Which a3 printer?

hi

I'm looking to buy a A3 printer but don't know which one. Has anyone got any ideas on which one I should buy.
Cheers
Christine.

I brought a Epson 1400 printer its a great printer no problems plus you can pick them up for around £300 Cheaper is the Epson 1290 which prints A3 this is cheaper still the only problem I have found with the epson if you dont use it at least once a week the head may block so run a nozzle check once a week and you should be ok.
robin.

Many post similar to your Christine

BUT

for forum members to answer in a specifically helpful manner, you really need to spell out what you intend to do with the printer, as otherwise it's a bit like asking "what car should I buy"

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS

Basically Christine, is it for hobby use only ie you don't intend to sell prints or for a business use. For hobbyists, Epson 1400 or Canon Pro9000Mk11. Both capable of producing excellent prints. To keep costs down, use OCP ink. Here in the UK we can buy ready filled cartridges for the 1400 at around £20 a set from Internet-ink.co.uk and these also are filled with more ink compared to the original Epson ones. For Canon again OCP ink is recommended and to refill the original cartridges using the German refill method - a technique fully described over on Nifty-Stuff.com inkjet forum.

If you intend to sell prints then you really want prints which will have archival qualities and that comes with using pigment inks as opposed to dye based - the Epson1400 and Canon Pro9000 are both dye based.

Many contributors to this forum will recommend buying the Epson Pro3880 as opposed to the Epson R2880 simply because of the volume of ink supplied in the 3880 makes it a bit of a bargain compared to the 2880 and it has the added benefit of allowing you to print up to A2,

Hope this helps, there are lots of posts on this subject so happy searching.

John Archer
Edinburgh

johnpeeay said:

If you intend to sell prints then you really want prints which will have archival qualities and that comes with using pigment inks as opposed to dye based - the Epson1400 and Canon Pro9000 are both dye based.

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I would comment on that John that I use inkjetfly.com pigment inks in my 1400 but also that I used dye inks for many years (at least 12+) in both the Epson 1160 and earlier, 1200 printers and no fading of any prints on display nor in folios - BUT I do use archival, acid free watercolour papers, which I found, after extensive testing, was the more important component, except that dye inks are best if any glossy type papers are envisaged for regular use.

However, the OP still needs to explain what the printer is to be used for if wanting any really comprehensive reply from any of us.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS

Hi

I am looking to sell my prints, therfore I'm looking for a high spec one.
I've looked at some reviews on the epson and hp a3 printers.
Thanks for everyones help.

The http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/printers/desktop_printers/photo_inkjet_printers/pixma_pro9500_mark_ii uses Canon Lucia pigment inks. It will print just over A3 up to 13" x 19". It has a front feed for heavier paper.

Don't have it but the dye ink version is the 9000 which I could consider if I ever replace my current antique.

I don't know if the Canon 9500 Lucia pigment inks have any anti-clog elements like the new Epson printer inks. If you don't print every couple of days that might be a consideration.

Search this forum for comments on the brands and models mentioned.
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Ron Ginsberg
Minneapolis, MN
Land of 10,000 Puddles

After sitting unused for 3 months, my Epson 1400 (Epson inks)
showed no signs of clogging.
I followed Epson's advice: Leave the machine on all the time and
do a cleaning cycle before turning it off for long periods.

I've had no problems with this machine (which was a refurb).
It replaced my 1280 which lasted 9 years.

I have the impression that HP gave up developing new A3 photo printers.

For the most consistent long life prints the Canon 9500 or a Epson pigment printer seems to be the best choice. With dye based printers you can get very short lived prints if you choose the wrong combination of ink and paper. With good combinations you probably get a good enough life expectancy. But never reach the aging performance of pigment inks.

new snapper99 said:

I am looking to sell my prints, therfore I'm looking for a high spec one.
I've looked at some reviews on the epson and hp a3 printers.
Thanks for everyones help.

Click to expand...

Granted, the Epson 3880 is a little bigger than (but not by much) and a little more expensive than (but not by much, if you count the price of ink) the Epson 2880, but I don't think you'll be disappointed in it for a professional, mid-volume, top quality printer.

See my thoughts here:

http://www.bobrockefeller.com/blog/epson-r1900-to-3800.html

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Bob
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Bob Rockefeller
Richmond Hill, Georgia

Bob Rockefeller said:

Granted, the Epson 3880 is a little bigger..... but I don't think you'll be disappointed in it for a professional, mid-volume, top quality printer.

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I agree, simply from a running costs perspective, it's hard to recommend any A3 printer. The 3880 puts you into a different league, and makes using OEM ink more palatable. If you're new to printing, having to consider 3rd party ink from the get go, is a path to print hell. Hassle free printing requires a reasonable skill set, which is best acquired without fiddling with your machine to much.

Bob Rockefeller said:

See my thoughts here:

http://www.bobrockefeller.com/blog/epson-r1900-to-3800.html

Click to expand...

Nice Bob.

For me, the R1900 is a perfect fit, given that I print in relatively small amounts, mostly on gloss surface and almost no B&W. There are a lot of people like me, I suspect.

But as Bob points out, for matte, B&W, larger print and larger volume of printing the 3880 makes infinitely more sense. That last point is really critical. I suspect the difference between the 3880 and the 2880 costs are made up after the first ink set, or so, is used in the 3880. Less costly printers can approximate the output of the 3880 but in any sort of volume it becomes increasingly viable.

Of course there is a continuum of progressively more economical-per-print machines but the entry cost goes up as well. Still the 3880 might well be the sweet spot of compromise in cost per printed square inch and sitting around idle with expensive ink loaded.

Bruce

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http://www.pbase.com/misterpixel

One thing the OP may consider, if a dye based printer meets her needs, is to shop for a new Canon Pro9000 Mark II on sites like eBay or craigslist. With the number of them being sold by Canon DSLR owners who took the printer deal, she could get a great deal on a really nice printer.

tony22 said:

One thing the OP may consider, if a dye based printer meets her needs, ...

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It’s been almost 7 years since I switched over to a pigment based printer and I'm wondering how smudge and water resistant the newer dye based inks are now. That’s a question…not a statement Our focus typically seems to be on longevity, not durability but that is or should be an important consideration when selling prints.

Bruce

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http://www.pbase.com/misterpixel

hi

thanks to everyone for all the advice, think im going to buy the epson 3880, im sure i wont be disappointed.