Overwhelmed

Hi

I have been reading these posts for awhile now and feel a bit overwhelmed. I was wondering if someone could recommend a beginners "Kit" for this camera. I am somewhat confused as to the memory stick vs flascards vs microdrives and the pros and cons of each. I would also like some suggestions on the storage media associated with downloading to my pc? USB, floppy or what. Going on vacation and would love purchase the G1 and additional storage media but frankly I am not too sure of what I would need. I would prefer not to carry around my laptop. I think I would go with the 420ex or 550 for the flash, and some extra batteries (which ones? again not too sure) Any help? Thank you all

Joe said:

Hi
I have been reading these posts for awhile now and feel a bit
overwhelmed. I was wondering if someone could recommend a
beginners "Kit" for this camera. I am somewhat confused as to the
memory stick vs flascards vs microdrives and the pros and cons of
each. I would also like some suggestions on the storage media
associated with downloading to my pc? USB, floppy or what. Going
on vacation and would love purchase the G1 and additional storage
media but frankly I am not too sure of what I would need. I would
prefer not to carry around my laptop. I think I would go with the
420ex or 550 for the flash, and some extra batteries (which ones?
again not too sure) Any help? Thank you all

Click to expand...

Hey Joe,

Let me try to address your questions in order:

1) Memory. Your choices are between Compact Flash and Microdrive (the rest won't work). I strongly recommend the Microdrive because you get a lot more Megabytes for the dollar. I got the 340 MB and wish I had popped for the Gigabyte when I spent two weeks in Europe. Whether the Gigabyte is worth the extra money is your choice, though.

2) The USB port is probably good enough (or try it before spending money on hardware.) The software included with the camera can download adequately for you to learn, and there's a free download utility floating around that is much faster. (When you need it, you can send another question to this forum -- lots of us use it).

3) I'd probably go with the 420ex flash.

4) Extra batteries are nice "just in case". I've never run out of juice on the original battery. I can take two or three hundred shots on a single charge, so I wouldn't recommend buying extra batteries until you think you'll need them.

Other items: I'd suggest buying a lensmate adapter and UV filter to protect the lens.

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Thank You its a done deal again thanks

Brent said:

Joe said:

Hi
I have been reading these posts for awhile now and feel a bit
overwhelmed. I was wondering if someone could recommend a
beginners "Kit" for this camera. I am somewhat confused as to the
memory stick vs flascards vs microdrives and the pros and cons of
each. I would also like some suggestions on the storage media
associated with downloading to my pc? USB, floppy or what. Going
on vacation and would love purchase the G1 and additional storage
media but frankly I am not too sure of what I would need. I would
prefer not to carry around my laptop. I think I would go with the
420ex or 550 for the flash, and some extra batteries (which ones?
again not too sure) Any help? Thank you all

Click to expand...

Hey Joe,

Let me try to address your questions in order:

1) Memory. Your choices are between Compact Flash and Microdrive
(the rest won't work). I strongly recommend the Microdrive because
you get a lot more Megabytes for the dollar. I got the 340 MB and
wish I had popped for the Gigabyte when I spent two weeks in
Europe. Whether the Gigabyte is worth the extra money is your
choice, though.

2) The USB port is probably good enough (or try it before spending
money on hardware.) The software included with the camera can
download adequately for you to learn, and there's a free download
utility floating around that is much faster. (When you need it,
you can send another question to this forum -- lots of us use it).

3) I'd probably go with the 420ex flash.

4) Extra batteries are nice "just in case". I've never run out of
juice on the original battery. I can take two or three hundred
shots on a single charge, so I wouldn't recommend buying extra
batteries until you think you'll need them.

Other items: I'd suggest buying a lensmate adapter and UV filter
to protect the lens.

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

I agree with Brent all the way down the line, except that the 128 MB Compact Flash cards have been dropping in price dramatically, and at this point it may be only a little more expensive to purchase one or two 128 MB CF cards (prices now in the $70-$90 range and will continue to drop) and a Digital Wallet from Minds At Work. The Digital Wallet will run on batteries and will allow you to "download" your CF cards to it and free the CF card for more shots. You can select Digital Wallets with capacities ranging from 3 GB up to 20 GB. IF you take your laptop with you, you can probably pass on the Digial Wallet. I have a 1 GB MicroDrive and I've been very pleased with it, but if I were to make a choice today I would consider the Digital Wallet approach very carefully. When I bought my MicroDrive the Digital Wallet and 128 MB CF card would have cost almost twice as much.

