Printer Q&A

We're thinking of getting a photo printer for home. I just printed some photos at Sam's and Costco; and while good, one was better than the other, and I wasn't happy; plus we would like instant printing once in a while.
We're debating between an Epson and a Canon. Maybe an Artisan 1430, Pro 100 or an IP 8720.
Can we get some feedback on what the hobbyists use/like, pros/cons please?

I have the Canon Pro 100. I have found it to be an excellent printer. I use my prints for competition and a few sales. Epson and Canon both make very good printers. I have had 4 Epsons, 3 HPs and this is my first Canon. I can say the Canon has been the most trouble free of all the printers I have owned. The current rebates make it an excellent choice. It prints very good black and white if you have a need for that. Ink usage is on par with the Epson printers I have owned. 

Is it really cost effective nowadays to print yourself? One would think these "photo" places with their many thousand dollar machines would have it down to a science.

foxX wrote: Is it really cost effective nowadays to print yourself? One would think these "photo" places with their many thousand dollar machines would have it down to a science.

I always enjoy when someone brings this up.

The only science involved is that devoted to separating a consumer from their money, with as minimal expense as possible. For the widest margins as possible.

Outlets such as Sam's/Costco/Walgreens/whatever use cheap paper (despite whatever name it may have on it) and low resolution printing (to save on ink). They're not about quality.

Places like Adorama and (shudder) Shutterfly do a better job, but I found them prone to errors. And still not impressed with the results.

When I became frustrated with the limited choices offered by labs such as WHCC, Pro DPI, and others (and they do a fine job, don't get me wrong) I looked at getting my own printer. Red River Paper has a document on actual ink cost (for inkjets) and using that, plus their paper prices, I figured that I could print on quality paper for about 1.5 - 2 cents per square inch. That means a 4x6 costs me about $0.45 to print (ink + paper).

But oh, the difference is so satisfying.

Printing your own is less expensive than pro labs, when you compare apples to apples in every aspect. Comparing quality to garbage is a specious argument.

I love, love, love my Epson 3880 and Red River papers. I also have an Artisan 710 that rocks; I use it for quick, small prints on Epson Premium paper (which gets my per-print cost down to the $0.30 range. Still far superior to Walgreens.

Long post; sorry.

Creating prints can be very rewarding, but it takes some work. You may decide you need a colorimeter to ensure that what you see on screen is what gets printed (more or less). You'll need to learn about paper profiles.

Or use someplace at least as good as AdoramaPix. (Sorry, Shutterfly has just gone down the tubes for me.)

It all comes down to where your bar is.

I've never had a digital photo I didn't print myself. I bought my first digital camera, D70 Nikon, my first computer, HP Compact, and first printer, Epson 300, all at the same time. I've used Epson, HP and Canon printer's, Canon the best for me by far. Biggest mistake I made about getting a printer was waiting to long to get a 13" printer. Lot of people complain about the high cost of ink, hog wash. My 9000MKII Canon cost me less than a penny a sq inch for ink. Now I am trying some after market ink from Ink Farm and the stuff is way cheaper than Canon ink. I don't have a problem with Canon ink or HP or Epson either for that matter but the difference in price is terrific. Got two color cartridge's for my iP100 about $7 each. For the same cartridge's from Canon about $21! If this stuff work's out well in my iP100, I'll go to it in my 9000MKII also.

Understand though that I wouldn't call Canon, HP or Epson ink expensive by a long shot. I recently got some Red River Ultra Pro Satin, $22.65 per 50 sheet's. So for an 8x10 photo it cost me .80 cents for ink and just over .45 cents for paper! $1.25 for an 8x10 print. Cost me more than that to drive to the Cosco!