Which printer?

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,943
475
126
Not sure about Brother, but Canon's are worth just for the savings in ink cost (usually).
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
Try to find a last year's model of Canon Pixma (iP3000, 4000 or 5000 - I consider the 4000 to be the sweet spot). The ink savings alone will make the effort of locating one worthwhile. I would even buy a used one before buying one of the current line because they changed the ink tanks in the new line - less quantity of ink per tank and there won't be cloned tanks available for some time if ever (there is an active element in the new tanks while the old ones are entirely passive). Print heads for the old models are relatively inexpensive and user-installable too.

.bh.
 

Cawchy87

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2004
5,104
2
81
Does this have the built in print headers? If so then I would not get the canon.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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Caw,
. What does "this" mean? There have been several printers mentioned - please be specific, it helps with understanding.

.bh.
 

xgsound

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2002
1,374
8
81
Originally posted by: Zepper
Try to find a last year's model of Canon Pixma (iP3000, 4000 or 5000 - I consider the 4000 to be the sweet spot). The ink savings alone will make the effort of locating one wothwhile. I would even buy a used one before buying one of the current line because they changed the ink tanks in the new line - less quantity of ink per tank and there won't be cloned tanks available for some time if ever (there is an active element in the new tanks while the old ones are entirely passive). Print heads for the old models are relatively inexpensive and user-installable too.

.bh.


For my money the above is the best advice. Canon has the best cost of ink per page even if you use Canon ink. The IP4000 has third party inks that sell for 1/5 the price of Canon inks .

Where printheads are concerned, Canon has had replacable printheads for years incase one is ever needed. I have owned 3 Canon inkjets since 1994 ( BJC600, I750, I850 ) . All still work and none has needed a printhead.


Jim
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,751
980
126
Originally posted by: Zepper
Try to find a last year's model of Canon Pixma (iP3000, 4000 or 5000 - I consider the 4000 to be the sweet spot). The ink savings alone will make the effort of locating one worthwhile. I would even buy a used one before buying one of the current line because they changed the ink tanks in the new line - less quantity of ink per tank and there won't be cloned tanks available for some time if ever (there is an active element in the new tanks while the old ones are entirely passive). Print heads for the old models are relatively inexpensive and user-installable too.

.bh.

You seem to be knowledgeable, didn't Canon switch to Pigment inks for their new printers? I have a ip400 which I love to death. But, even if the print cost went up a decent amount, I'd love to have Pigment inks. I've printed 8x10's on mine that have very visable signs of fading, after only 4 months. I've never used a Brother printer, haven't seen them for sale in the US. But I can say to the OP that Canon's quality is always top notch, and the prices are sweet.
 

13Gigatons

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
7,461
500
126
Originally posted by: QueBert
Originally posted by: Zepper
Try to find a last year's model of Canon Pixma (iP3000, 4000 or 5000 - I consider the 4000 to be the sweet spot). The ink savings alone will make the effort of locating one worthwhile. I would even buy a used one before buying one of the current line because they changed the ink tanks in the new line - less quantity of ink per tank and there won't be cloned tanks available for some time if ever (there is an active element in the new tanks while the old ones are entirely passive). Print heads for the old models are relatively inexpensive and user-installable too.

.bh.

You seem to be knowledgeable, didn't Canon switch to Pigment inks for their new printers? I have a ip400 which I love to death. But, even if the print cost went up a decent amount, I'd love to have Pigment inks. I've printed 8x10's on mine that have very visable signs of fading, after only 4 months. I've never used a Brother printer, haven't seen them for sale in the US. But I can say to the OP that Canon's quality is always top notch, and the prices are sweet.

The IP4000 comes with two blacks the Pigment black is for text the photo black is dye and is for photos. The rest of the colors are also dye.

The IP4200 has the new Chromalife100 which under the right conditions will last 100 years. This means you need to print on Canon Paper and store in a acid free photo album. The inks are all dye still though except for the text black which is pigment just like the IP4000.

Is the Chromalife100 much better then the ChromaPlus....well that is hard to say but they did improve on the fade resistance.

Light and air are what fade a picture but crappy photos albums with acid in the plastic will also destroy the ink.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/contro...=103&key=index&keycode=ChromaLifeIndex
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,751
980
126
I understand what you're saying, but my Epson r200, 8x10's I printed almost a year ago still look wonderful. And I don't take care of them (they just lay around) my i4000, I'm noticing a difference in a few months. I even print on Canon paper, used the same paper on both my ip4000 and r200, the r200 stay better longer go figure :)
 

13Gigatons

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
7,461
500
126
Originally posted by: QueBert
I understand what you're saying, but my Epson r200, 8x10's I printed almost a year ago still look wonderful. And I don't take care of them (they just lay around) my i4000, I'm noticing a difference in a few months. I even print on Canon paper, used the same paper on both my ip4000 and r200, the r200 stay better longer go figure :)


Odd I have ones I printed in May that look great, I printed them with Canon Ink on canon paper { Glossy Photo plus }.

Are you using cheap Generic ink, the stuff from china is really bad.

Formulabs, Hobbicolors or Image Specialist are much better.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,751
980
126
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
Originally posted by: QueBert
I understand what you're saying, but my Epson r200, 8x10's I printed almost a year ago still look wonderful. And I don't take care of them (they just lay around) my i4000, I'm noticing a difference in a few months. I even print on Canon paper, used the same paper on both my ip4000 and r200, the r200 stay better longer go figure :)


Odd I have ones I printed in May that look great, I printed them with Canon Ink on canon paper { Glossy Photo plus }.

Are you using cheap Generic ink, the stuff from china is really bad.

Formulabs, Hobbicolors or Image Specialist are much better.

first prints I did were with the ink that came with my printer, since I have switched to Swift Ink I don't see much of a difference in quality from the Canon inks.