Olympus P-400 Dye Sublimation Photo Printer $149.00 at Office Max B&M Closeout.

Sesopedalian

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
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These were introduced at the comsumer level in 2000-2001 for $1000.00. It was said at that time one couldn't tell the difference between the output of this printer and professional photo film processing. It's closest competitors at that time were in the thousands. It does 8x10 (or close to it) and that is key here. This is a closeout, but just the MPLS/STP area has 4 in Blane, 2 in Eagen, and 2 in Forest Lake. I am not sure about the rest of the country. Fast forward to today, and I don't think one can get a dye sub printer that does 8x10 less than 10X this price. I am not talking about the small ones here, or 4x6 ones. I guess this technology hasn't changed much. Consumables are expensive, it takes it's own special paper, but check Office Max for those at close out also. Ribbon UPC 050332142459. Olympus has discontinued production, but one of their techs told me they still will service them. Why this old tech printer and not an inkjet? Google is your friend!
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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DAMN what a deal! I wonder how long Olympus will produce the paper/ribbon packs for this, if I could buy one and still find the consumables for it 4 years down the road I'd jump all over this.

I have a Sony Dye Sub 4x6 printer, and my Canon ip4000 can't touch it's output quality.
 

Spurst

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Aug 17, 2000
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On another note... I see ALPS MD-5000's every now and then on ebay going for under a hundred. If I was going Dye sub, I'd want the ability to add in foil like the MD-5000 does. However, for a new printer, this is quite hot.

for anyone who hasn't used them, dye sub printers pretty much give you a pro quality small format print shop. If you can grab this, do so.
 

Sesopedalian

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Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: QueBert
DAMN what a deal! I wonder how long Olympus will produce the paper/ribbon packs for this, if I could buy one and still find the consumables for it 4 years down the road I'd jump all over this.

I have a Sony Dye Sub 4x6 printer, and my Canon ip4000 can't touch it's output quality.


That is the big question I had also. I called Olympus about this, and the person I talked to couldn't answer that question.

 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
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Originally posted by: Sesopedalian
Originally posted by: QueBert
DAMN what a deal! I wonder how long Olympus will produce the paper/ribbon packs for this, if I could buy one and still find the consumables for it 4 years down the road I'd jump all over this.

I have a Sony Dye Sub 4x6 printer, and my Canon ip4000 can't touch it's output quality.


That is the big question I had also. I called Olympus about this, and the person I talked to couldn't answer that question.

I have problems finding the stuff for my Sony, and nobody makes 3rd party Dye Sub consumables. If I could find ribbons and paper as easy as for my Canon Ink Jet, I'd get this Olympus, but once Olympus stops making the consumables anyone with this printer will start using it as a paper weight.

I know the market isn't big for Dye Sub, but it's a shame we don't see a swiftsub.com like swiftink.com, even if the prices were the same I'd love to know I could get stuff for my Sony for years to come. As it stands I have to get mine online, Best Buy use to stock tons now they have none :(