Hi. I have a Canon PowerShot S40 and I was wondering if it's worth getting a Photo Quality printer. I don't make prints very often, but I think if I had a printer I would use it more often. I was just wondering with the price of ink and good paper, is it more economical than say, just getting $0.26 4"x6" prints at Walmart? I don't know how many pictures you can print on one thing of ink, so it makes it a little hard for me to judge. I was looking at the Canon S900 to go with the S40. Thoughts or opinions?
Photo quality printer worth it?
- Thread starter Logan8252
- Start date
GTaudiophile
Lifer
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
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Canon photo printers are excellent. 6 cartridges. But slow.
If you want an excellent all around printer get the new Canon i850 (canon calls it a photo printer). 4 cartridges but new smaller picoliter droplets. 4800 x 1200 res. Nearly as good as the 6 cartridge Canons but FAST 22 ppm black. 14 color.
current 30 rebate from Canon. 169 plus shipping from mwave.com. Prob come to about 155.
(169 +16-30). Or best buy has them for 199-30.
They use BCI-3 cartridges which are very refillable. or you can get generics for 2-3 dollars.
If you want an excellent all around printer get the new Canon i850 (canon calls it a photo printer). 4 cartridges but new smaller picoliter droplets. 4800 x 1200 res. Nearly as good as the 6 cartridge Canons but FAST 22 ppm black. 14 color.
current 30 rebate from Canon. 169 plus shipping from mwave.com. Prob come to about 155.
(169 +16-30). Or best buy has them for 199-30.
They use BCI-3 cartridges which are very refillable. or you can get generics for 2-3 dollars.
Thanks, good post. I would kind of like to buy it from Costco (or Costco.com) since they are so cool about returns if something happens to them. Guess I'll have to see if they will be getting that model in any time soon. I heard something about a i950 replacing the s900, is this true? Would it be worth the extra cash over the i850? Thanks again.
Hey Logan8252,
I have the Canon S30 digital camera and the S900 printer, and they are an awesome combination. I highly recommend this photo printer to go with any good digital camera.
The prints are absolutely fantastic. And you can do completely borderless photos in all sizes up to (and including) 8.5 x 11 inches.
Haven't counted, but you can print a lot of photos. And since it has 6 ink cartridges, you only replace the ones you really need, when they are indeed empty.
Cost comparison between this vs walmart reprints is tough to calculate. Additional factors include instant gratification right at home.
I have the Canon S30 digital camera and the S900 printer, and they are an awesome combination. I highly recommend this photo printer to go with any good digital camera.
The prints are absolutely fantastic. And you can do completely borderless photos in all sizes up to (and including) 8.5 x 11 inches.
Haven't counted, but you can print a lot of photos. And since it has 6 ink cartridges, you only replace the ones you really need, when they are indeed empty.
Cost comparison between this vs walmart reprints is tough to calculate. Additional factors include instant gratification right at home.
Dunno if Costco carries the i850. Not yet I think. Staples doesn't even carry them yet.
I've only seen it run photos at Best Buy. Very impressive for a 169 dollar printer. I also know the Canon rep. He says it's his next printer. S900's are very impressive as well. He says i850 is very close to the photo quality of the S900.
Dunno when the i950 is coming ot but Canon turns over the printer models fairly quickly.
If the model number evolves true the i950 should be 4800 x 1200 vs the S900 which is 2400 x 1200. So if you want the top banana mabe you ought to wait for the i950 or whatever.
the i850 is also 4800 x 1200 but ony 4 cartridges.
Link to Canon comparison.
I currently run 4 Canon printers. S750's. Over 1000 full color copies a week and they don't even really get warmed up. All use BCI-3 cartridges. I refill a lot. I can a test to the low cost of running Canon printers.
I tell you this to let you know where I am coming from as far as what I like in a printer.
And I been through a lot ofinkjets getting to this point.
i850 really replaces the S750, is faster and has better resolution so my next one will likely be that .
I've only seen it run photos at Best Buy. Very impressive for a 169 dollar printer. I also know the Canon rep. He says it's his next printer. S900's are very impressive as well. He says i850 is very close to the photo quality of the S900.
Dunno when the i950 is coming ot but Canon turns over the printer models fairly quickly.
If the model number evolves true the i950 should be 4800 x 1200 vs the S900 which is 2400 x 1200. So if you want the top banana mabe you ought to wait for the i950 or whatever.
the i850 is also 4800 x 1200 but ony 4 cartridges.
