Printer recommendation please - epson r3000 or 3880

[david.elliott]

Hello all,

The R3000 seems to be about $650 now and the 3880 is going for $900.

The R3000 is the newer product, but the 3880 comes with much more ink.

I plan to print both color and black and white 8x10 and maybe slightly larger.

Which printer would you recommend, and why?

Thank you for your assistance!

Best regards,

David

[ChrisP]

Haven't tried both and I know this doesn't help much but I have a 3000 and it is fantastic, Don't know what else I could ask for in a printer except maybe to print bigger (13x19's don't look as big once they're on the wall). I would say it depends how much you plan to print each year. Bigger carts are a better deal if you're going to use them but if you won't print enough to use up all the ink than I believe they dry up over time.

[david.elliott]

Thanks for the input Chris. How many prints do you get out of a set of cartridges on the r3000? I don't anticipate making more than 100 prints per year.

[dcsang]

David,

I have the Epson 3800 - the R3000 wasn't out when I purchased the 3800 some 3 years ago now I believe - I have yet to change a cartridge and the B&W prints (and colour for that matter) are sublime. My ink is currently "low" but it's only the "photo black" and, I think, the "light light black".

If you're not printing a huge amount on a regular basis (which would prompt me to suggest the 4800/4900 series) then, as someone who's used the 3800 for some time now, I would recommend it. 13x19 comes out wonderfully on this printer.

Cheers,
Dave

[dasuess]

I echo all the positive comments about the R3000. I've had mine for almost a month and have been amazed at the color prints it has turned out. I've done a few B&W, but have been concentrating on color. If you don't need bigger that 13x19, then the R3000 is a no-brainer. The only negative is the need to "manually" switch between PK and MK and the subsequent ink loss (about 1ml with each switch).

I am planning on using the Ink Supply (MIS) refillable carts with their K3 equivalent inks when the Epson carts run out.

[hanzo]

The only negative is the need to "manually" switch between PK and MK and the subsequent ink loss (about 1ml with each switch).

Its only from photo black to matte.. the other way around consumes 3 ml... ouch

But I like my R3000... so far ;)

[shiro_kuro]

I have the 3880 and print out of Lightroom .The results are stunning . This is my first printer , it's amazing how easy it is to get satisfying results out Lightroom without much fuss ....

[gavinlg]

I'd go a canon 9000/9500 instead of the Epson due to repeated bad experiences with every single epson product I've ever owned.

[david.elliott]

Its only from photo black to matte.. the other way around consumes 3 ml... ouch

But I like my R3000... so far ;)

Ouch, that is over 10% of the ink!

Under what circumstances does one have to make the switch one way or the other?

[david.elliott]

I have the 3880 and print out of Lightroom .The results are stunning . This is my first printer , it's amazing how easy it is to get satisfying results out Lightroom without much fuss ....

That is good to know. I have lightroom 3, but am likely upgrading to lightroom 4 in the near future. :) Thanks.

[david.elliott]

I'd go a canon 9000/9500 instead of the Epson due to repeated bad experiences with every single epson product I've ever owned.

Care to elaborate?

[dasuess]

Its only from photo black to matte.. the other way around consumes 3 ml... ouch

But I like my R3000... so far ;)

Yeah, forgot that direction ;-) Which explains why my PK cart is really low, probably too low to make another switch without a new cart. But, to be fair, I have made the switch several times since getting the printer while trying out various papers I've had on hand. Should have thought ahead and planned those paper test a little better.

Ditto, though - I love this printer, for both color and B&W and will be ditching my Epson C88 with CFS set and EZ inkset.

[hanzo]

Ouch, that is over 10% of the ink!

Under what circumstances does one have to make the switch one way or the other?

Its more than an ouch :D
Well, basically it depends on your choice of paper. For matte paper use matte black, and glossy paper photo black.
So you need to group your prints by paper type.

[david.elliott]

Its more than an ouch :D
Well, basically it depends on your choice of paper. For matte paper use matte black, and glossy paper photo black.
So you need to group your prints by paper type.

I'll stick to matte. Not too big a fan of glossy stuff. :)

Definitely more than an ouch.

[Pablito]

I have owned maybe a dozen inkjet printers, probably more. Used heavily. The Epson 3880 is simply the best one I've ever worked with, MUCH better than any of the other Epsons and FAR FAR better than any of the Canons, which tended to clog up a lot more. The 3880 is a remarkable printer that not only produces stunning results but lets you change the ink cartridge mid-print! Currently, I have a 3880 in my studio and two more of them for my students.