Also, Don't forget to pick up a couple of sets of four AA batteries for the 420EX flash-- rechargeable NiMH batteries (1600 milliamp hours or more) and a charger would provide the best price/performance for the long run, although non-rechargeable AA alkaline batteries from any drugstore or supermarket would do in a pinch. Good deals in NiMH batteries may be found all over the Web.

I would get the extra battery for the G1 as well. There are some excellent third-party brands available now that provide greater capacities than the Canon. If you use the LCD very much (likely) it is possible that your battery will run out of juice before you do.

Your printer selection is very important also. I have an HP PhotoSmart P1000, and while it is very good I think that the newer Epson models are better in the long run. I chose the HP because it prints in text mode very quickly and quietly and the ink is cheaper in my area. Epson has a very good model in the $200 range; check out the Printers forum at this site for more details and opinions. As for Ink and paper, IMHO, use the printer's branded ink cartridges, and use cheap photo paper for testing and save the good stuff for final, high-quality output.

One other thing-- You will probably want to pick up a larger hard disk for your computer, or at least purchase a CD burner to make your own CD backups of the photos for permanent storage.

Welcome to a very rewarding (and expensive) hobby!

--rhb

Brent said:

Joe said:

Hi
I have been reading these posts for awhile now and feel a bit
overwhelmed. I was wondering if someone could recommend a
beginners "Kit" for this camera. I am somewhat confused as to the
memory stick vs flascards vs microdrives and the pros and cons of
each. I would also like some suggestions on the storage media
associated with downloading to my pc? USB, floppy or what. Going
on vacation and would love purchase the G1 and additional storage
media but frankly I am not too sure of what I would need. I would
prefer not to carry around my laptop. I think I would go with the
420ex or 550 for the flash, and some extra batteries (which ones?
again not too sure) Any help? Thank you all

Click to expand...

Hey Joe,

Let me try to address your questions in order:

1) Memory. Your choices are between Compact Flash and Microdrive
(the rest won't work). I strongly recommend the Microdrive because
you get a lot more Megabytes for the dollar. I got the 340 MB and
wish I had popped for the Gigabyte when I spent two weeks in
Europe. Whether the Gigabyte is worth the extra money is your
choice, though.

2) The USB port is probably good enough (or try it before spending
money on hardware.) The software included with the camera can
download adequately for you to learn, and there's a free download
utility floating around that is much faster. (When you need it,
you can send another question to this forum -- lots of us use it).

3) I'd probably go with the 420ex flash.

4) Extra batteries are nice "just in case". I've never run out of
juice on the original battery. I can take two or three hundred
shots on a single charge, so I wouldn't recommend buying extra
batteries until you think you'll need them.

Other items: I'd suggest buying a lensmate adapter and UV filter
to protect the lens.

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent said:

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent,
This sounds good to me.
Which printer do you recommend?

Right now, I'd say there are two leading photo quality (6 colours instead of the usual 4) printer makers, both of which will produce amazing results.

1. Epson: long recognized as the choice of imaging professionals. Photo printers available are the Epson Stylus Photo 870/890/875DC/895DC/1270/1280(1290). The first in each pair (i.e. 870/890) is the previous version still available (good deals out there) while the second replaces the first (happened in the last few months). The DC version is for "digital cameras" and have a slot for plugging your memory card directly into the printer so you can make prints without the computer. The 12xx models are wide format and can print up to 13x19. The 1280 and 1290 are the same printer, just numbered differently in different countries. The problem with these Epsons is the ink cartridges have a microchip for measuring the remaining ink level so you cannot easily use cartridges made by other companies with these printers. Also, if you don't use the printer, you have to remember to turn it off or there is a possibility the print heads will clog.

2. Canon: recently came out with a couple of highly praised photo printers which many are saying will produce printes that are equivalent or surpases the quality those from the Epsons. But this is a subjective thing so you'd have to see which you like better. Models are S800 (new) and the BJC-8200. Both have slots for digital film but the S800 only accepts compact flash (perfect for G1 but don't know about CFII/Microdrive support) while the 8200 will accept CFI, CFII and SmartMedia. Benefits of the Canons are that each ink colour is in a separate cartridge so that you can replace them each separately as they run out (Epson has one black and one colour cartridge, the colour one having 5 colours in one cartridge. When one colour runs out, you have to replace the entire thing). Also, the Canon has a user-replaceable print head (which you may need to do at some point if they become permanently clogged). Expensive to do with the Epsons.

