Affordable photo printer?

Equipment
8 replies•246 views
Daniel Renner avatar
Daniel Renner avatar
I want to print my photos and for that I need a good photo printer. The "Epson xp-970" have good reviews and seems like a nice printer. It also prints A3 which is very nice! Does anyone here use that printer? Or do you have any other recomendations?

My budget is around 250-300 usd.
Im not going to sell my prints, its only for myself, but I still want it to look as good as possible.
I also want to print some monochrome pictures for Ha, OIII etc
Marcelof avatar
Marcelof avatar
The business of printer manufacturers is not the printer itself, but the ink. The printer is delivered at almost cost price, what you have to take into account is the price of the ink and how much you intend to print.

Personally I prefer to use a professional printing service on high quality paper for the few times I want to print some of my astrophotos.


PS: and better not even go into the subject of the ink itself.
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
I have a Canon Pixma G620. It is near the top of your budget and is limited to A4 or 8.5"x14" but it is a 6 colour tank printer. This means that your per print cost is very low and it turns out fantastic images. The next best tank printer is considerably more expensive but can do A3+, the Epson ET-8550. Other than that you can get an Epson XP-15000 which is an excellent 6 ink A3+ photo focused printer but uses cartridges so you get to play that game. There are tank conversions available for it though.
Daniel Renner avatar
Daniel Renner avatar
Joe Linington:
I have a Canon Pixma G620. It is near the top of your budget and is limited to A4 or 8.5"x14" but it is a 6 colour tank printer. This means that your per print cost is very low and it turns out fantastic images. The next best tank printer is considerably more expensive but can do A3+, the Epson ET-8550. Other than that you can get an Epson XP-15000 which is an excellent 6 ink A3+ photo focused printer but uses cartridges so you get to play that game. There are tank conversions available for it though.

I dont know much about printers.. what are the downsides with cartridges? Im not going to print tons and tons of photos... if you look at my gallery I dont have much to display but I need to buy a printer anyway for regular printing. Is the Epson 15000 an updated and better printer than the 970?

I have a regular printer but that uses "regular" ink always when I want to print something the ink have dried so I have to buy new ink.. But these photoprinters uses ink that doesnt dry right`?
Daniel Renner avatar
Daniel Renner avatar
Hmm… After some intense googling I think that buying the prints online is cheaper in the long run!
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
A quick breakdown;

All inkjet printers need to be used once every week or 2 to prevent drying and clogging. It doesn't matter what type, ink etc. Canon printers have easily replaceable print heads in case of extreme neglect. Epson printheads can be replaced but a little more difficult and expensive.

Photo printers have at least 6 inks and some higher end ones have 10 or even more. A standard printer has 4 colours. The extra inks improve the colour accuracy and range. 4 colours can be ok but 5 is my personal minimum. The addition of photo grey can make a very big difference.

The ink comes in 3 distribution methods. Combined cartridges in the cheapest printer put all 3 colours in 1 cartridge. If you run out of 1 colour or 1 colour dries out you need to buy all 3 colours. Better printers will use an individual cartridge for each ink. At least this way you only replace what is needed. The cheapest way to get ink (but the most expensive printers) are tank printers. the ink comes in a bottle and you get a ton of it for very cheap.

I have 2 tank printers and they have been great. I don't really care about running a print through once a week or so because the ink is actually that cheap. My G620 is my photo printer and I have an Epson 4 ink EcoTank that has been converted to sublimation ink for my wife. They both work great if you follow that one golden rule. The XP-15000 is about the least expensive A3+ 6 ink printer out there and is reviewed highly but has higher running costs due to the cartridges. For under $300 you have to pick your compromise. G620 and A4 with tanks or XP-15000 and A3+ but more expensive cartridges. The ET-8550 is both but closer to $700, below are some other options below $300. A cheaper 4 tank printer can do pretty good and not cost an arm and a leg to run. But only A4 and only 4 inks. Then send out prints for anything over 8x10.

Large Format
Canon iX6820 - A3+, 5 Cartridge $299

A4, 4 ink tank system (under $200);
Canon G1220, G5020 or G2260
Espon EcoTank ET-2800
HP Smart Tank 5101
Helpful
Daniel Renner avatar
Daniel Renner avatar
Joe Linington:
A quick breakdown;

All inkjet printers need to be used once every week or 2 to prevent drying and clogging. It doesn't matter what type, ink etc. Canon printers have easily replaceable print heads in case of extreme neglect. Epson printheads can be replaced but a little more difficult and expensive.

Photo printers have at least 6 inks and some higher end ones have 10 or even more. A standard printer has 4 colours. The extra inks improve the colour accuracy and range. 4 colours can be ok but 5 is my personal minimum. The addition of photo grey can make a very big difference.

The ink comes in 3 distribution methods. Combined cartridges in the cheapest printer put all 3 colours in 1 cartridge. If you run out of 1 colour or 1 colour dries out you need to buy all 3 colours. Better printers will use an individual cartridge for each ink. At least this way you only replace what is needed. The cheapest way to get ink (but the most expensive printers) are tank printers. the ink comes in a bottle and you get a ton of it for very cheap.

I have 2 tank printers and they have been great. I don't really care about running a print through once a week or so because the ink is actually that cheap. My G620 is my photo printer and I have an Epson 4 ink EcoTank that has been converted to sublimation ink for my wife. They both work great if you follow that one golden rule. The XP-15000 is about the least expensive A3+ 6 ink printer out there and is reviewed highly but has higher running costs due to the cartridges. For under $300 you have to pick your compromise. G620 and A4 with tanks or XP-15000 and A3+ but more expensive cartridges. The ET-8550 is both but closer to $700, below are some other options below $300. A cheaper 4 tank printer can do pretty good and not cost an arm and a leg to run. But only A4 and only 4 inks. Then send out prints for anything over 8x10.

Large Format
Canon iX6820 - A3+, 5 Cartridge $299

A4, 4 ink tank system (under $200);
Canon G1220, G5020 or G2260
Espon EcoTank ET-2800
HP Smart Tank 5101

Thank you for that detailed answer!
Björn Arnold avatar
Björn Arnold avatar
Let me add my few cents to this: what requirements do you have regarding the prints?

If they are high, you need to think about color proofing your images. For that purpose, I agree with @Marcelof and recommend to let the image be printed. Usually you can get the color profiles from the printing company for the desired material and printing process.

If you relax your requirements, I‘m using a Canon Pixma with Canon Ink and Canon Photo paper. I admit, sometimes the images come out excellent, sometimes they don’t. Mostly with respect to black levels. 

In short: if I want a perfect print, I save the money on the equipment and order online. If I want a „casual“ print, I take what my printer can do for me.

CS, Björn
Helpful Concise
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
Björn:
Let me add my few cents to this: what requirements do you have regarding the prints?

If they are high, you need to think about color proofing your images. For that purpose, I agree with @Marcelof and recommend to let the image be printed. Usually you can get the color profiles from the printing company for the desired material and printing process.

If you relax your requirements, I‘m using a Canon Pixma with Canon Ink and Canon Photo paper. I admit, sometimes the images come out excellent, sometimes they don’t. Mostly with respect to black levels. 

In short: if I want a perfect print, I save the money on the equipment and order online. If I want a „casual“ print, I take what my printer can do for me.

CS, Björn

This only matters if you have a calibrated, high gamut monitor. The best you can expect with a standard IPS monitor is SRGB and if you have a TN monitor then forget it all together.  In general an endless rabbit hole.
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