Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II

shadowfox · 02-09-2012

While waiting for the stars to line up so I can rebuild my darkroom, I decided to give digital printing another try.

I'll spare you the details but the last time I did this was 2 years ago, with Epson midrange printers and 3rd party inks, it didn't end in a happy note.

Enter the Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II.

* 11x14 inches print from 6x4.5 (crop from 6x6 frame)

Read a mini-review here.

mfunnell · 02-09-2012

I'm glad you had a good experience with the printer. I've been using my older (mk I) version for some time, and like the results - in black and white, and in colour - and the operational characteristics of the printer.

...Mike

hausen · 02-09-2012

Really like mine. Am gonna stay away from my darkroom for 6 months or so to concentrate on stabilizing my business. Business partner has just been diagnosed with terminal Bowel/Liver cancer so my Canon 9500 ii will be getting more use now. Only issue I have is the ink consumption, but love the results.

mfunnell · 02-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by hausen

Only issue I have is the ink consumption, but love the results.

I don't know what prices in NZ are like, but here in Oz the ink costs are prohibitive. I order ink from the US when I'm ordering something else (like film, or occasionally a lens or something, or books from Amazon) to help spread the cost of the shipping around. It's saved me a fortune. (I've also talked to people who reliably inform me that the wholesale price of Canon inks here is more than twice the retail price in the US which accounts for why they cost so bl**dy much.)

...Mike

shadowfox · 02-09-2012

One thing I like about this printer is the quietness, there is no drama with its operation, unlike the Epson printers I tried before, the Canon seems to be much better built.

gavinlg · 02-10-2012

I would REALLY like one of these bad boys. How would you compare the prints to proper darkroom prints?

On a side-note, I also have had serious trouble with epson stuff - both printers and scanners and wouldn't even consider one again. I also feel the canon printers are much better made.

mfunnell · 02-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavinlg

How would you compare the prints to proper darkroom prints?

Being somewhere between a non-participant and a complete duffer at wet-printing, I'm not really able to comment. All I can say is that I get prints that I, personally, like rather a lot with the correct paper and profiles. Personal favourites are Hannemulhe (sp?) Photo Rag and Museum Etching for matte printing, and Harman Gloss FB AL for semi-gloss (B&W). I also get good results from the same matte papers for colour, and Iford Smooth Gloss or Crane Silver Rag (semi-gloss) for colour. Some like Ilford Gold Fibre Silk, but I've never got on with it. With a recent purchase, however, I can do my own print/paper profiles so that may change.

My feeling (for whatever that's worth!) is that any limitations are more with the operator than the printer.

...Mike

shadowfox · 02-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavinlg

I would REALLY like one of these bad boys. How would you compare the prints to proper darkroom prints?

On a side-note, I also have had serious trouble with epson stuff - both printers and scanners and wouldn't even consider one again. I also feel the canon printers are much better made.

Gavin,
I haven't picked up cotton rag fiber paper (or one of those "baryta" coated inkjet papers). So until then I can't compare the feel directly with FB prints.

But I am planning to get a thicker stock (300gsm) inkjet paper from my local factory called Red River paper and see how it compares to my RC prints.

I suspect that for prints where sharpness and detail are dominant, the Canon produced prints will compete very well.

What I am not so sure about are those prints that are more warmth and mood -dominant. My suspicion is that darkroom prints still holds an edge for these due to continuous tones of silver halide reacting to light.

Also one of my favorite printing technique: Lith prints. So far I haven't seen a convincing digital version of it.

gavinlg · 02-10-2012

Sounds good Will! I'm a little ashamed to say I have very limited experience with proper RC prints and printing, but lately have become somewhat obsessed with it. Currently looking for a darkroom setup on the cheap locally.

hausen · 02-10-2012

Inks cost are pretty bad here in NZ as well. Think something around NZ$28 per cartridge. Get my film from B&H so might as well get my ink from there as well. Good plan, thanks Mike.

TechCron · 02-10-2012

Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II uses a LOT of ink. Every time you turn it on, it cleans the ink nozzles and wastes ink

.
It produces stunning images but be prepared to replace your cartridges a lot.

bwcolor · 02-10-2012

And... with the 9500 it is best to print with some regularity, or the nozzles clog and things get even more expensive.

shadowfox · 02-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechCron

Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II uses a LOT of ink. Every time you turn it on, it cleans the ink nozzles and wastes ink

.
It produces stunning images but be prepared to replace your cartridges a lot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwcolor

And... with the 9500 it is best to print with some regularity, or the nozzles clog and things get even more expensive.

But neither of these behaviors are unique to this printer.

In fact, one of the Epsons I bought 2 years ago was left alone by the previous owner only for 3 months and some of its print heads are clogged beyond any user intervention. I wasted more ink (and money) than I care to recall trying to unclog those...

Were that a Canon (or even HP) printer, all I would have to do is buy a new head and install it myself.

mfunnell · 02-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowfox

Were that a Canon (or even HP) printer, all I would have to do is buy a new head and install it myself.

And you wouldn't even have to do that. My poor (Mk I) 9500 sat alone and forlorn a couple of years ago while I was on secondment to Brisbane. 12months later when I tried to get it up and going all I had to do was run a cleaning cycle (which, sure, "wasted" some ink) but after a single cycle it was producing wonderful prints just like it was new. No fuss, no muss, just a bit of ink spilled.

...Mike

Bob Michaels · 02-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechCron

Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II uses a LOT of ink. Every time you turn it on, it cleans the ink nozzles and wastes ink

.
It produces stunning images but be prepared to replace your cartridges a lot.

Why do you turn it off?

Jockos · 02-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

Why do you turn it off?

I fyou keep it anywhere near your bedroom, you might want to turn it off, as it sporadically does some hula dancing to shake the pigment ink. Had one of these on a push cart when I was working for Canon, and it literally turned the wheels on the cart during the shakeup!

Bob Michaels · 02-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jockos

I fyou keep it anywhere near your bedroom, you might want to turn it off, as it sporadically does some hula dancing to shake the pigment ink. Had one of these on a push cart when I was working for Canon, and it literally turned the wheels on the cart during the shakeup!

That is something I did not know about Canon printers. I have used Epsons for photo printing for about 12 years now and have never turned one off. I have been using 2400s for the last 5-6 years and have had zero nozzle clogs with them even when not printing for 3 months.

Jockos · 02-13-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

That is something I did not know about Canon printers. I have used Epsons for photo printing for about 12 years now and have never turned one off. I have been using 2400s for the last 5-6 years and have had zero nozzle clogs with them even when not printing for 3 months.

The dye printers don't do this, but with pigment ink, the pigments sink to the bottom, and thus need some agitation once in a while. At least that's how they explained it to me.

shadowfox · 02-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jockos

I fyou keep it anywhere near your bedroom, you might want to turn it off, as it sporadically does some hula dancing to shake the pigment ink. Had one of these on a push cart when I was working for Canon, and it literally turned the wheels on the cart during the shakeup!

Mine does not shake that much.
Maybe this is one of the thing they fix in Mark II version.

But no, this printer is quieter in operation than my previous Epson 2400 and 2200.