Epson R800 or R1800

[TonyK]

Hi,

I'm finally going to move up from dye based printers to pigment based. I've narrowed the field to Epson and either the R800 or the R1800. The only difference is size.

I've occasionally printed on 11x14. 13x19 is not a standard size, meaning I would have to get custom matts and frames. For that reason I'm leaning to the R800.

What are people's thoughts?

Thanks,

[mattchase]

Thanks to inkjet printers, 13x19 isn't as uncommon of a size anymore. I actually have a print I bought that is 13x19, and have seen other photographers selling prints that size too. But you're right, you would still have to order a custom mat (I just checked, cost about $10 at pictureframes.com) for that size. And you actually wouldn't have to get a custom frame, you could get 16x20 and just get a custom mat cut to fit. You would have a larger border on two sides of hte mat, but that isn't a bad thing. This of course all assumes you are going to print the full 13x19 (just cause it can doesn't mean you have to ;) ).

But consider this, 8x12 and 12x18 are standard sizes, each is full frame from a 35mm format camera. 12x18 happens to be one of my favorite sizes to print, not too big, but not too small. Regular desktop printers can't do either of these, whereas the 13x19 printer can.

I have my own opinions on inkjet printers for photographic printing (it's not my first choice), but putting that aside, if I was going to buy a printer with the intention of making prints to sell or hang on walls, I would go with the larger size printer. If I was just looking for a good printer to do the occassional photo print, I would probably go with the smaller size printer. The difference in price between the two is also a factor, if they both fit the budget then that's great, but it would still come down to which of my two uses above am I looking for.

[TonyK]

Thanks Matt,

My wife gets 6 miles per dollar spent. The R1800 is like $549 and the R800 is $429.

I've used White House Custom Color for my prints in the past. Coming up with $12 orders is the only hinderence I have with them. I like the no shipping costs though and they do goo d work.

My Canon S530D just does not print well, especially large black areas. I might just save the money and batch my prints again to WHCC.

Any others with thoughts.

[Vance]

Being that I'm a die hard Epson believer, I'd say definately go for the one that you'll grow into, and not what is best now.

Matt can attest, I have several prints in my living room, that date back to my Epson 1270, one of which is a 13x19 landscape.

When mounted behind glass, you can't go wrong.

I've also noticed that Mediastreet is offering pigment inks for the Epson 1280 (my current printer) which I may have to try out.

[TonyK]

Finances won (again) over desire or want. The S530D has been re-calibrated and the prints are acceptable.

I may break over yet and get the R1800 at some point.

Thanks,

[Vance]

Oh man... sorry to hear/read that Tony .. but good things come to those that wait.

I know the Epson R220 that I bought awhile back cost less than a $100.00 but, the ink is damn near that price everytime I have to refill.

[TonyK]

A new set of cartridges for the S530D is about $50 for me.

[Vance]

Epson cart's for the R220...

Combined color (all 6 carts) package $64.95
Black ink cart. $17.95 (if I recall)

[TonyK]

Ink is the profit center for most printers. Build the low end printers inexpensive and sell the ink at a good (higher) price and force people to use only YOUR ink by embedding microchips to prevent re-inking or 3rd party inks.

[Vance]

Oh yeah.

As my mum says.... Bread, Butter and a bit of Jam.