Northerner
enthusiast
Reged: 23/01/2006
Posts: 341
Loc: Sydney, Oz (ex. Manchester)
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I've been reading lots of good things about the more 'serious' Epson printers and am very, very interested in taking the plunge. Particularly looking at the R2400 - or possibly the newly announced R2880.
I'm just wondering if people who use these types of printers can offer any advice on this issue, the things going round my head at the moment are;
- Is it worth the investment? Why not just print at a lab?
- How much does it cost per print (ish?) compared to a lab?
- If you've purchased one are you happy with it, would you change it?
I think I've convinced myself (if not my wife!) that it would be a good investment - even if it DOESN'T pay for itself after a couple of years (I think this is a bit of wishfull thinking!). I don't print many photos but think I would print many more if I had a decent printer with which I was happy with the results. We used to develop black and white prints in our bathroom and really enjoyed the whole process of seeing your shot through from capture to print.
Sorry, I'm rambling a bit but was just after some feedback from the people who print their own photos out there!
Cheers,
Graham
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Nic and Graham's photo site...
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LargeFormat
old hand
Reged: 24/10/2006
Posts: 976
Loc: Buckinghamshire and Cumbria
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Mine is a bit larger than you have in mind (4800) but I've been very pleased with it. Although a full set of cartridges costs over £400 they are 220ml each so it is reasonably economical. I can print photographs at A2. I like to have as much control as possible but use a lab for large numbers of small sizes.
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5672
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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I have the Pro3800, again A2. It is more economic to run than the R2400 because the ink is about half price compared to the smaller carts. Also The Epson A2 Premium Glossy photo paper specific to this printer is much cheaper and can be cut to A3 or A4.
It is a bit like owning a Rolls Royce, if you have to ask about running costs, you cannot afford it. 
I use mine for A2 CAD drawings, so it is a necessary buy for me. I would not change it, except for another one.
I had an R2400, the only problem is that eventually it will have to go back to Epson to have the felt pads replaced. That cost me about £130 ish. (ouch). In the Pro3800, the waste cart is replaceable by the user and is only £13 or so. Much better idea,
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
Edited by Monobod (03/06/2008 19:17)
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Northerner
enthusiast
Reged: 23/01/2006
Posts: 341
Loc: Sydney, Oz (ex. Manchester)
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Thanks for the replies 
The trouble is Monobod - now you've got me thinking about the 3800! It's not THAT much more expensive - and I read that it comes with a full set of (larger - as you mentioned) inks, something wich the R2400 does not - when you work out the cost of getting the same amount of ink with the R2400 the 3800 starts to look like the more 'sensible' option! I must admit - the tiny ink cartridges required for the R2400/R2880 are a worry, this makes the 3800 look even better.
I have just got a load of prints back from the second online printing lab I have tried and it is the second time I have been mildly disappointed by the results - hence the serious look at the home printing option.
Thanks for the info thus far.
Graham
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Nic and Graham's photo site...
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5672
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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The Pro3800 also has the slot for both Matte and Photo Black inks, so no need to swap carts in the same slot. The printer automatically recharges the head depending on which type of paper is selected. I was a bit concerned that this might waste lots of ink, but it is not too bad in that department. It is best of course to store up your matte paper work to do a reasonable run at once, so there is less swapping.
This is a really good printer and I think you will save the extra cost in about 18 months on cheaper ink. It does magnificent Black and White or Sepia prints also.
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
Edited by Monobod (03/06/2008 23:32)
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Azzi
member
Reged: 08/05/2006
Posts: 161
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Hi Graham,
Well your post is extremely timely as I have exactly the same dilemma. I continue to be frustrated by the end result from some professional printers eg the same image printed a few weeks apart can have significant differences. I now use a local printer who doesn`t mind me sitting in as he prints - but this is time consuming and he ain`t cheap!
I primarily want to print B & W so any printer has to hit the spot and be economical for this application.
I`ll follow the thread with interest and share any info. I find.
Chris
(Also on the Foundation course)
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 7014
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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I have theR2400. It's an excellent printer. I can't say how much each print costs, I've never worked it out but I print all my exhibition work through it. I'd only use a lab if I was printing out lots of small prints. It doesn't seem overly expensive to run and having total control from capture to print is invaluable to me.
