What printer to buy?

[tkluck]

My printer is crapping out. Even my wife is unhappy with it! Lord knows I'm tired of fighting with a Canon BJC-3010 and other "salvage" printers. Bought a good scanner (at least I'm happy with it...for now) and now I need to work on the other end of the workflow (love them buzzwords).

I want a printer that will produce good B&W prints. Don't realy need or want bigger than letter size, or to spend a small foutune. I wanna make nice prints.

Did a search, inconclucive. Read reviews, gave me a headache. :bang:

So I'm gonna just flat out ask for help: help.

[ZorkiKat]

Using an Epson R210 with a CISS ink supply. Not quite yet bromide or RA-4 in quality, but worlds better than the 4-colour desktop office-type inkjet printers I've used. The R210 has already been discontinued, but the model which replaced it should be even better.

[Joe Brugger]

The B&W output from Canon's IP4000 (probably now superseded) has been pleasantly surprising. For some reason, I've never gotten along with E-brand printers.
Is there a decent shop near you that will test print one of your favorite scans so you can see the output? The place I bought mine (Pro Photo in Portland, Ore.) had a fat binder full of prints from different printers on different papers. I probably spent a couple hours with that before I bought.
The speed and individual cartridges are just sort of bonuses.

[sf]

The B&W output from Canon's IP4000 (probably now superseded) has been pleasantly surprising. For some reason, I've never gotten along with E-brand printers.
Is there a decent shop near you that will test print one of your favorite scans so you can see the output? The place I bought mine (Pro Photo in Portland, Ore.) had a fat binder full of prints from different printers on different papers. I probably spent a couple hours with that before I bought.
The speed and individual cartridges are just sort of bonuses.


I can atest to the great performance of the Canon Pixma printers. Not sure about the ink longevity, but the prints are very nice. I get better 8x10s from the Canon than I've seen come from most other high level consumer printers on the market.

http://www.shutterflower.com/pixma.htm

[Grober]

Canon over Epson or HP by a slim margin, IMHO. In my mind, it would be by a wider margin IF the Canon printers could handle a heavier paper.

The quality of Canon images coupled with the speed with which they work are superior.

Longivity of the image? Hey, after 25 years...

[meyman]

One more vote for cheap Epson r200/210/220 printers with MISS [inksupply.com] inks. Using Epson inks is only for the very very rich. Maciek

[tkluck]

Thanks!

Epson R220 seems to lead the pack for me by a slim margin, mostly free shipping.

Need to meditate further...
(insert thumb, assume fetal position)