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gjhimages
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new a3 printer
I have been using an old epson1290s for printing monochrome images, sometimes successful more often not so. I am considering a new printer, and would be interested in what printers other people are currently using
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12/Apr/08, 3:38 pm
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martinimages
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Re: new a3 printer
As I only used Epson printers then I can recommend two, there designed for mono as well as colour, my first was the Epson R2400, which produced great mono prints, the down side was running cost in terms of ink, if you printout lots of large A3+ prints then I would recommend you carefully consider the Epson 3800, the running cost is half the price and in no time at all you will re cope the price difference between the two. the R2400 is an a3+ printer that takes paper rolls, the 3800 is what termed a large format printer and goes to A2 and can go as large as 17x22 inch, does not have the roll facility, the 3800 produces superb BW prints, and is easier to use than the 2400 as the ink change from photo to matt is automatic, the system is also pressurized to the head so prints larger quicker. these type printers are essential for fine art reproduction
Martin
Last edited by martinimages, 12/Apr/08, 4:26 pm
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12/Apr/08, 4:25 pm
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I Simonius
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Re: new a3 printer
I was talking to someone today who had owned the 2400 but changed to the 4800 because of the ink usage ; but he said he'd sold the 4800 as well as he was always having trouble fiddling with the paper path to enable the prinst to go through properly i.e. he had a lot of problems with the paper path, he also said that te tonal range in B+W was limited and althouugh it produced good B+Ws they wee never 'great'
Now then I have a friend who has 4800 and for a nominal fee he printed some images of mine with me there at the same time and I can say that I was impressed by the colour but I too found the B+W dissapointing
However I accept that it might have been m files or profiling bt the thing is he was not getting brilliant B+W results either and he hasd been using it for a while
The first chap now gets online prints for all his stuff and he no longer uses his own printer
The reason I mention this is that I wanted to geta printer myself and had been musingbetween the 3800 and the canon equivalent, however now I am having second thoughts after talking to this chap today as he really seemed to know what he was doing and was running a reasonably successful photography business for the last several years locally
What do you use martin ( and others) and what are your thoughts on this?
Last edited by I Simonius, 12/Apr/08, 8:46 pm
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12/Apr/08, 8:43 pm
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martinimages
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Re: new a3 printer
I use the 3800 Simon, befor that the r2400, I never had one problem with both in terms of head blockages, paper feed, or roller marks, its always easy to blame the printer for poor results, this can be down to lots of user error, [you only get out what you put in data wise], bad profiles, bad editing for mono, types of paper etc etc, all have adverse effects on output, I can say that in my early days of printing mono I was disappointed with the output from them, it was not the printers fault it was all user error, but over the years I have established a better understanding of printers and papers, I can now without reservation say that the output from my 3800 beats any darkroom print I ever did, the results are outstanding and i am constantly amazed at what they can reproduce tonally, I will on request send small sample images to anyone to prove this point, just request one from my site and I will post on.
I have over the last year or so given half day lessons at my home from people who cant get to grips with printing mono, the first thing they show me is one of there files they would like printed, on most occasions just by looking at the edit I can tell them if it will print out OK , in most cases the answer is it wont, this is because of lack of understanding what is required to print out right and paying to much reliance on the screen image, these same people if they tried without advice to print the said images on any printer the results would be poor and would condemn the what ever printer they have as bad, so my experience tells me its often not the printer its the user thats simply doing it wrong. the 2400 and the 3800 both produce superb mono prints on the most difficult area of printing and that is mat fine art papers, I cant speak for other manufacturers models as i have not tested any, but would expect any printer costing £500 upwards to be able to reproduce the same results as the Epson models mentioned
Martin
Last edited by martinimages, 12/Apr/08, 9:29 pm
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12/Apr/08, 9:22 pm
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I Simonius
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Re: new a3 printer
thanks Martin I'm glad to hear the printers aren't the limiting factor
Have you ever tried the inks from piezography?
www.piezography.com
they don't do them for the 3800 but did for the 2400
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13/Apr/08, 9:37 am
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martinimages
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Re: new a3 printer
No I am a firm believer in using the manufactures inks, I think these give optimum results and wont damage your printer
Martin
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13/Apr/08, 9:47 am
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StevenZ
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Re: new a3 printer
Good discussion, Martin, well stated and I couldn't agree more.
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13/Apr/08, 12:57 pm
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I Simonius
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Re: new a3 printer
Im sure you're right about the inks, but I jus wondered as the idea of 7 shades of black ink really intrigued me! 
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13/Apr/08, 3:55 pm
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martinimages
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Re: new a3 printer
I know what you mean Simon, and as I have never used Piezograpthy I realy cant comment and say if its better or worse, but have heard that it is good with the right profiles, but remember that infinate greys tones can be made using colour as part of the recipe as well
Martin
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13/Apr/08, 4:13 pm
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I Simonius
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Re: new a3 printer
I just phoned Epson UK directly to see if I could elicit any info (or clues even) whether there was an upgrade in the pipeline of the 3800 - I didn't want buy one just before an upgrade. I spoke to a very pleasant gentleman who gave me these responses below, I would appreciate your reactions to those responses.
I asked first what the '80' designation meant i.e. what differences did it indicate between say the 4800 to the 4880? He was hesitant which never inspires me with confidence but finally stated that "the 4880 is faster", only difference. I wouldn't presume to disbelive his expertise but I was expecting more.
What I was really fishing for of course was what the anticipated difference might be between a 3800 and a 3880;-)
OK... So I asked whether that was true also for the 2400 upgrade to the newly announced 2480, e.g did it have pressurised heads like the 3800?: Answer "the 2480 is a scanner". Was he sure - yes he was sure; Of course he was right - but most people would have realised my mistake surely.. ~ OK at this point I ralised I had made a mistake - I meant the 2880, but why hadn't he realised that? He explained that "the 2400 was being replaced by the 3800". I had read that the 2400 was being replaced by the 2880 ( got it right this time) not the 3800 which came out ages ago so how could it be a replacement? However I didn't persist.
I wanted to hear from an expert but I wasn't getting the impression i was talking to an expert - maybe he was - I just didn't get that impression..Anyway I realised I wasn't going to get my original as yet unposed question answered (will there be an 3880 soon?) in any autorative way - so I thanked him and ended the call.
OI do think though that it behoves Epson to have thier people in presales to at least sound confident about their product knowledge, whether they are or not. Am I being unfair?
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5/Jun/08, 10:06 am
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