Recommendations for Photo Printer

jclin10

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I'm looking for a high quality photo printer. I don't anticipate needing it to print bigger than 8x10. It doesn't need to be an all-in-one as I already have that covered. If it can print off of an iPhone that would be a nice plus.

Any recommendations? Thanks!
 
I'm looking for a high quality photo printer. I don't anticipate needing it to print bigger than 8x10. It doesn't need to be an all-in-one as I already have that covered. If it can print off of an iPhone that would be a nice plus.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
Short answer: if you expect to print only low volumes, and if space is not a big issue, then the Canon iP8720 may be your best bet, or if space is an issue, then an Epson XP-8700 may be your best bet. But if you expect to print relatively high volumes, then an Epson ET-8500 is more economical on ink. And if although you don't anticipate needing to print larger than 8x10", if you think you might like to be able to do so, then the iP8720 and the Epson step-up model ET-8550 can both print up to 13x19", the latter being more economical on ink in a higher-volume setting.

Longer answer: much depends on your budget, your standard for "high quality", your available space, and your anticipated printing volume. Out of what's sold new in the U.S. today, there is no photo printer, or general-use inkjet printer with enhanced photo-printing capability, that doesn't either also include a scanner (i.e., an all-in-one) or print 13x19" or larger.

On the issue of high quality, by some standards / definitions, you don't get Canon's top photo-printing quality until you step up to the Pro-1000 (currently $1299, prints up to 17x25" sheets), and you don't get Epson's top photo-printing quality until you step up to the P7570 (currently $4525, prints up to 24"-wide rolls). However, if you don't demand highly-archival prints and mostly want to print on 'regular' photo papers like glossy, semigloss, and luster, then you would probably find all the printers listed in the short answer above can make very nice photo prints.

On the issue of budget, there is nothing under $229 that even arguably has enhanced photo-printing capability. But the devices listed in the short answer above are $229, $300, $700, and $600, respectively. Yes, at the moment the larger-printing ET-8550 is actually on special cheaper than the smaller ET-8500.

On the issue of space, if you need to fit the printer into a small space, then check carefully, and remember that most printers need to open trays and such considerably larger than when they're 'closed up' / not in use.

On printing volume: the Epson ET-8500 and ET-8550 are 'tank' printers whose ink is much cheaper per volume than the Canon iP8720 and Epson XP-8700 'cartridge' printers. The downside is you pay a lot more initially. Which makes more economic sense depends on how much you print.
 
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Having the same needs, I got a DNP DS-820A professional dye-sub 8” wide. Not cheap, but built like a tank and trouble-free. The prints are also more durable than inkjet ones.
 
I'm looking for a high quality photo printer. I don't anticipate needing it to print bigger than 8x10. It doesn't need to be an all-in-one as I already have that covered. If it can print off of an iPhone that would be a nice plus.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
The Epson EcoTank printers e.g. ET8500 / ET8550 soon work out much cheaper in through life costs due to the cheaper ink cost. Assess the break even point compared to cheaper printers in a spreadsheet taking account of purchase cost and ink cost per photo.

For me the ET8550 was cheaper than a Canon Pro 200 after c. 60 A4 prints:



efcf5c3a762e4dc5a4c6ca2139643e8d.jpg.png
 
I'm looking for a high quality photo printer. I don't anticipate needing it to print bigger than 8x10. It doesn't need to be an all-in-one as I already have that covered. If it can print off of an iPhone that would be a nice plus.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
The Epson EcoTank printers e.g. ET8500 / ET8550 soon work out much cheaper in through life costs due to the cheaper ink cost. Assess the break even point compared to cheaper printers in a spreadsheet taking account of purchase cost and ink cost per photo.

For me the ET8550 was cheaper than a Canon Pro 200 after c. 60 A4 prints:

efcf5c3a762e4dc5a4c6ca2139643e8d.jpg.png
I don't understand how that is calculated unless you print identical pictures on all those printers to measure. I do however believe you that on the long run, the Epson ET8500 is a winner for the OP, but since the ET8550 is more expensive than the ET8500, I don't think there is a point in recommending that, unless the OP intends to print larger than A4 also. I am very happy with my ET8550 and would not hesitate buying it again if the current one would need a replacement. Also, knowing what I know about the ET8550, if I could turn back time and would need to buy my first photo printer as I did two years ago, I'd still go for the ET8550. But I print mostly larger than A4. If I'd print mostly smaller I'd buy the ET8500. These are really very good printers, even if calculating print costs is not that simple.

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I'm looking for a high quality photo printer. I don't anticipate needing it to print bigger than 8x10. It doesn't need to be an all-in-one as I already have that covered. If it can print off of an iPhone that would be a nice plus.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
The Epson EcoTank printers e.g. ET8500 / ET8550 soon work out much cheaper in through life costs due to the cheaper ink cost. Assess the break even point compared to cheaper printers in a spreadsheet taking account of purchase cost and ink cost per photo.

For me the ET8550 was cheaper than a Canon Pro 200 after c. 60 A4 prints:

efcf5c3a762e4dc5a4c6ca2139643e8d.jpg.png
I don't understand how that is calculated unless you print identical pictures on all those printers to measure. I do however believe you that on the long run, the Epson ET8500 is a winner for the OP, but since the ET8550 is more expensive than the ET8500, I don't think there is a point in recommending that, unless the OP intends to print larger than A4 also. I am very happy with my ET8550 and would not hesitate buying it again if the current one would need a replacement. Also, knowing what I know about the ET8550, if I could turn back time and would need to buy my first photo printer as I did two years ago, I'd still go for the ET8550. But I print mostly larger than A4. If I'd print mostly smaller I'd buy the ET8500. These are really very good printers, even if calculating print costs is not that simple.
The cost quoted is simply the purchase cost of the printer plus the ink cost for the number of prints stated based on the manufacturer's specification of the average number of photo prints assuming all inks are used equally.
 

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