I'd only think of changing it to move up to an A2 printer but so far have had no need. The R2400 has so far (touch wood) been completely trouble free for 2 years.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
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digitravel
Reged: 03/12/2002
Posts: 1088
Loc: south coast uk
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You can get print costs for the 3800 and upwards from here
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Supersonic
enthusiast
Reged: 11/07/2006
Posts: 263
Loc: Surrey
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Another vote for the 3800 here. Mine has been superb - no clogging or any other problem for that matter. And the print quality is great, which is of course the main thing.
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Regards,
Pete
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5672
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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Quote:
You can get print costs for the 3800 and upwards from here
Very useful link, thanks. pro 3800 at A3+ colour on Photoglossy = about £1.84 incl paper.
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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Gordon_McGeachie
Joke Historian
Reged: 19/01/2007
Posts: 3854
Loc: East Yorkshire,
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I am thinking about getting an A3 printer, afetr being asked for ages if I can do that size.
As a Canon printer user and was to go that big I would get either of these.
www.ebuyer.com/product/126586
www.ebuyer.com/product/121326
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She (Avro Vulcan XH558)Took To The Sky Like A Lovesick Angel.
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Northerner
enthusiast
Reged: 23/01/2006
Posts: 341
Loc: Sydney, Oz (ex. Manchester)
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Thanks for all your help!
Graham
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Nic and Graham's photo site...
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HelenEdith
Reged: 05/04/2000
Posts: 125
Loc: S.E.London
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I'm a recent purchaser of the R2400. On the recommendation of some people from this forum, I got myself some Permajet paper, and I'm completely sold on it! I definitely like it better than the Epson paper that came in the test pack with the printer. It's a bit thicker and it really does look like a photograph. The ink dries on it instantaneously, too. What's more, Permajet paper is priced competitively with Epson paper.
Incidentally, Permajet do a continuous ink syster for the R2400. I haven't gone down that route, but it's at the back of my mind to seriously consider it. I'd get the advantages of bulk ink without having to step up to a larger printer, which is something I really don't currently need. The Permajet continuous ink system isn't cheap, but when you consider that a set of replacement cartridges will set you back in the region of £80 (if you shop around) then the CIS doesn't seem all that exorbitant, and it won't need filling up nearly as frequently as you need to change cartridges. I'd probably better see if anybody's got a thread going already about CIS for the R2400 before going on about that too much in here, but it's something that might be worth thinking about.
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HelenEdith
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LargeFormat
old hand
Reged: 24/10/2006
Posts: 976
Loc: Buckinghamshire and Cumbria
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The Permajet route does make a lot of sense. BTW the reviews suggest that the Epson 3800 gives better results than the 4800 at a significant saving as well as carrying both the photo black and matt black at the same time which saves wasted ink on the change over. I don't know whether the 3800 will take the 220ml tanks which are more economical than the 110ml.
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5672
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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Quote:
The Permajet route does make a lot of sense. BTW the reviews suggest that the Epson 3800 gives better results than the 4800 at a significant saving as well as carrying both the photo black and matt black at the same time which saves wasted ink on the change over. I don't know whether the 3800 will take the 220ml tanks which are more economical than the 110ml.
Although the 3800 has a carrier for both Photo and Mat black ink, they share a common print head, so changing ink causes a print head refresh, which does have a 'wasted ink' penalty. The Carts are 80ml.
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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LargeFormat
old hand
Reged: 24/10/2006
Posts: 976
Loc: Buckinghamshire and Cumbria
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Quote:
Although the 3800 has a carrier for both Photo and Mat black ink, they share a common print head, so changing ink causes a print head refresh, which does have a 'wasted ink' penalty. The Carts are 80ml.
Oh, how daft not to take advantage of separate blacks to have separate heads. My 220ml cartridges make me feel a bit better about the extra cost of the 4800 over the 3800. Thanks for the info.
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Northerner
enthusiast
Reged: 23/01/2006
Posts: 341
Loc: Sydney, Oz (ex. Manchester)
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Quote:
Oh, how daft not to take advantage of separate blacks to have separate heads.
Yeah it seems a massive oversight on Epson's part.
Graham
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Nic and Graham's photo site...
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5672
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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The refresh on changing ink is miniscule and takes very little time, so I am not concerned by this. I spent a fortune having my R2400 serviced (about £130) just because the ink pads were full. No such problem with the 3800.
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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