More stuff for you to digest.

Ken

Linda said:

Brent said:

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent,
This sounds good to me.
Which printer do you recommend?

Click to expand...

Hello Ken!

Ken said:

Right now, I'd say there are two leading photo quality (6 colours
instead of the usual 4) printer makers, both of which will produce
amazing results.

Click to expand...

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG speach... sorry...

I disagree with Ken in that point, but I suppouse is a matter of taste... some like that way, some don't.

When I bought my printer I was thinking in the Epson photo 750 and the HP 970Cxi, Epson had 6 colors and HP only 4... so I thought Epson would be better...

I check a several pictures printed with both and I saw they were almost identical, I read a lot of reviews in the magazines and some said Epson was better and some said HP was better (In that time, they were the TOP of both companies in home-photo printing). (BTW: If you check a mag comparing two printers, the MOST important thing is what paper brand where they using, some papers are good for some printers and very bad for others. There was an article in PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHERS comparing the papers for a set of printers, the good ones for the brand A were BAD for the brand B and viceversa )

So I wanted to know how HP worked to give that results with only 4 colors, and it's a very different way than the EPSON.

Epson way: very small drops of 6 colors so the eye mixes them and "sees" the color. (It needs a paper which "holds" the drops on place without spreading to the neighbour dots).

HP way: It mixes the colors up in the printer and drops a BIG drop of ink with the "real" color (so CYAN+YELLOW= a green dot) the dot is much bigger than the epson's but it needs no other dots for the eye to "see" green. (It needs a paper that can absorb the excess of ink droped).

I choosed HP because its ink cartridges also had the print heads in them, it makes them more expensive, but when you buy a new set of ink you buy a new set of heads. ( I had a Epson stylus 500 before, and the black header get dirty and there was no way to clean it but sending them to Epson and pay for repairing it... almost the price of a new printer. Two more people in my office had the same problem, and all of us used original inks... maybe was the model, or bad luck, but...).

These are my tastes in printers. I agree that EPSON quality is as good as HP.

Enjoy...

The reason I didn't mention HP was because I have yet to see a print from an HP printer where I cannot see the dots with my naked eye, in particular in transition from white (or very light) to saturated colour. Also, my HP 1120c produced prints that took a long time to completely dry (over a day) and felt "tacky" even long afterwards. I also experienced banding on photo paper. Mind you, the printer Sarbos is referring to is one generation newer than my old 1120 but, although I was impressed with the colour from the newer HPs, I still wasn't impressed with the gradations (I checked out the 1220C as an alternative replacement) as it didn't seem significantly better than my 1120C. It is however, an excellent printer for text...razor sharp like a laser printer.

I guess the best thing for you to do is to visit your local computer store and see the print samples for yourself and to decide based on YOUR personal preferences.

Ken

obviously all of the below is just one opinion/option - hopefully it will give you a starting point for your own priorities. some of the sites listed are "for example", i'm sure there are many varying opinions on the best source

Joe39923 said:

First "phase" (approx $1000)

Click to expand...

• The G1 camera:

http://www.dbuys.com/MAIN/propage.cfm?dept=3&cat=48&subc=48&id=285

• 128mb CF memory:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=20-167-002

• 420ex flash:

http://cameraworld.com/cwc/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=552359&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=134217

(opinion: i would not fall for the "you have to have 1g microdrive" to start with... you can get three times the storage for almost the same price with a decent sized memory card plus a digital wallet. plus the memory cards operate faster and they are less fragile than the microdrives.)

Joe39923 said:

Second "phase" (approx $250)

Click to expand...

• a good tripod: (probably should be in "first phase" if you don't have anything)

http://cameraworld.com/cwc/main/category.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=134909

• The Lensmate:

http://www.lensmateonline.com/G1start.html

• Some filters/lenses: for example: UV, Polarizer, macro, etc.

http://www.dcprodirect.com/new/index.asp?title=8&File=EM%5FFilters%2Ehtm&GroupID=2&categoryid=77

• LumiQuest: Promax system

http://www.lumiquest.com/promax.htm

Joe39923 said:

Third "phase" ($400 - $800)

Click to expand...

