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LeeG · Oct 28, 2003, 10:08 PM

Hey all-

I am looking at getting 2 photo printers (1 for me, one for dad). I would like them to be upper-level in the consumer arena (no pro level/pro priced gear), and have good OSX driver support. These are to be used with iPhoto and 3-4MP dig cameras for photo printing only - no text.

Things I appreciate (none are deal breakers):
-multiple color ink carts (replace 1 at a time)
-CD printing
-good quality pictures (most important)

Please let me know your experiences...cost - and cost of supplies, speed, OSX-friendliness, and most importantly, quality...

Thanks,
Lee

popstand · Oct 29, 2003, 12:19 AM

Hey there,
if you are looking for highest quality you'd want a dye-sublimation printer. They use the same process as one hour photo machines, so the prints are indistinguishable from professional ones. The color is layed down in three colors followed by a water-proof UV resistant clearcoat. I have a canon CP-200 and i love it. The print size is limited but they are great for photo album snapshots. The paper and ink packs can be bought from amazon for $19.00 for 36 prints. That works out to 53 cents a print, and since you print only the shots you like it's a pretty good deal. I got mine for $150.00. I use it with photoshop, since I like to tweak my photos a lot, so I'm not sure how well it integrates with iPhoto, but it probably works. Hope this helps.

FlatLyna · Oct 29, 2003, 04:57 AM

Hi LeeG

I've been very happy with my Canon S900 and its speed, print quality and driver support, its worked flawlessly for me in Jaguar and now Panther (native drivers).

I'd previously been an Epson user, but got fed up with their rediculous priced ink carts and their tendency to have head/nozzle blocks if not used regularly.

Having the seperate ink tanks on the Canon is a real plus, and I've had the printer make perfect prints after being laid up for 3 months. I've always considered HP's head on ink cart to be ideal for the infrequent user, but never liked the print quality.

Good luck with your choices!

mbryda · Oct 29, 2003, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by LeeG:

Things I appreciate (none are deal breakers):
-multiple color ink carts (replace 1 at a time)
-CD printing
-good quality pictures (most important)

Please let me know your experiences...cost - and cost of supplies, speed, OSX-friendliness, and most importantly, quality...

Your 2 options are Canon and Epson. Both are excellent printers and will make excellent prints.

If you want to print on CD's, only Epson will let you do that.

Canon currently is the fastest.

I've been a happy Epson user (880 and 875DC), but I played with the Canon 900 at the Apple store this weekend and was impressed by it - FAST and great quality. Canon may be my next printer.

Timo · Oct 29, 2003, 08:17 AM

You might want to spend some time at the printers and printing forum of Digital Photography Review:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1003

We got a Canon i950 and have been pretty happy with it.

GORDYmac · Oct 29, 2003, 09:04 AM

For what you are looking from the Epson Stylus Photo 960 is your printer. Separate ink carts, direct to CD printing, and exceptional photo quality.

My current printer, the Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX creates perfect photos. The photos from iPhoto/Kodak Ofoto look the same as the Epson prints.

Epson also recently released other printers with the above features, check out their website.

OldManMac · Oct 29, 2003, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by GORDYmac:
For what you are looking from the Epson Stylus Photo 960 is your printer. Separate ink carts, direct to CD printing, and exceptional photo quality.

My current printer, the Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX creates perfect photos. The photos from iPhoto/Kodak Ofoto look the same as the Epson prints.

Epson also recently released other printers with the above features, check out their website.

As the very satisfied owner of an Epson Photo 960, I agree.

Hydra · Oct 29, 2003, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by KarlG:
As the very satisfied owner of an Epson Photo 960, I agree.

Same here with the 960. CD/DVD printing means no more crappy labels in my future. Prints borderless 4x6, 5x7's, roll paper w/ auto sheet cutter (very cool by the way) and even a thoughtful little basket to catch the photos as they are chopped off of the roll. Excellent color and detail and Epson's big variety of HQ papers. I found that you can find new packages of 100 Epson 4X6 Premium Glossy borderless (one of the best papers out there IMHO) for under $10. Under $0.10 per print plus ink (even if it's another 10 cents per) is very reasonable.

Epson just released some new printer today so you might want to check our what that has though, Stylus Photo R800.

-Jerry C.

emdash · Oct 29, 2003, 02:34 PM

<broken-record>

Epson Stylus Photo 2200 all the way!! Truly amazing.

</broken-record>

talisker · Oct 29, 2003, 03:01 PM

The Canon i865 and i965 models (the revised i850 and i950) now come with CD printing attachments. Unfortunatly for those of you in the USA, you get slightly different models (the i860 and i960) which don't have that capability.

tooki · Oct 29, 2003, 03:18 PM

I have an i850 and love it, excellent photo quality (the i950/960 is better still!), fast, great drivers (included for OS 9, download for Jaguar, included in Panther), works great with OS X's printer sharing.

Maybe someone will figure out how to get the CD printing attachment for the U.S. version of the printers.

tooki