. (Source: Wilhelm Imaging Research)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

burkphoto wrote:

“Photo emulsion paper” is indeed cheaper. In controlled tests, it lasts half as long as the best dye inks, and one fourth to one fifth as long as the best pigment based inks. (Source: Wilhelm Imaging Research)

Hmmm. I was told that it was archival.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

I am going to recommend staying away from HP products. The company has regressed to the days of Mark Hurd and Carly Fiorina. My HP Envy 7640 was working fine until HP started throwing unannounced and unrequested firmware and driver updates. The updates broke the printer and HP couldn't fix it. They threw $125 at me and repudiated everything else. I can't stop the "updates" unless I reconfigure the way it runs on our home network and right now that would be rearranging the home office. We don't want to do that to accommodate the shi**yness from HP. I still have the device, but have been looking for alternatives. I don't care how good the photos look from this printer (and they're not outstanding anyway), I am through with HP. They haven't made a decent product since 1999.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Longshadow wrote:

Hmmm. I was told that it was archival.

If you believe that Fujifilm Crystal Archive Paper is truly archival, then you believe 40 years is archival. For some, that's okay.

Epson pigment based Ultrachrome HDX inks are estimated to last as long as 200 years

http://www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/Epson_P7000_and_P9000.html

Of course, the cost per square foot is also about five times higher than for traditional silver-halide emulsion color printing.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

newsguygeorge wrote:

I am going to recommend staying away from HP produ... (show quote)

I couldn't agree more! I had an HP, (can't remember the model #) but it was an 'all in one' that I got in a package deal when I purchased a new computer. And it was a JEEP, (Junk, Each & Every Part!) I used it for about 3 months and was so disappointed with the photo quality and never ending paper jams I put it on the give away table at my apartment complex and purchased a Canon 5420 all in one about 3 years ago, and am now in 7th heaven and the printer has worked flawlessly! It does a wonderful job on 4x6, 5x7 & 8.5x11's. However, for my extra special photo's I send them to Costco.