Link to Canon comparison.
I currently run 4 Canon printers. S750's. Over 1000 full color copies a week and they don't even really get warmed up. All use BCI-3 cartridges. I refill a lot. I can a test to the low cost of running Canon printers.
I tell you this to let you know where I am coming from as far as what I like in a printer.
And I been through a lot ofinkjets getting to this point.
i850 really replaces the S750, is faster and has better resolution so my next one will likely be that .
I went ahead and ordered the Canon i850 since I found a decent deal on it I think. Techdepot.com has it for $189 and there is a $10 off $150 coupon, so $179 with free ground shipping (3-5 days). So $179-30 MIR = $149 shipped 3-5 days seems like a winner to me. Tax in CA, CT, NC, and TN (this is one of the times it hurts living in Southern California ). Even if the s900 is marginally better (which it most likely is) it comes at 67% price increase. Thanks again.
EDIT: Could you possibly link to a place that has refill cartidges for the i850 for cheap? TIA
seems like a winner to me. Tax in CA, CT, NC, and TN (this is one of the times it hurts living in Southern California ). Even if the s900 is marginally better (which it most likely is) it comes at 67% price increase. Thanks again. EDIT: Could you possibly link to a place that has refill cartidges for the i850 for cheap? TIA
High quality cheap bulk ink
Cheapest generic cartridges Megatoners (some say not best quality, works fine for me though)
Abacus 24/7Also cheap and good. You can get from Abacus even cheaper through e-bay if you by a pack.
EBay search BCI-3e
Check e-bay for original canon cartridges if you want original or even generics. Nectron cartridges are supposed to be good generics. Made in USA. You want BCI-3e. The e ink is really for the black cartridge that is pigmented. The colors are not pigmented.
Since I refill with good ink I am less concerned about the quality of ink in the generic cartridges. Because the are refilled any way.
Cheapest generic cartridges Megatoners (some say not best quality, works fine for me though)
Abacus 24/7Also cheap and good. You can get from Abacus even cheaper through e-bay if you by a pack.
EBay search BCI-3e
Check e-bay for original canon cartridges if you want original or even generics. Nectron cartridges are supposed to be good generics. Made in USA. You want BCI-3e. The e ink is really for the black cartridge that is pigmented. The colors are not pigmented.
Since I refill with good ink I am less concerned about the quality of ink in the generic cartridges. Because the are refilled any way.
should i wait for i950 or buy s900 now for BEST quality of photo.
When will i950 will release and how much?
When will i950 will release and how much?
The user comments @ cnet for the i850 look very good (some stating the i850 has higher quality output versus the s900 and only 2 out of 56 people giving it thumbs down). I would assume then that the s900 would not be worth getting over the i850, meaning that the i950 would seem to be the best choice for you from these few printers.
I sell most of those at work (we don't have the i850 yet) and I just don't reccomend canon printers usually, never been that happy with the quality of them or the longevity of the print heads, FWIW
-Pete
-Pete
That link for the cartridges doesn't seem to work.
As far as what cartridges to buy. You get a set with the printer of course.
If your into bulk printing an a few photos, like me. Then you either refill of get the best cheap cartridge.
If you are wanting the the best photo output then I guess you have to experiment with the generics or get a good deal on original Canons. (mo money). Even if you buy some generics you can't lose. Use them for every day printing.
OTOH, the ink I use to refill is as good as original Canon ink.
There are some differences in black inks for Canon that you can buy. Basically in the amount of black pigment. In the colors, I've bought yellow ink in a couple of shades for the Canon. They both worked.
As for paper. I imagine the Canon paper is the best for the Canon printer. I think they also have a free photo printing program with the printer or on their website.
Bulk photo paper is best bought from Costco or Sams.
Other than that, I'm not an expert on photo paper.
For business printing I use >106+ brightness, 24# for everyday and 28# (Hammermill mainly but anything on sale) for tri-fold flyers.
I read some of the reviews on the i850. I hadn't seem them and was stunned. 96% approval is pretty high.
Most were like this one.
"I rarely post reviews but being a computer consultant i rarely get excited about products anymore. The i850 is simply amazing and i have used and sold all of them. In a recent test we performed ourselves the i850 was far superior to the best of hp and epsons printers, the key is the paper used, we found that for everyday use the best paper is the hp brite white inkjet paper 108+ brilliance, with this paper text looks incredible. This paper is two reams for $9 at staples so about a penny a sheet, certainly worth it, and for photo we do agree that the canon paper looks best, although we didn't try the costco photo paper. A very worthy product"
I guess, my wallet will get lighter soon because of the i850.