• A good printer (if you don't already have one): i like epson, definitely 6 color, size is dependent on need

http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/epson_printers.html

• Tele/Wide lenses: for example: the Tiffen kit or the Olympus ones

http://www.dcprodirect.com/new/index.asp?Title=7&GroupId=8&CategoryID=96&KitId=77&viewkit=yes

• More storage/"vacation" storage: digital wallet, fotoshow, additional CF cards, or microdrive

I was choosing between 6 color Epsons and Canon s800. It looks like the price on HP printers, cartriges etc is too high, so your price per page increases.

Picked up s800, very happy with it. I was using different papers and got great results (you just have to play with the settings for each type of paper). Canon Photo paper Pro is the best. Epson Glossy Photo is economical ($19.99 for 100 sheets at Costco) and produces great results as well. Kodak is pretty good as well.

Ken said:

The reason I didn't mention HP was because I have yet to see a
print from an HP printer where I cannot see the dots with my naked
eye, in particular in transition from white (or very light) to
saturated colour. Also, my HP 1120c produced prints that took a
long time to completely dry (over a day) and felt "tacky" even long
afterwards. I also experienced banding on photo paper. Mind you,
the printer Sarbos is referring to is one generation newer than my
old 1120 but, although I was impressed with the colour from the
newer HPs, I still wasn't impressed with the gradations (I checked
out the 1220C as an alternative replacement) as it didn't seem
significantly better than my 1120C. It is however, an excellent
printer for text...razor sharp like a laser printer.

I guess the best thing for you to do is to visit your local
computer store and see the print samples for yourself and to decide
based on YOUR personal preferences.

Ken

Click to expand...

I own an Epson 1160 and the Canon S800.

The Canon should have better potential, but I haven't gotten the colors perfect (most the colors are all right, but the skies are blotchy). The Canon also has much larger borders.

Between Epson, Canon, and HP, personally I wouldn't worry at all about brand. They all make good printers.

The key factors I would look at:

1) 4- or 6-colors. The 6 colors provide significantly less grain (but I can only see it under a magnifying glass.)

2) Print size/borders. Some printers provide borderless printing. Some provide wide carriages. I don't use the wide carriage on my Epson often, but it is fantastic when I do use it.

3) Cost of ink. Separate cartridges should be cheaper in the long run if you use the printer for photos only. If you use it for photos and normal documents, the math gets a little more tricky. Also, I haven't yet found nearly as good deals on the Canon S800 inks as I have on my Epson (which Costco sells).

Depending on your needs, I would expect the printer to run anywhere from $150-$350. This really isn't such a bad deal, considering they include ink cartridges that typically run about $40-$60.

In that price range, for the major brands, it seems to me it is pretty much "you get what you pay for." It would be difficult to pick a dud in the bunch.

Linda said:

Brent said:

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent,
This sounds good to me.
Which printer do you recommend?

Click to expand...

Andrew said:

Picked up s800, very happy with it. I was using different papers
and got great results (you just have to play with the settings for
each type of paper). Canon Photo paper Pro is the best. Epson
Glossy Photo is economical ($19.99 for 100 sheets at Costco) and
produces great results as well. Kodak is pretty good as well.

Click to expand...

Andrew,
Where did you get your Canon?
Size?
Good Price?
Easy to use?
Thanks,
Linda

Kevin

Thank you for the web links and I will get the G1 today after much procastrination, of course winning at the slots helped a bit (ha!) Your web link for storage media mentiions Type 1 cards but an earlier post mentions "For storage of images, the G1 supports Type II Compactflash cards. The IBM Microdrive is a Type II card (physically, the difference between a Type I and Type II card is the thickness with the Type II being thicker) and currently provides the largest storage of any of the media formats used in popular digital cameras."

Will the G1 take either? Any help on this? Thanks

KevinS said:

kevin44958 said:

First "phase" (approx $1000)

Click to expand...

• The G1 camera:

http://www.dbuys.com/MAIN/propage.cfm?dept=3&cat=48&subc=48&id=285

• 128mb CF memory:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=20-167-002

• 420ex flash:

http://cameraworld.com/cwc/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=552359&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=134217

(opinion: i would not fall for the "you have to have 1g microdrive"
to start with... you can get three times the storage for almost the
same price with a decent sized memory card plus a digital wallet.
plus the memory cards operate faster and they are less fragile than
the microdrives.)

kevin44958 said:

Second "phase" (approx $250)

Click to expand...

