Diablo

Thanks for the replies so far.

Should have added that we need a printer for the more boring stuff as well.

For the record, I wouldn't let my local Jessops near a disposable camera film, let alone anything else having fcuked up two sets of negatives and wrongly processed a B&W film [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

All my shots are with "traditional" 35mm film, which I get processed by a professional lab. Always get a CD done at the same time. Would just like the ability to play around with them on the pc and print off the results.

The Epson 950 gets good reviews, but a bit steep for the purposes at £380.

Anyone got any ideas for around the £200 mark?

D









[Edited by Diablo - 12/2/2002 5:33:03 PM]

Diablo

Posted in here, cos its photography related

Going to buy a printer mainly for photographic images. Don't want to spend fortunes, though .

Anyone have any experience in this field?

Looking for some advice on make, type, resolution, etc, that is best for this type of work. Would be using the photo quality papers - mostly around a4 size.

Cheers in advance if anyone can help.

D

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I have an Epson 870, and the print quality on Epson's Premium Glossy Photo Paper is fantastic. It's since been replaced by the 890 which is even better.

Others worth looking at are the Canon S9000 (not sure what the A4 version is called - sorry) or the Epson 2200. The 2200 is new and in short supply, but has great reviews and uses archival inks to help your prints last longer without fading or colour shift.

A.

ChrisB

PC Pro rate the Epson Stylus Photo 950

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/revie...y.php?id=25265

"Printing a full-size A4 photo at 2,880dpi took just seven minutes and nine seconds on the 950 - a good 13 minutes quicker than the Stylus Photo 895 (see Labs, issue 92, p76). But, more importantly, the print quality is absolutely superb. Everything from skin tones to skies and greyscales were handled beautifully, with smooth fades and colour transitions and no visible banding or grain. The prints have a slight brown tinge when first printed, but this disappears within a couple of minutes and, under the right storage and lighting conditions, Epson guarantees up to 20 years' lightfastness on the correct media, including its own Premium Glossy Photo Paper."

I'm told it needs a lot of desk space though.

Stephen Read

Are you sure you want your own printer?

You can e-mail your files to a third-party and have them printed on real photographic paper.

I believe that the technique involves using a laser to project the image onto the real photographic paper and the results are much better than any domestic set up I have seen.

I use these people....

http://www.colormailer.com

Jeff Wiltshire

I've got an Epson 950 and it is excellent.....

SiDHEaD

We have a 950, its brilliant

CrisPDuk

I'm running an Epson Photo 950 at work, & a Colour 680 at home and to be honest if you use the proper quality paper you can't tell the difference, the 950 is just slightly quicker I think the 680 has now been superceded by the C40? but it is still one of the best available for the money IMO.

P.S. We have had no end of problems with HP's at work so personally I wouldn't spend my own money on one.

Hanley

I've got the 950 and it rocks!!!!

Attach the roll paper to the back and the cutter at the front and it slices and catches your photos as it prints!!!!

Bloody expensive though at £380ish

rik1471

I'd recommend an Epson Stylus Photo 830 - £ 81.00 from www.microdirect.co.uk

DRUNKNORGY

I have an older epson photo 750 which produces respectable pics. As said by others, Burn your Pics onto a CD and take them into your local Jessops. They will print them with the same £££££ machine they use for the Film Cameras and charge £5-£6 for 36 images. Far cheaper than printing your own on a printer which will never be able to compete on quality with their professional kit. It also gives you the opportunity to pick and choose what you get printed. takes about 5 working Days I think.

ChrisB

O/T I know.

How much do you pay for the pro lab service D?

Diablo

Depends on print size, but usually between £6 and £10 for 36 including CD.



D

Mike P

We just bought an HP5550 deskjet for about 130 quid. It has a three colour head and a separate black head. You can swap out the black head for a photo ink head which gives you a total of 5 colour inks and black. Gives you the flexibilty for normal colour prints or photo images as required

I was really sceptical about the quality before we used it, but frankly I was amazed. If you use a glossy paper the quality's indistinguishable from a photo. The tones are slightly different, but that's the only difference I can see.

Check out the review http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...906/index.html

WRXBOB

Diablo,
I'm in a similar position to you...
Looking towards getting the HP Photosmart printer and got it down to a choice of 3...
7150 @ £148
7350 @ £199
7550 @ £260

All very similar, and think I will go for the 7150 as it gives almost identical results as its dearer brothers.
I have an actual photo printed from the 7150 onto HP premium photo paper and its excellent!
I'm just waiting to see if these are in the sales after Xmas

The printer I have at present is an HP Desckjet 815c that I bought in '99 and its been 100% reliable. A mate has the 880c and that too has been no trouble, and produces decent photo's but not of the quality that the new 7150 produces.
Cant say the same about the mate with the Epson printer, he's had it repaired dozens of times and was even given a new replacement that broke down after a week!
He wants my old 815C when I get my photosmart 7150!

Bob