Let us know how you like it.
Mac
As far as what cartridges to buy. You get a set with the printer of course.
If your into bulk printing an a few photos, like me. Then you either refill of get the best cheap cartridge.
If you are wanting the the best photo output then I guess you have to experiment with the generics or get a good deal on original Canons. (mo money). Even if you buy some generics you can't lose. Use them for every day printing.
OTOH, the ink I use to refill is as good as original Canon ink.
There are some differences in black inks for Canon that you can buy. Basically in the amount of black pigment. In the colors, I've bought yellow ink in a couple of shades for the Canon. They both worked.
As for paper. I imagine the Canon paper is the best for the Canon printer. I think they also have a free photo printing program with the printer or on their website.
Bulk photo paper is best bought from Costco or Sams.
Other than that, I'm not an expert on photo paper.
For business printing I use >106+ brightness, 24# for everyday and 28# (Hammermill mainly but anything on sale) for tri-fold flyers.
I read some of the reviews on the i850. I hadn't seem them and was stunned. 96% approval is pretty high.
Most were like this one.
"I rarely post reviews but being a computer consultant i rarely get excited about products anymore. The i850 is simply amazing and i have used and sold all of them. In a recent test we performed ourselves the i850 was far superior to the best of hp and epsons printers, the key is the paper used, we found that for everyday use the best paper is the hp brite white inkjet paper 108+ brilliance, with this paper text looks incredible. This paper is two reams for $9 at staples so about a penny a sheet, certainly worth it, and for photo we do agree that the canon paper looks best, although we didn't try the costco photo paper. A very worthy product"
I guess, my wallet will get lighter soon because of the i850.
Let us know how you like it.
Mac
RE:"I sell most of those at work (we don't have the i850 yet) and I just don't reccomend canon printers usually, never been that happy with the quality of them or the longevity of the print heads, FWIW"
Well, the quality of Canons took a giant leap from the S520 up. Also the print heads. I think it's a lifetime of the printer head guarantee now.
I have a S450 (didn't mention it before because I don't use it much) and ithe quality sux compared to say a S630 or S750. Now the quality appears to have taken a further leap with the i550 and i850.
I used to have all HPs but they ate me out of house and home. $50 for a color cartridge. What a joke. I do the same refill of color Canon cartridges for less than a dollar.
Mac
Well, the quality of Canons took a giant leap from the S520 up. Also the print heads. I think it's a lifetime of the printer head guarantee now.
I have a S450 (didn't mention it before because I don't use it much) and ithe quality sux compared to say a S630 or S750. Now the quality appears to have taken a further leap with the i550 and i850.
I used to have all HPs but they ate me out of house and home. $50 for a color cartridge. What a joke. I do the same refill of color Canon cartridges for less than a dollar.
Mac
No idea about "Rolo". Never delt with them.
Also, I read a comment about the printheads of the Canons being permenent.
It's not. It's replacible and guaranteed with the printer. The printhead is not part of the cartridges so thats why there are generics. HP cartridges have the printhead attatched. No generics. Only refills. High prices to boot.
Also, I read a comment about the printheads of the Canons being permenent.
It's not. It's replacible and guaranteed with the printer. The printhead is not part of the cartridges so thats why there are generics. HP cartridges have the printhead attatched. No generics. Only refills. High prices to boot.
Thats a good question. I just use regular ink. I did put a photo Cyan in my S750 and it didn't print right, colors were off. Maybe if you replace all the cartridges with photo ink it will print ok. I'd check into it.
If you buy 18 cartridges you get free shipping. Maybe you can mix in a set of photo cartridges,
Mac
If you buy 18 cartridges you get free shipping. Maybe you can mix in a set of photo cartridges,
Mac
I got a Canon S820 for £200, $350ish that would be..maybe? I was astounded with the quality of printing, genuinly couldn't tell the difference between a standard photo and printed one from there.
Finally got around to printing out some pictures today and I must say I am pretty impressed. 4x6 were printed extremely quick and look as good as prints I got done professionally (after touching up the pictures a bit). Great buy for $150 considering I spent $300 on a pretty high end printer 3 years ago which can't hold a candle to this one of course
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