[sepiareverb]

I too love the 3880, but have not used the R3000. Inks do last and last, I print a fair bit for various people and have only changed 3 cartridges over about 2 years. Likely 50% of the prints I've done (numbers not square inches) are 17x22"- I've gone through at least 150 sheets of that paper.

[ray*j*gun]

Hello all,

The R3000 seems to be about $650 now and the 3880 is going for $900.

The R3000 is the newer product, but the 3880 comes with much more ink.

I plan to print both color and black and white 8x10 and maybe slightly larger.

Which printer would you recommend, and why?



Thank you for your assistance!

Best regards,

David

David, where are you seeing those prices? I'm in the market also.

Thanks!!

[Bob Michaels]

Try Epson.com if in the US. Their current price for new 3000 is $650 with free shipping. $999 for refurbished (good as a new one) 3880.

I have always bought direct from Epson. I buy a refurbished unit when available.

David, where are you seeing those prices? I'm in the market also.

Thanks!!

[ray*j*gun]

Thanks Bob!

[dasuess]

Try Epson.com if in the US. Their current price for new 3000 is $650 with free shipping. $999 for refurbished (good as a new one) 3880.

I have always bought direct from Epson. I buy a refurbished unit when available.

Ordered mine directly from epson.com and received it in less than a week as I recall. It's $650 after the $200 mail-in rebate and I'm still waiting for mine, but it's only been a few weeks since I sent it in.

[gavinlg]

Care to elaborate?

Epson r1800 and r1900 that clogged heads, were difficult to get a good print out of, built like crap (imo) and just generally found the design and function to be tacky. Then I had a v600 scanner that developed a purple line through every single scan I made with it. Contacted epson and they said it was dust on the flatbed, and was normal - within spec. Wouldn't help unless I paid for a service. I cleaned it in every way imaginable and could never get rid of that stupid line. If you look up 'epson line through scans' on google you'll find thousands of people with the same problem - they just keep making scanners that do this.

I bought a $100 canon ipf4850 which is a crappy cheap inkjet and it's better designed than both the epsons I had despite being 1/10th the price. Not only that, but color prints out of it are nearly perfect straight out of the box, and b&w are similar in quality, despite the obvious defect in features. The 9500 MKII printer in particular is designed and built really nicely IMO - much nicer than my r1900.

Also I used to work for a large printer/photocopier sales and service place in QLD - the canon commercial graphics printers and copiers (20K-50K each) were incredibly good machines - much better than most of the competition.

[shadowfox]

I have owned maybe a dozen inkjet printers, probably more. Used heavily. The Epson 3880 is simply the best one I've ever worked with, MUCH better than any of the other Epsons and FAR FAR better than any of the Canons, which tended to clog up a lot more. The 3880 is a remarkable printer that not only produces stunning results but lets you change the ink cartridge mid-print! Currently, I have a 3880 in my studio and two more of them for my students.

How do you quantify "FAR FAR better" :)
Just wondering...

[Bob Michaels]

Ordered mine directly from epson.com and received it in less than a week as I recall. It's $650 after the $200 mail-in rebate and I'm still waiting for mine, but it's only been a few weeks since I sent it in.

Now the 3000 is just $650 up front. Epson is the only company I have actually received a rebate from. I think everyone else disguises their rebate checks as junk mail with no indication who sent it and I ended up throwing them away without opening them.

[Bob Michaels]

How do you quantify "FAR FAR better" :)
Just wondering...

To me, my Epson printers give me great prints exactly as I though they were going to look and no problems with the printer. I have not had a clogged nozzle in the six years I have been using Epson 2400s.

I know that others have their brand favorites and I certainly would not try to convince them they are wrong.

[dasuess]

Now the 3000 is just $650 up front. Epson is the only company I have actually received a rebate from. I think everyone else disguises their rebate checks as junk mail with no indication who sent it and I ended up throwing them away without opening them.

How quickly things change. I ordered my R3000 barely a month ago and it was $849 with a $200 mail-in rebate. Just checked and as you said, it's now $649 straight up with no rebate. And still free shipping!! And it's a fabulous printer to boot...

[Zonan]

I love my 3880. I got rid of my 2200 several years ago, in disgust (clogged heads, etc) and used online services until I bought a 3880 a little over a year ago. I have been delighted with it, and the way the prints look and the ink lasts. Never a clog or other problem (and I live in an area where 10% humidity is high). I don't think I could go back to a smaller printer (tho, as Bob says, YMMV).

Rick

[david.elliott]

I too love the 3880, but have not used the R3000. Inks do last and last, I print a fair bit for various people and have only changed 3 cartridges over about 2 years. Likely 50% of the prints I've done (numbers not square inches) are 17x22"- I've gone through at least 150 sheets of that paper.

