High Quality Photo Printers
Dec 20, 2016, 5:14 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Mod note - Moved this into its own thread, since the original bumped an 8 year old thread.
Original thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789629
Original thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789629
Last edited by gfunkdave; Dec 20, 2016 at 11:21 am
Dec 20, 2016, 5:14 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 343
High Quality Photo Printers
I'm in a similar position today but I imagine technology has moved on in the last decade.
I'm looking at:
- Epson Expression Photo XP-760 for proofs + local printing service for finals
- Canon Pixma Pro-1 Printer
- Canon Pixma Pro-100S
- Canon Pixma Pro-10S
By finals, I mean something approaching a fine art print @ A3-ish size with a fair bit being black and white.
I don't want to spend a lot of money on this but I can see trips to the local printing service adding up in time/hassle* and spending on the Pixma's could be worth it just in time/hassle savings....but probably not.
Does anyone have thoughts or opinions on the above printers?
* There is also a certain creative element that is heightened by the constraint of having to wait for the results.
Dec 20, 2016, 6:19 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,100
There's a $250 rebate from Canon right now on the Pixma printers which makes the PRO-100 an astounding value. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_Inkjet.html $130. The Epson has a similar price in the UK but not in the US. There are threads on dpreview like https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53514887 this comparing the Pixma Pro 10 to the 100 but with the $250 rebate the price / value of the 100 is just out of this world.
Last edited by chx1975; Dec 20, 2016 at 6:46 am
Dec 20, 2016, 6:22 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 343
There's a $250 rebate from Canon right now on the Pixma printers which makes the PRO-100 an astounding value. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_Inkjet.html $130.
Dec 29, 2016, 11:25 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Seattle
Programs: AA PLT 2MM+; Marriott PLT
Posts: 16,376
There's a $250 rebate from Canon right now on the Pixma printers which makes the PRO-100 an astounding value. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...to_Inkjet.html $130. The Epson has a similar price in the UK but not in the US. There are threads on dpreview like https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53514887 this comparing the Pixma Pro 10 to the 100 but with the $250 rebate the price / value of the 100 is just out of this world.
Jan 15, 2017, 1:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: BAEC Gold, HH Diamond, Avis PP. Dropped UA*G.
Posts: 41
I compared the Canon and Epson A3 printers and preferred the output quality of the Epson. I spent several hours looking closely at output from both printers, and both were sublime.
Then when I went to order my finger slipped and I upgraded my choice to the SC-P800, though I generally still only print to A3 on it. I really love the monochrome and colour output of this printer a lot.
Then when I went to order my finger slipped and I upgraded my choice to the SC-P800, though I generally still only print to A3 on it. I really love the monochrome and colour output of this printer a lot.
Jan 31, 2017, 2:11 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1
High Quality Photo Printers
Best Overall: Canon Pixma Pro-100
Canon Pixma Pro-100
When it comes to photo printers, the last thing you want to sacrifice is quality for budget. Canon’s Pixma Pro-100 might have some first-time buyers questioning the expenditure, but you get what you pay for with this printer. All photo printer brands like to claim fast printer speeds and great color prints, but Canon backs it up with room to spare. One notable difference between photo printers at lower price points is the use of dye inks over pigment inkjet, which won’t stand up as well to the test of time. Before you raise another eyebrow, rest assured that under proper storage conditions, Canon claims photos from the Pro-100 will last up to 100 years.
Just three buttons decorate the front of the well-designed silver and gray casing: power, cancel/resume, and WiFi. The Pro-100 offers an 8-color ink system that can handle prints up to 13”x19” inches and the main paper tray can handle up to 120 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of thicker stock photo paper. A single-sheet heavy stock input sits at the bottom of the rear of the printer. Weighing just over 43 pounds, the Pro-100 will need a dedicated space but if you’re looking to get serious about photo printing, that seems like a fair trade-off. Setup takes around 15 minutes or so if you’re installing all the utilities and drivers.
Canon Pixma Pro-100
When it comes to photo printers, the last thing you want to sacrifice is quality for budget. Canon’s Pixma Pro-100 might have some first-time buyers questioning the expenditure, but you get what you pay for with this printer. All photo printer brands like to claim fast printer speeds and great color prints, but Canon backs it up with room to spare. One notable difference between photo printers at lower price points is the use of dye inks over pigment inkjet, which won’t stand up as well to the test of time. Before you raise another eyebrow, rest assured that under proper storage conditions, Canon claims photos from the Pro-100 will last up to 100 years.