• a good tripod: (probably should be in "first phase" if you don't

have anything)
http://cameraworld.com/cwc/main/category.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=134909

• The Lensmate:

http://www.lensmateonline.com/G1start.html

• Some filters/lenses: for example: UV, Polarizer, macro, etc.

http://www.dcprodirect.com/new/index.asp?title=8&File=EM%5FFilters%2Ehtm&GroupID=2&categoryid=77

• LumiQuest: Promax system

http://www.lumiquest.com/promax.htm

kevin44958 said:

Third "phase" ($400 - $800)

Click to expand...

• A good printer (if you don't already have one): i like epson,

definitely 6 color, size is dependent on need
http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/epson_printers.html

• Tele/Wide lenses: for example: the Tiffen kit or the Olympus ones

http://www.dcprodirect.com/new/index.asp?Title=7&GroupId=8&CategoryID=96&KitId=77&viewkit=yes

• More storage/"vacation" storage: digital wallet, fotoshow,

additional CF cards, or microdrive

Click to expand...

I got my Espon 870 about a year ago when I purchased my first digicam ( a lowly Kodak DC280) and I've been more than pleased. Using Epson Premium glossy or semi-gloss paper, prints are nearly indistinguishable from photographic prints.

One other BIG (IMHO) plus with the Epsons is the ability to use roll paper. I buy the 4" rolls of Premium paper and it prints out 4X6 prints end to end so all you have to do is cut them at the adjoining ends. A mini sliding blade paper cutter is perfect for this job. The 1290 will also take larger roll paper so you can print 8X10s the same way.

Ken said:

1. Epson: long recognized as the choice of imaging professionals.
Photo printers available are the Epson Stylus Photo
870/890/875DC/895DC/1270/1280(1290). The first in each pair (i.e.
870/890) is the previous version still available (good deals out
there) while the second replaces the first (happened in the last
few months). The DC version is for "digital cameras" and have a
slot for plugging your memory card directly into the printer so you
can make prints without the computer. The 12xx models are wide
format and can print up to 13x19. The 1280 and 1290 are the same
printer, just numbered differently in different countries. The
problem with these Epsons is the ink cartridges have a microchip
for measuring the remaining ink level so you cannot easily use
cartridges made by other companies with these printers. Also, if
you don't use the printer, you have to remember to turn it off or
there is a possibility the print heads will clog.

2. Canon: recently came out with a couple of highly praised photo
printers which many are saying will produce printes that are
equivalent or surpases the quality those from the Epsons. But this
is a subjective thing so you'd have to see which you like better.
Models are S800 (new) and the BJC-8200. Both have slots for digital
film but the S800 only accepts compact flash (perfect for G1 but
don't know about CFII/Microdrive support) while the 8200 will
accept CFI, CFII and SmartMedia. Benefits of the Canons are that
each ink colour is in a separate cartridge so that you can replace
them each separately as they run out (Epson has one black and one
colour cartridge, the colour one having 5 colours in one cartridge.
When one colour runs out, you have to replace the entire thing).
Also, the Canon has a user-replaceable print head (which you may
need to do at some point if they become permanently clogged).
Expensive to do with the Epsons.

More stuff for you to digest.

Ken

Linda said:

Brent said:

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent,
This sounds good to me.
Which printer do you recommend?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hi all,

Why did you choose to buy a printer rather than use an online photo site such as ofoto, photoaccess, or whatever? Use of an online site seems so much easier and cheaper than dealing with your own printer that I am sure that I'm missing something...

Thank you,
Teffy

Joe39923 said:

Your web link for storage media mentiions Type 1 cards but an
earlier post mentions "For storage of images, the G1 supports Type
II Compactflash cards. The IBM Microdrive is a Type II card
(physically, the difference between a Type I and Type II card is
the thickness with the Type II being thicker) and currently
provides the largest storage of any of the media formats used in
popular digital cameras."

Will the G1 take either? Any help on this? Thanks

Click to expand...

The G1 will take either Type I and Type II cards. I use Type I CF cards in mine (2 x Kingston 256MB).

In a way, I have an advantage that the newer Epsons don't
have with my older one, but a printing at 8.3 x 10.6 costs me
about 80 cents per sheet using Office Depot paper and Ink
carts from All Lazer Supply. My older Epson does not have the
chip problem to deal with. When I can get good quality 8x10's
from an online source for 1$ a copy, I will give them a try.