Awesome! That is quite a lot of printing on the cartridges.

[david.elliott]

David, where are you seeing those prices? I'm in the market also.

Thanks!!

Hi Raymond,

I was looking at epson store prices and adorama too. Adorama's pages have the rebate forms on them.

[david.elliott]

Epson r1800 and r1900 that clogged heads, were difficult to get a good print out of, built like crap (imo) and just generally found the design and function to be tacky. Then I had a v600 scanner that developed a purple line through every single scan I made with it. Contacted epson and they said it was dust on the flatbed, and was normal - within spec. Wouldn't help unless I paid for a service. I cleaned it in every way imaginable and could never get rid of that stupid line. If you look up 'epson line through scans' on google you'll find thousands of people with the same problem - they just keep making scanners that do this.

I bought a $100 canon ipf4850 which is a crappy cheap inkjet and it's better designed than both the epsons I had despite being 1/10th the price. Not only that, but color prints out of it are nearly perfect straight out of the box, and b&w are similar in quality, despite the obvious defect in features. The 9500 MKII printer in particular is designed and built really nicely IMO - much nicer than my r1900.

Also I used to work for a large printer/photocopier sales and service place in QLD - the canon commercial graphics printers and copiers (20K-50K each) were incredibly good machines - much better than most of the competition.

Oof. Doesn't sound like you have had a good experience at all. :(

[david.elliott]

To me, my Epson printers give me great prints exactly as I though they were going to look and no problems with the printer. I have not had a clogged nozzle in the six years I have been using Epson 2400s.

I know that others have their brand favorites and I certainly would not try to convince them they are wrong.

Thanks Bob, for sharing your experiences.

[david.elliott]

I love my 3880. I got rid of my 2200 several years ago, in disgust (clogged heads, etc) and used online services until I bought a 3880 a little over a year ago. I have been delighted with it, and the way the prints look and the ink lasts. Never a clog or other problem (and I live in an area where 10% humidity is high). I don't think I could go back to a smaller printer (tho, as Bob says, YMMV).

Rick

The DC area seems to vary between relatively dry and downright swampy. :P

Seems like the general feeling is, if going for an epson printer, go for the 3880.

[KEH]

The 3880 is the first inkjet that I haven't eventually hated. Never clogs, does beautiful BW if you invest in making QTR profiles. Excellent colour as well, but I mostly print BW. On balance, I might even say that I like it a lot.

Kirk

[david.elliott]

The 3880 is the first inkjet that I haven't eventually hated. Never clogs, does beautiful BW if you invest in making QTR profiles. Excellent colour as well, but I mostly print BW. On balance, I might even say that I like it a lot.

Kirk

Hi Kirk,
I assume QTR is quad tone rip?

[ray*j*gun]

Hi Raymond,

I was looking at epson store prices and adorama too. Adorama's pages have the rebate forms on them.

Thanks David, I will look at both....seems the 3880 is the one to buy if you want an Epson.

[shadowfox]

Maybe the 3000 and 3800 have better mechanism than 2200 or 2400 or 1800.

My experience with those three mirrors some of the frustrations you see in this thread.

Now I'm happy with my Canon 9500 Mk II.

[david.elliott]

Thanks Will. I'm going to look into that option too. It would save me a fair amount of money. :P

[Pablito]

How do you quantify "FAR FAR better" :)
Just wondering...

The Canons clogged all the time, used much more ink, the Canon Mac driver software was much more fussy, the inks faded visibly under normal room light, the inks were harder to find, etc.

This turned me off the Canons and now I find the Epson 3880 to be astounding, even lets you change inks in the middle of doing a print.

I admit however, that I don't closely follow all the latest developments so the newer Canons may be greatly improved, I just don't know. My experience is with older Canons. From what I understand Canon has been using pigment inks now for a while. I have no experience with those.

[shadowfox]

Thanks Will. I'm going to look into that option too. It would save me a fair amount of money. :P

Sure David.
It's wise to look at all options.
Here's a review of the Canon that I found useful when I was in your position:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/printer/canon_pixma_9500_mk2.html

Also one thing that hasn't been mentioned, Canon "pro" printers has user-replaceable printing heads.
So if you do have a non-flushable ink clog, you still have the option to get a new head, rather than a whole new printer.

[david.elliott]

Sure David.
It's wise to look at all options.
Here's a review of the Canon that I found useful when I was in your position:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/printer/canon_pixma_9500_mk2.html

Also one thing that hasn't been mentioned, Canon "pro" printers has user-replaceable printing heads.
So if you do have a non-flushable ink clog, you still have the option to get a new head, rather than a whole new printer.

Thanks Will. That is a very detailed review!

[meganwang40]

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