Printer recomendations

[aimn]

My buddy needs a decent printer for printing out digital photos. He set $200 for a limit. What do you guys suggest? I would like to stay with Epson, HP or Lexmark if possible. Thanks!

 

[aimn]

I am doing a search by the way........just wanted to make sure I get the most current information.

 

[FoBoT]

HP Deskjet 940C Printer
$140 + $10 shipping from www.newegg.com



<< up to 2400 x 1200 dpi color (on premium photo paper) >>

 

[rickn]

what brand and model digicam do they have? I'd recommend the Epson 785EPX for photos. Has much lower cost per print than HP and Lexmark. Epson also makes very good paper, like their premium gloss, matte heavyweight and semi-gloss/luster paper. Has roll paper support to do continuous 4x6 prints as well as panoramas. Built-in CF card reader. Epson just released a Photoshop 6.0/7.0/Elements PIM plug-in so now prints can be edited and printed with PIM information in tact. Drawbacks to the 758EPX is that it is USB only, not very fast at printing, and somewhat noisy. Can be purchased online for around $169, genuine epson color ink tanks i've seen for as little as $13.00, black around $15. get em with those dell discounts and stuff, makes them very inexpensive.

epson 785EPX review #1
epson 785EPX review #2

 

[Electric Amish]

I've always had good luck with Lexmark.

I, personally, detest HP inkjets.

I've never really used an Epson, but have heard good things.

amish

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Canon makes some KILLER quality photo printers. Check out the S800 or some of the newer ones

 

[NutBucket]

My gripe with Lexmark is that they charge you absurd amounts for relatively small ink tanks. Epsons I don't like b/c they're loud and need to "warm up" before they start printing. Also, with Epson, Lexmark and Canon, you have to use the expensive photo papers to get the highest quality prints. HP, while the best results are with the photo paper, the results using plain paper are fairly impressive.

So, that means I will once again stand by HP. Cheaper inks (large cartridges), no warm up time, very quiet, super reliable.

 

[amdskip]

I hate epson's warm up time! I like HP now

 

[herbage11]

I have the HP 920C from Walmart. Cost about $140. I am still on the first ink cartridges and know there is a crappy 90 day warranty, but so far I really like it. Done some photos that look better then my Epson stylus 800 would do and b/w looks good too. So I am happy. Good luck .

 

[proskig]

My choice would be Canon or HP.
Bad thing about Lexmark is photo quality, although they are very fast. Bad thing about Epson is warm up time and head, which cannot be easily changed, and there are often problems with it, although IMHO Epson offers the quality (when new).

Igor

 

[Maki]

Buy two epsons. That way when you are having one replaced under warranty you'll probably have a working one that you can print with. Hmmm... Maybe you should get three epsons.

Lovely printers. Absolutely wonderful photo printing. I use up about half my ink running cleaning cycles. Or printing test prints just to make sure that the damned thing isn't clogged again.

The new canon printers are supposed to be incredible. I have a non photo canon s750. It is fast and its prints beat the epsons in every way EXCEPT color matching. 4 colors just isn't enough for photo printing.

 

[rickn]

Warm up? My epson takes 8-10 secs before it is ready to print. That isn't long. The charge up process after installing a new ink cartridge takes about 1min.



<< Buy two epsons. That way when you are having one replaced under warranty you'll probably have a working one that you can print with. Hmmm... Maybe you should get three epsons >>



not really necessary. 1 yr instant exchange, they ship you a replacement overnight and pay the shipping of your old one back.



<< I use up about half my ink running cleaning cycles. Or printing test prints just to make sure that the damned thing isn't clogged again. >>



I don't. Epson printer can be a little touchy. They also should be used atleast once a week (maybe even more) since the print heads are permanent. I've had to clean my a few times (and they werent even head clogs, but something else), but certainly have never used up half a tank of ink.

 

[Maki]

If I don't print every 3 to 4 days I have to run the cleaning cycle. It seriously sucks.

Tho it did just cough up a HUGE ball of ink the other day (ruining another print) and has been better since.