Teffy said:

Hi all,

Why did you choose to buy a printer rather than use an online photo
site such as ofoto, photoaccess, or whatever? Use of an online
site seems so much easier and cheaper than dealing with your own
printer that I am sure that I'm missing something...

Thank you,
Teffy

Click to expand...

It's cheaper to print your own than use an online place. As far as it being easier, well that's not really the point. I feel that a big point of owning a DC is that you can do everything from start to finish yourself, from seeing the scene to getting a printout. Printing is a whole art in itself, and when you print out your own photo yourself and it looks really cool, it is a very satisfying experience. I love it!

I'm using a G1 and a Epson 875DC i got for $69 from officemax when they were on closeout. You can get cheap inks and good service at http://www.atlex.com . I use the epson premium glossy photo paper which is a bit expensive (~ 50 cents a sheet) but looks really nice. Also printing out panoramas on glossy photo roll paper is pretty cool!

Teffy said:

Hi all,

Why did you choose to buy a printer rather than use an online photo
site such as ofoto, photoaccess, or whatever? Use of an online
site seems so much easier and cheaper than dealing with your own
printer that I am sure that I'm missing something...

Thank you,
Teffy

Click to expand...

You folks are talking about ink-jet printers, right? How do they compare in print quality and print longevity to the dye-sublimation (is that the right term?) that the online print makers use?

Hilbert said:

I'm using a G1 and a Epson 875DC i got for $69 from officemax when
they were on closeout. You can get cheap inks and good service at
http://www.atlex.com . I use the epson premium glossy photo paper which is
a bit expensive (~ 50 cents a sheet) but looks really nice. Also
printing out panoramas on glossy photo roll paper is pretty cool!

Teffy said:

Hi all,

Why did you choose to buy a printer rather than use an online photo
site such as ofoto, photoaccess, or whatever? Use of an online
site seems so much easier and cheaper than dealing with your own
printer that I am sure that I'm missing something...

Thank you,
Teffy

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I've tried papers from HP and Epson, every grade produced by each, and there is no comparison to Pictorico White Film. It is a nylon plastic with a ceramic coating. Amazing stuff. Also comes in rolls.

I have an HP 970cxi. People sometimes don't believe me prints (on Pictorico white film paper) aren't film.

Bors

Ken said:

1. Epson: long recognized as the choice of imaging professionals.
Photo printers available are the Epson Stylus Photo
870/890/875DC/895DC/1270/1280(1290). The first in each pair (i.e.
870/890) is the previous version still available (good deals out
there) while the second replaces the first (happened in the last
few months). The DC version is for "digital cameras" and have a
slot for plugging your memory card directly into the printer so you
can make prints without the computer. The 12xx models are wide
format and can print up to 13x19. The 1280 and 1290 are the same
printer, just numbered differently in different countries. The
problem with these Epsons is the ink cartridges have a microchip
for measuring the remaining ink level so you cannot easily use
cartridges made by other companies with these printers. Also, if
you don't use the printer, you have to remember to turn it off or
there is a possibility the print heads will clog.

2. Canon: recently came out with a couple of highly praised photo
printers which many are saying will produce printes that are
equivalent or surpases the quality those from the Epsons. But this
is a subjective thing so you'd have to see which you like better.
Models are S800 (new) and the BJC-8200. Both have slots for digital
film but the S800 only accepts compact flash (perfect for G1 but
don't know about CFII/Microdrive support) while the 8200 will
accept CFI, CFII and SmartMedia. Benefits of the Canons are that
each ink colour is in a separate cartridge so that you can replace
them each separately as they run out (Epson has one black and one
colour cartridge, the colour one having 5 colours in one cartridge.
When one colour runs out, you have to replace the entire thing).
Also, the Canon has a user-replaceable print head (which you may
need to do at some point if they become permanently clogged).
Expensive to do with the Epsons.

More stuff for you to digest.

Ken

Linda said:

Brent said:

In order of priority: a 1-Gig Microdrive, Lensmate Adapter and
protective filter, and a 420ex flash (perhaps with Omnibounce
adapter, around $20).

Do you have a good photo printer, ink, and paper? If you have to
choose, I'd wait on the flash if you don't have a printer.

Click to expand...

Brent,
This sounds good to me.
Which printer do you recommend?

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