Previous news story Next news story

dpreview expands to include printer content

Jul 22, 2011 at 23:09:12 GMT

SITE NEWS DPREVIEW

Pin It

Print view

Just added: dpreview printer coverage. Over the past few months we've been expanding our database to include the most popular photo printers. This addition allows you not only to search for printer specifications and information but also to make side-by-side comparisons and contribute your own user reviews. In the coming weeks we'll be adding further printer-related content, including reviews and articles, along with user reviews from Amazon users. The move also sees a rearrangement of the site's top menu to make it easier to find the content you're looking for.

As part of the expansion, Content areas area now separated into Cameras, Lenses and Printers, with 'hub' pages for each category, to make site navigation more straight-forward. You may have also noticed that our search box (at the top right hand side of the page) now auto-suggests products and categories.

Click here to visit the new Printers product page

Comments

Total comments: 29

Scanners and scanner software too, please!

0 upvotes

Glad to see this section up and running and really glad to see Vincent Oliver here. I missed his reviews from PhotoI

0 upvotes

Actually, whilst I am not against more reviews of anything (lets face it, it's the main reason we first came here..) I think there is, to my mind, a distinct lack of progress in the direction of the one thing that all people say is the most important - the lenses!

I would much rather see more lens review...

Kevin

0 upvotes

I would love to learn what printers are best for printing BW fine art prints that last, work all kinds of papers and are beautiful.

Too bad manufacturers don't make a printer just for BW... that would save me money... I wouldn't have to buy the other 5 to 7 inks. Yes, they eventually dry up and die. Going to the store to buy over a half dozen $100 inks is no fun. All I wanted was BW! Some manufactures claim adding some color to your BW prints make 'em better. No way Jose.

0 upvotes

well, the camera and lens tests of dpreview.com are excellent, detailed, easy to read, cover all aspects of the product tested, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and these tests are one of the best on the internet. I'm missing most of this in the printer test. I very much support the idea to expand the scope to printers, it's the other part of taking pictures. What am I missing in the printer test - details of the cost of printing, ink usage (inlcuding waste ink ffrom cleaning), actually measured values of the gamut, UV stabilty of the inks, direct comparisons of printouts side by side e.g. like those tables with test pictures at various ISOs, decription of the actual print setup, quality setting, ICM on/off, actual paper used, comparison of the gamut of the ICM profiles installed wiit the the drivers, actual resolution test for the printout, max D (blackness of the various papers available from tne manufacturers, and a range of other tests beyond easy consumer style reviews.

1 upvote

Your article states that printing at anything less than 180 ppi will render unacceptable results. This isn't true. We often print at lower ppi's with superb results. Your suggestions will force unnecessary software side interpolation to achieve larger physical print size. What you ought to discuss is how you achieve large format prints with no interpolation or re-sampling through the manipulation of ppi. Notice how I used correct terminology as well. Your miss use dpi will further confuse the already low level knowledge of printing there is. Dpi is printer side, ppi is software side and also has nothing to do with resolution. THe resolution is determined by the pixel count i.e the megapixels. I would suggest reconsidering your article as it is going to cause more headaches for us printhouses.

1 upvote

We have just published a new entry-level article on print workflow at http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Guides/printer_primer_part2_01.htm

0 upvotes

how come there are no professional printers in the list? sony updr200, kodak 6800 or other commonly used roll printers?

0 upvotes

I Like the idea, I don't think dpreview wants to get into a "Wilhelm" testing gig, But Ink longevity is a must have for me.

0 upvotes

Good improvement; but what about a flash-database?

1 upvote

CONGRATULATIONS! This is sorely needed for many reasons:

- gathers info about the many machines available from each manufacturer
- encourages valuable user input
-potential for very useful reviews

This area can mature, evolve, and become extremely valuable.

Jack Winberg

0 upvotes

Dpreview are diluting their product: not good.

Hopefully they will produce some method for filtering out news articles that we aren't interested in. There's far too much rubbish that strays from the heart of cameras and lenses.

1 upvote

After reading the first test I think there are a lot of things missing...
Ink consumption and cost, ability to calibrate it, the evaluation of the print (something which can be done by printing a specific print target) of a certain printer after calibration, speed and noise level.
I think that there should be articles in printers' node section for papers and calibrating devices too.

