but I will use pigment HP
printers for what they are good at which seriously includes
proofing, fine art media and I also see the 9180 as the best
protrait social phpotgraphers printer.
Neil Snape;
A little background. I own & use a R1800. I have a friend who owns
& uses
a Epson 4800, which I can use at any time. Love taking canidid
portraits.
That is what is fun in photography social photographers mix work and plesure alot.
Thus, relative to your comment, using a HP 9180 as a portrait
social photographers printer. If I bought one, what would I see
differently in my prints; relative to the two Epson printers.
I don't see an image quality gain yet but please bear with me as I have a prototype and I'm only now blasting out prints, measuring, searching etc.
Where the advantage is will be the self cleaning healing heads, 27ml cartridges, Auto calibration, use of all three blacks ( all the K3 Epsons do, not the 1800 or UC's), fast printer too. The screening is very uniwue and the lightfastness bare mounted far superior to Epson K3, a real advantage for prints in albums , fine art canvas that doesn't have to go behind glass.
It's an economical printer compared to the 1800, and 2400 yet the 2400 has quite a few advanced features such as a roll holder . I did just print a 44" print though no problems on the Mac.
I did a specific request for software added to the 9180 specifically for social photographers that will be sure please , but there is no rush to get this printer if you already have an Epson 2400.
I am just going through some Dmax measurements and so far it is just a bit darker in the blacks with an equal tone distribution as the Epson K3. I'll dare say before I done enough printing that it rivals the Epson in image quality, has carbon blacks (like them or not as the older Uc printers were closer to the HP blacks) and a deetail that has to be seen.
So to summerize on a printer that I'm just starting to use it is a serious rival to the Epson printer whichsets the bar high already. It has the most wanted features and some image durability factors that are a better trade off for many, and an intelligent solution for print heads that can become a problem after time. I discussed at length print head design and differences with a senior engineer and thus was / am well aware of the problems of pigments and print heads. HP's solution for this is quite ingenious. So once the few remaining details are ironed out this printer is a good printer to consider for a replacement for an Epson Uc or K3 B or letter sized printer, yet not in an urgence but with an informed decison based on users comments hopefully forth coming here on this very forum.
Seriously considering buying a HP 9180, & would like to get your
thoughts on this topic.Thanks!
--
Neil Snape photographer Paris
http://www.neilsnape.com 