Just three buttons decorate the front of the well-designed silver and gray casing: power, cancel/resume, and WiFi. The Pro-100 offers an 8-color ink system that can handle prints up to 13”x19” inches and the main paper tray can handle up to 120 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of thicker stock photo paper. A single-sheet heavy stock input sits at the bottom of the rear of the printer. Weighing just over 43 pounds, the Pro-100 will need a dedicated space but if you’re looking to get serious about photo printing, that seems like a fair trade-off. Setup takes around 15 minutes or so if you’re installing all the utilities and drivers.
Apr 3, 2017, 2:59 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 343
I went for the Canon Pixma PRO 1...and now I'm considering building an addition to the house the thing.
It's rather large, but the prints are really quite nice.
Thanks for all the input/feedback.
Apr 4, 2017, 9:34 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US
Programs: (PM)AA SPG (Marriott), Hilton
Posts: 1,040
[US Only]
If anyone is considering a Canon Pixma pro printer, check Craigslist.
As noted upthread, Canon USA has a rebate on the printer. They often bundle the Pro-100 and/or Pro-10 in a rebate with a body and/or a lens.
To increase their rebate, people purchase a bundle, then put the printer up on Craigslist. Some aren't a bargain, but often there is a Pro-100 in a sealed box for $150. Amazon current price is $380 and Canon Direct is $500 (Before possibly generous rebates.)
Caveats: the printer is 'used' even if the box is sealed, and it may be a month or a year old. The Barcode on the box will likely be cut out for the rebate.
If anyone is considering a Canon Pixma pro printer, check Craigslist.
As noted upthread, Canon USA has a rebate on the printer. They often bundle the Pro-100 and/or Pro-10 in a rebate with a body and/or a lens.
To increase their rebate, people purchase a bundle, then put the printer up on Craigslist. Some aren't a bargain, but often there is a Pro-100 in a sealed box for $150. Amazon current price is $380 and Canon Direct is $500 (Before possibly generous rebates.)
Caveats: the printer is 'used' even if the box is sealed, and it may be a month or a year old. The Barcode on the box will likely be cut out for the rebate.
Apr 5, 2017, 8:13 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,867
canons are almost always discounted in 1 way or another. i think they still have the business model of making money through ink.
epsons i never see this. they sell less of em... though quite popular in the photo prosumer community. i enjoy my p600 but also would have liked to have gone with p800 for the extra width
epsons i never see this. they sell less of em... though quite popular in the photo prosumer community. i enjoy my p600 but also would have liked to have gone with p800 for the extra width
Apr 12, 2017, 1:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 148
I think its better to use a professional lab to print your images instead of doing it on your own. You can get much larger selection of print sizes & papers from professional lab (ie. metallic paper). You also dont have to worry about performing maintenance on your printer.
Apr 13, 2017, 9:18 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Ive bought two of the pro-100 canons before, usually they end up being 100$ or 0$ after a rebate.. sometimes in conjunction with buyer a camera, etc. They do VERY nice prints and the quality is certainly mountable and professional print quality. For larger sizes, (over 20x40) I send prints out to my place, but even large mountable I print here..
INK can be spendy, easily 100$ for the whole rack of color cartridges, but one can find even the canon cartridges on sale for 75-80$ and I buy them opportunistically when on sale. It will print a LOT of pictures before running out of even one of the cartridges (obvi B&W would use less of the colors)
INK can be spendy, easily 100$ for the whole rack of color cartridges, but one can find even the canon cartridges on sale for 75-80$ and I buy them opportunistically when on sale. It will print a LOT of pictures before running out of even one of the cartridges (obvi B&W would use less of the colors)
Apr 14, 2017, 5:44 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
I have an oldie but goodie 7 ink Canon MP970 all-in-one photo printer which can print, scan and copy. It has 6 photo cartridges plus a pigment black for documents. The resolution for photo printing is 9600 x 2400 dpi and I have always loved the results. The photo size it can produce goes up to 8.5 x 11 inches which is more than I ever need as most of my photos are either 4x6 or 5x7.
The MP970 is 10 years old and although I have kept it going with deep cleaning, etc it is on its last legs. The dimensions of the printer are 18.5 x 15.5 inches and fits perfectly on my desk and I really don't want an printer much larger as it won't fit properly.
Here is the catch, I want to replace it with an all-in-one photo printer with approximately the same size and it has to have excellent photo printing capabilities and I have yet to find one capable of such high resolution and having as many individual photo color cartridges. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
The MP970 is 10 years old and although I have kept it going with deep cleaning, etc it is on its last legs. The dimensions of the printer are 18.5 x 15.5 inches and fits perfectly on my desk and I really don't want an printer much larger as it won't fit properly.
Here is the catch, I want to replace it with an all-in-one photo printer with approximately the same size and it has to have excellent photo printing capabilities and I have yet to find one capable of such high resolution and having as many individual photo color cartridges. Any suggestions would be appreciated.