advice on photo printers

Even in the 900 series some of the cheaper models like the 920 uses a cartridge that was only filled with 25ml. It was exactly the same cartridge as the ones that held 42ml but they have chips in the tank to keep you from using the 42ml carts in the 25ml printers. And they cost the same as the 42ml carts. You could refill them with 42ml though – they come partly filled.

They have continued that trend with their 4 color printers. The current 6122 ($179 list) uses the filled hp45 cartridge where the $99 3800 uses the hp15 at the same price. So the ink is a lot cheaper for the 6122 than for the cheaper printers.

All of the printer makers sell the printers at slightly above cost and make their money on the refills. But HP has become pretty blatant in making sure customers will purchase ink sooner if they buy cheaper models.

I wouldn't overlook Sony's photo printers. They use a dye-sublimation process to print continuous tone photos up to 4x6 inches. I have one of the older models which I bought for around $200 - the best news is they are using the same photo and ribbon packages in the new models, so I shouldn't have to worry about not being able to purchase supplies for that much longer. I have the Sony DPP-SV55 and it prints out photos that truly look like they came from the lab. Plus, the images should outlast inkjet photos, even the ones with longer lasting dyes.

It also offers the ability to print images without a computer, and it hooks up to your TV so you can view images and the editing program easily.

Just my two cents :)

sorry i havent replied during monday. i had a busy one and only put the computer on quite late.

i was out looking first hand in some shops for the photo printers.

thanks for all the feedback and advice, alot of opinions there and its been very helpful.

im going to go for the epson 830. i found it for £86.

ok its quite cheap, in comparison to several others mentioned. but i want to try out an epson, and the next ones up have the facility to insert a memory card which is something on reflection i probably wouldnt use all that much because when it comes down to it i will be putting the pictures onto the p.c to store or to put on disk so i mayaswell print off it too, and as has been said it gives me the chance to edit the picture first.

the ink is also quite reasonable, and i can use a few other varieties other than epson own.

as with the camera it is my first go at printing pictures properly so i feel this would be a good starting point, a good way to start printing up my pictures.

also as i have said i dont use it all that often, i will use it more than my hp. i just want some really good pictures at a good price. to be honest when we take our films into be developed we only ever usually get half a dozen that either come out or are any good, this way i can select individual ones to print up, so i wont be wasting money( ink or paper ).

as with many things it has to come down to what is right for what you need and hopefully this one will do me, for know, i can always change it at a later date if i want to.

anyway many thanks to all the replies, much appreciated.

cheers.

I think you will be pleased with the output – enjoy.

cheers.

im picking it up on friday.

i'll post again once ive tried it out.

many thanks

hello again.

well i ordered the printer, ready to collect on friday, when i get to the shop they tell me the price, £99, i told them their website says £86,they said its the 830u and i said i want the 830. apparently there is an 830u and 830, i was unaware of this. anyway they checked the details and the only difference is the 830u is usb and the 830 usb/parallel. but the 830 is £13 less. so i asked if they could get me one, and luckily they could so i picked it up today.

with me so far?

i had a look in the box in the shop, it was the right one, plug/ink etc all there, so i took it home.

i opened the box and it seemed like it had already been used. the manuals were just down the side not in any wrappings, know ive had enough electrical stuff to know the manuals are usually wrapped. the ink carts fell out of their wrapping when i picked them up, each one had been opened, although the carts themselves still had their seals intact.

so i set up the printer anyway. i installed the software no trouble, went well. the manual said to put the ink carts in next. as with most printers i guess, it said turn power on lift lid and the slots that the ink go into should move to the middle so you can put them in. well when i turned it on, it made a noise and seemed to be going through the motions of printing. then the red light went on which i checked meant change ink. but when i opened the lid the ink slots hadnt moved. i thought this is broken, i didnt want to touch them incase i did something so i turned it off, but when i did it made the noises again. i tried several more times, but each time the same, i could'nt get to put the ink in.

it seems to me that this is second hand, and whoever had it last tried like me to put the ink in but had the same problem and returned it to the shop. you know when you open goods for the first time if they are new or not, or you may get one that is broken but everything else hasnt been touched and you are just unlucky, this one looked as if it had been used.

so its safe to say im not happy atall. if i wanted a second hand one id have gotton one out of the paper. so im going back in with it lateron today to see what they have to say. sorry for going on but im a bit annoyed.

I'm not a professional photographer, but I've been taking 25mm pictures for over 20 years and have taken LOTS of pictures, anyway I do enjoy good pictures.

I bought an Olympus C3000 1&1/2 years ago and LOVE IT. For Christmas last year I bought the Canon 850 printer and couldn't be happier! 4 separate ink tanks (black is double the size) and when you use the Canon Pro Photo paper, they turn out like 35mm film development! You can't tell them from the Photo Lab pictures! The paper is a little more expensive, but worth it!

My recommendation. :D

I also recommend PhotoShop Elements. It's Excellent!

well after much messing about i finally picked up the epson 830u. the shop said the 830 was being discontinued and the only one they could get in for me was one from another store. so incase i had similar problems i bought the 830u.

well so far i am very pleased with it, and the replacement ink is very reasonably priced, which makes a change from my old HP.

i have a couple of questions. is it best to get the make of paper that the printer is, in my case epson, or will others do a good job too. and what software is good for printing pictures off. i am using the printer software which is good, basic, but easy, so even i can follow it. i just dont want to be using this for months only to find out there is a better one i could be using.

again many thanks for all the advice and input.

cheers.

Okay, I use only Epson paper for my 1270 archival printer. Now there are others going to come in and tell you you don't need to use this paper or that they use so and so paper and it works fine. Well, let me tell you. I tried that at first too used different papers from Epson, Kodak, Ilford, HP, and a few of the higher priced archival papers from speciality shops. And I still say Epson paper on an Epson printer gives the best results. Kodak and HP was terrible with shadows, they made them grainy looking. Ilford wasn't as bad with that, but in my opinion still not as good as Epson's. The other papers from the speciality shops were very good, but very, very expensive for home use.

As for software, go for PhotoShop Elements. It's cheaper than PhotoShop itself, but with most of the options of PhotoShop. Other users will argue with me on that too. :D

Anyway, I hope what I've said will help you decide. ;)

thanks for that.

as i am still in the ' trying it out stage ' i started by using the paper free with the printer, a couple of sheets of epson glossy. the pictures came out really well using this paper. i went out to buy some paper the other day to start printing out some pictures. the shop didnt have the size of epson paper i wanted so i bought a pack of their own make. it was quite cheap and i wanted some paper to carry on trying stuff out. the prints have come out quite well, not as good as epson, but good. i will be getting some epson though when they have it in.
i will look out for that software and give it a go.

cheers.

I usually don't use the glossy paper. too light reflective and it shows finger prints too easily. I use semi gloss or lustre in their Color Life line. Do you shop online? Because www.amazon.com has PhotoShop Elements for $59.95, I think that's what price I saw.