Best printer in the $100-150 range for photo/art printing?

[Nebben]

I've been told Canon or Epson is the way to go, I've owned HP inkjets in the past and they weren't too impressive. What's the best value these days? My last printer was purchased like 8 years ago... so I have no clue now.


It will be used by my wife for printing photos and computer graphic art, mostly. She would also like one with scanning capabilities built in.

And on the topic, where's a good place to get ink refills and photo paper online? Anything cheaper than the places on Pricewatch? Buying locally is insanely overpriced for us.

 

[Zepper]

Canon iP5000 is an excellent choice, normally $199. can be had for ~$150. this month (after rebate) - Staples is one place. iP4000 isn't bad either and can be had for ~$100. AR.
Ink is cheapest for Canon, plenty of threads here on cheap ink, just search for them.

.bh.

 

[Macro2]

Canon iP5000 is an excellent choice.

 

[NeoPTLD]

I've only owned Epson inkjet printers, but I'm not impressed with them. Needing to clean the nozzles is more common than having to change a lightbulb around the house and the cleaning takes a long time and sucks a lot of ink.

 

[GoatHerderEd]

I have a IP6000D and love it. I think its $180 though. Not sure if there is a rebate. Canon is good because you just replace the ink, not the print head when the ink goes out. They dont use heat to force ink out the nozzle, so the head lasts longer. Get the printer at BB with the 3 service plan, you will be glad you did (= Ink jets are trash whatever you get. I have been through 3 now, lexmark, canon, canon. i havnt bought ink ever.

 

[GoatHerderEd]

Originally posted by: Nebben
And on the topic, where's a good place to get ink refills and photo paper online? Anything cheaper than the places on Pricewatch? Buying locally is insanely overpriced for us.

I hate to say it, but ganuine ink is the best. And canon ink is not too expensive, you dont have to pay for the print head every time. Plus you only replace the color you are out of.

Oh, if you want to print picture, you are better off printing them at walmart or whatever, its cheaper and they will last longer. Plus you dont have to mess with printer settings for hours.

I say go get your self a $90 b/w laser and print with that. Or if you want color, i think you can get one for $300, yes laser, after rebates at stables or office max almost every week..

 

[nealh]

Ok..if you want multifunction unit..I just got the MP780..OD has for $250 ..it uses the same pixma print engine as the IP4000....it prints pictures at least as good as my older 6 ink S820...it is faster and does a better job with text

I have limited experience but I think it does a excellent job...

see this thread

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1560162&enterthread=y

 

[Zepper]

I just saw the latest Consumer Reports and it has the iP4000 as Best Buy (at the $140. price - wonder what they'd think of it at $100...) - but I see they apparently didn't find the place to adjust for printing graphics (there is a setting for printing photos and a separate setting for graphics) as they only have the iP4000 at "Average" for graphics printing. I print greeting cards and some charts all the time and the people that receive my cards will tell you that the print quality is "wonderful"... And the cross-hatching in my bar charts is so crisp you could slice cheese with it and you know how hard diagonal lines are for dot printers.

.bh.

 

[nealh]

I love my old HP930c ..got free from estamps or something..like 3 yrs ago..when it was $175 ..free AR with trial use of online stamps...bought duplexer for it..still works like a champ

I have a newer HP5650 at work..good for text but color photos are crap..HP offerings not as good of value IMHO now

But my newer S820 is awesome for pics...I was amazed how good pics good be from an inkjet
MP780 vs S820:
I was a little concerned with only 3 colors and 2 blacks vs 5 colors and one black.....but clearly this is not an issue and Canon has improved there black text printing..not so good on the S820 but the MP780(essentially a IP4000 printer) is very good

Read Steve's Digicam..he believes the 4 color vs 6 color (and even 8 color inkjets) is a close call...but the 6/8 color inkjets that are real good are in a different price group and not a real fair comparison...look at $400-500 8 color inkjet from canon vs IP4000...almost no difference...

If you are semi-pro/pro user and needs yes the cost is justified


to the OP...check out the MP760 as well it has an LCD you view digicam photos and even some memory slots...the MP780 does not have a color LCD for photo viewing and no memory slots..I have a canon S30 which will connect via PIct Bridge and I can use my camera lcd to view before printing if I do not want to use my PC

I dumped canon with my first BJC 600...got alot of banding..now I am sold again on Canon .....

 

[bub]

Best value, you ask?

The glossy prints I get with the Canon ip3000 (<$70) using Canon photo paper is equal to or better than any 35mm prints I've EVER had.

Digital camera is Canon A85. 35mm is Canon Rebel w/50mm 1.4 and a Nikon FA w/52mm 1.4

Course, I don't have a clue how long these inkjet prints are going to last and I'm sure as hell not going in the shower with em'.

 

[n7]

Canon IP3000 or above. (IP4000,IP5000).

HP = expensive ink.
Lexmark = expensive ink & absolute crap.
Epson = great ink price & quality, but prone to clogging all the time which consequently = PITA

 

[Zepper]

Often integrated printer/scanner cost more than getting equal or better quality separately. If you don't have a lot of space, rig a rack to stack the printer and scanner. Plus if one part goes bad you only have to send that part off for repair or replacement while you will be without both on the integrated units.

.bh.