Epson 870 Cartridge life... first test

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to "Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Thanks for the basic but important information for most people. I did a rough calculation and it turned out a color cartridge should print 46 4x6 prints. Don't know the cost of replacement but assume in the $35 range. That gives about 75 cents per print, excluding the paper. Assuming you could get 3 to 4 prints per paper at around 80 cents per paper, then you are talking about $1 per a 4x6 print. On the per print basis, it sounded a lot compared to regular 35mm prints. I got double 4x6 prints of 24 exp. from Safeway at $4.99 ($5.21 after tax). Adding the cost of film (say $2.00) would total $7.21. Simple math shows digit printing still several times more expensive (although most of the pics from film could be junk just because it's so cheap the develop). On the other hand, people who love digicam would be very cautious about select printing images only for the best.

It's really a personal choice. The digital printing now afford just a different choice with more in-house control by amateurs.

Finally, the cost of digital camera should be considered too. Given the life time (or the time of possession of the camera), how many pics would get eventually printed on paper, and how many would be just web/screen viewing would factor somewhat about the cost of digital printing too.

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Easyn40: Your comments are well thought out. But digital photography offers that irresistable ability to have control over the whole process and print almost instantly. Hard to resist.....Paul Pavlik

Easyn40 said:

It's really a personal choice. The digital printing now afford just a
different choice with more in-house control by amateurs.

Finally, the cost of digital camera should be considered too. Given the
life time (or the time of possession of the camera), how many pics would
get eventually printed on paper, and how many would be just web/screen
viewing would factor somewhat about the cost of digital printing too.

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Digital photography appears to guys' hobby of the 21st century (a small minority of very capable ladies also, I believe). I remember guys' always into the "NEW" technologies at the time. Radios, hi-fi's, new car models, big screen TVs, home theatres,...etc. Digital photography is just like the above. The fact is that only people with $$$ could really get to the newest and coolest.

I personally could not resist the allures of digital photography, but held on for a painful 2 years before buying my first digital camera, a modest Fuji DX-10 (ugh!) last summer for $299 (and a free floppy adapter). I have created and experimented many pics and send others online but never venture the printing part (I know the result would be less than satisfactory). This allowed me to learn enough about the tricks of taking digital photos and I have been paying attention to the evolution of the digital photography (thanks largely to Phil's site).

Now I am ready to advance my hardware to a 2 mgp (yeah, yeah, not 3 mgp but at great prices) buy selling my Fuji DX-10 (believe or not, I could still get $200 for that). All things considered, I think digital photography really is the greatest deal now (compare to PC's, which really has no significant re-sale value once you use for a year or so; or to new cars - we all know how quickly a car depreciates, no to mention the average $20,000 price tag).

Paul Pavlik said:

Easyn40 said:

It's really a personal choice. The digital printing now afford just a
different choice with more in-house control by amateurs.

Finally, the cost of digital camera should be considered too. Given the
life time (or the time of possession of the camera), how many pics would
get eventually printed on paper, and how many would be just web/screen
viewing would factor somewhat about the cost of digital printing too.

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Something is wrong, or else I am calculating incorrectly.

I have been printing 8.25" x 10.75" prints and not really keep track, however I know I have printed close to 40 and am almost finished with the color.

Is this correct: 8.25 x 10.75= 88.6875 sq. in
1104 / 88.6875 = 12.448202 or 12 1/2 prints on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

I know I have gotten more than that.

My setting have been: custom, photoenhance4, majority at 720 dpi (some at 1440 dpi) , microweave on, high speed (sometimes on sometimes off).

someone please check my math or basic assumptions.

Gerrit

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

I'll be the first guy to tell anyone who asks that if your intent is to print most of your pictures your not going to save any money by going digital ! I only print maybe 1/10th of my digital iimages and then it's usually custom enalrgements of various sizes. In this case, my cost to print an 8x10 is much less than having the lab do a 35mm enlargement especially when you consider custom cropping and touch-ups. It's still mostly about "instant" pictures. I'd estimate after about 10,000 prints I'd have saved enough money to pay for all the cameras, scanners, computers and printers....

• John

Easyn40 said:

It's really a personal choice. The digital printing now afford just a
different choice with more in-house control by amateurs.

Finally, the cost of digital camera should be considered too. Given the
life time (or the time of possession of the camera), how many pics would
get eventually printed on paper, and how many would be just web/screen
viewing would factor somewhat about the cost of digital printing too.

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I kept fairly close records on the second cartridge and my total was 2300 sq in. One thing to remember - there is a fair amount of "priming" on the first cartridge. All of the ink lines and head reservoirs have to be filled and charged.

You may find better results on your second one.

FWIW, using discounted supply and media costs, I calculate my print cost is $.16 for ink and .21 for paper. This is using the microperf 4x6.

John

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

John Smith said:

I kept fairly close records on the second cartridge and my total was 2300
sq in. One thing to remember - there is a fair amount of "priming" on
the first cartridge. All of the ink lines and head reservoirs have to be
filled and charged.

You may find better results on your second one.

FWIW, using discounted supply and media costs, I calculate my print cost
is $.16 for ink and .21 for paper. This is using the microperf 4x6.

John

Click to expand...

Joihn Smith said:

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

JOHN

What is microperf 4x6? Different than the Epson 4x4 rolled paper?

Thanks
Marie

(8.25*10.75*40) (8.5*11) = 37.94 or about 38 8.5x11 prints.

Gerrit Pang said:

I have been printing 8.25" x 10.75" prints and not really keep track,
however I know I have printed close to 40 and am almost finished with the
color.

Is this correct: 8.25 x 10.75= 88.6875 sq. in
1104 / 88.6875 = 12.448202 or 12 1/2 prints on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

I know I have gotten more than that.

My setting have been: custom, photoenhance4, majority at 720 dpi (some at
1440 dpi) , microweave on, high speed (sometimes on sometimes off).

someone please check my math or basic assumptions.

Gerrit

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

This is the 4x6 individual sheets that have around a .25" border. They are categorized as "photo paper" on the print driver. Epson p/n S041134. They print very well with Epson Film Factory. The roll stock is really the Premium Glossy Paper and yields a much more photo-like image, heavier substrate, higher gloss, etc. The downside for me is getting the curl out

HTH,

John

Marie said:

JOHN

What is microperf 4x6? Different than the Epson 4x4 rolled paper?

Thanks
Marie

Click to expand...

Several of your premises are incorrect. First, based upon the larger sampling of 870 users, the number of prints expected seems like it's closer to 100, 4x6 prints per color cart. Second, you assume out of the blue that the replacement cost of the color cart is $35, whereas in fact they can be had for around $14--less than half of your estimate. I haven't checked the paper costs.

Also, as others have said the beauty of rolling your own (pun intended) is that you only print the ones you intend to display or give away. On average I'd guess that I print 2 or 3 out of every 36 digiphotos I shoot.

Easyn40 said:

It's really a personal choice. The digital printing now afford just a
different choice with more in-house control by amateurs.

Finally, the cost of digital camera should be considered too. Given the
life time (or the time of possession of the camera), how many pics would
get eventually printed on paper, and how many would be just web/screen
viewing would factor somewhat about the cost of digital printing too.

John said:

I just finished-off my first color cartridge on the Epson 870. The
warning light came on half-way through a 8x10 and the print finished
without a problem. I've kept a record of everything I've printed and it
came out to 1104 sq. in. So far I've used nothing but the original Epson
Photo Paper (S041141 & S041134). The print properties were always set to
"Photo Paper" and mode on "automatic".

• John

Click to expand...

Click to expand...