3 upvotes

You are correct, and I would add one more thing: print longevity and durability w.r.t. the ink sets. Dye inks have come a long way, but only if carefully used with the right papers. For my all-in-one I still prefer the all-pigment ink Workforce series (the new 840 has both duplex printing and duplex copying). True, not quite as "photographic" as the printers reviewed here, but at least my everyday color documents don't smear with the least moisture provocation like the dye-based ones do (though at least the HP has black pigment ink).

1 upvote

Printers' section was really missing. I recall that from 2006 a lot of members here were asking for it. Anyway, better late than never... I am writing this text without even seeing the first test...
Printing is absolutely integral with photography and to my opinion no one can call him/herself a serious photographer if he / she does not produce their own prints or involving consistently with the final result.

0 upvotes

What a great idea!

1 upvote

Thanks guys.

0 upvotes

Printer is important, but, there is no screen review yet.
I used to get big print from a good printing shop. The largest one I did was a 160cm x 40 cm landscape.

2 upvotes

Awesome! I swear it feels like printing has gone out of style and people just want to look at the photo at 100% and complain its not sharp enough! Im excited about this! I just got a print last year but when i feel like replacing it...I'll see what you guy recommend!

0 upvotes

Have lens' reviews been abandoned?

1 upvote

No, we're training a new reviewer, and aim to have them back on line before the year is out.

2 upvotes

Awesome! very excited about this!

0 upvotes

before anyone asks, I'd like to point out that no camera reviews were harmed in the production of the new printers section

4 upvotes

Maybe that post should be a news article on its own. I can't believe all the wailing over this, especially since you've repeatedly said as much in multiple posts in multiple threads.

0 upvotes

Brilliant move, and thank you! Just viewed all the new Forum categories you've created and I'm interested in posting to several which currently appear not accessible (Nature and wildlife photography, camera phones, etc.). I click on them and they don't currently open for posts. When will these also be activated?

But in any case, congratulations, you've guaranteed a lot more traffic to your site and have broken down the fanboy tunnel vision in posts (of which we're all at times guilty) in one fell swoop. This is a really exciting move!

0 upvotes

It's a temporary glitch of switching on new forums. The system is 10 years old and it needs a little poke once in a while :)

In any case, they should ready to use now!

0 upvotes

Wonderful, and thank you for the quick response. I'm sure you've been working on this for awhile and I'll just bet you're all watching the reaction like a proud parent! Much deserved, enjoy!

0 upvotes

Great Work guys and girls!

Thanks for all you do!

1 upvote

Fantastic addition. Thank you. I look forward to reading additional content and am especially excited about reviews.

1 upvote

Total comments: 29


DPReview is hiring! Content Editor and Software Manager roles available May 28, 2013	Sign up for the DPReview newsletter today! May 24, 2013	Site update: User reviews Mar 22, 2013	New image viewing options for forums Jan 4, 2013

	Pentax Efina Jun 3, 2013
	Olympus PEN E-P5 May 10, 2013
	Samsung NX2000 May 1, 2013
	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V Apr 24, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Apr 24, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Apr 24, 2013
	Ricoh GR Apr 17, 2013
	Samsung NX1100 Apr 11, 2013
	Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 Apr 9, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix S8400W Mar 22, 2013
	Fujifilm FinePix XP200 Mar 22, 2013

Sobering Sales Numbers for Mirrorless	150
Hmmm AF fine tuning : Bullsh#t	80
New Pentax K-50 leaked	77
Mirrorless & DSLR Jan-April shipment & ...	47
How to turn my Canon PowerShot S3 IS into a ...	44
Thom Hogan: DSLRs going obsolete	42
K5(II) SD Card Door Coming Open	41
Sigma 60/2.8... sigma be damned (for its ...	41
Help me create the best 6D system on a $3500 ...	39
Still no signs of an Olympus f2.8 zoom?	39
Selecting Camera	39
electronic first curtain shutter - on or off?	37
USPS... The worst mail servie in the world	36
Replacing Olympus OM-D with Fuji XE-1 or Xpro-1	32
micro 4/3s , Owls IF	32
Done Deal - Switched to Fuji XE-1 from ...	32
What's Happening to Sony Stores?	31
Focal reducers, why complexity for the sake of ...	30
Too many pixels ? so why not reducing it ...	30
A99 wedding cinematic wedding	28

Your email address:
Your name: