i'm looking for a photo printer

[robphelan]

looking for something that will print out decent photos for product display in an album.

ideally, i'd like one that can have it's carts refilled - slots for memory card direct printing would be great.

any suggestions?

thanks,
robert

 

[Zepper]

I'd suggest the Canon iP4300. It is $60. after rebate thru today at Staples. Stores may be out by now so online may be the only way to get it at this late date. There's free ground shipping anyway. You can get good clone tanks for under $4. or less each or you can refill yourself. For clone tanks the chips still have to be transplanted from the OEM tanks. They say they will have the chips cloned soon but don't hold your breath - it took over a year to get just the tanks.

I've not found direct printing to be too useful. I most always want to crop my images for the best final product.

.bh.

 

[Paperdoc]

IF you want ONLY 4" x 6" prints, the Epson PictureMate is great. Newegg has 2 models now at $135 and $190, depending on how fast you want. They make VERY good prints like pro shops; even though it uses ink jet technology they are waterproof right out of the printer - will not smudge! Can connect to computer, to camera, or to any of many mem cards. There may be cheaper, less fancy models available directly from others, including Epson themselves.

Consumables cost: From Newegg buy the pack of 270 sheets paper plus two non-refillable ink cartridges. At $63.65 with shipping, that comes to 23½¢ per print. You might even buy the 100-sheet packs of just paper (same type), because many find the ink cartridges last longer than the paper in the combo packs, and you can save a bit that way.

 

[robphelan]

great.. thanks alot for the suggestions

 

[robphelan]

i don't suppose there are any with built in NICs? i'd like to bridge it wirelessly like I do with my HP Laserjet.

thanks again,
rob.

 

[Zepper]

Brother MFCs have the best built-in networking but their printing isn't all that great. For most others you'll have to use a wireless print server. Wireless USB port extenders and/or hubs should be out there by now. I know YE Data had one ready.

Cost per print on the Canon can get under 10 cents with clone ink and careful shopping for paper (like taking advantage of Staples' sale this weekend - $4.00 per hundred pack of Kodak 4x6"). It'd be down around 6 or 7 cents a print using that paper.

.bh.

 

[Bill Kunert]

I bought my son and daughter in law a Kodak 300 printer for Christmas. It's a dye sub printer that gives waterproof prints. 170 prints including dye sub cartridges runs $43 at Sam's club. Produces nice prints from memory cards and allows some editing like red eye. Got it new on ebay for about $105.

 

[zephyrprime]

There are some printers with built in wifi now. Don't know any of them off the top of my head. You can pick up a ip6600d on ebay cheap since it is last years model. It's a 6 color printer which is nice for photos.