Recommend Photo Quality Printer?

[AQR8]

I am looking for a consumer level photo quality printer. I currently have a HP 820Cse good printer but can't handle photos well. Seems like I hear Lexmark, Epson and Hp mentioned. Does anyone have specific recommendations and suggestions? I'd appreciate your input. Thanks.

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

If speed is not a big issue, I would recommend the Epson 640 (old 600 series) or the 800 series (1440 x740). Hp has one printer that goes all the way to 2400 dpi but I haven't tried yet. If you use Photoshop and calibrate both the Printer and the Monitor, these printer would give you an excellent output. If speed is a big issue, i would consider hp's.

[Susan]

Another vote for Epson for its quality print, though I have found and seen that the print heads can get clogged and the printer then needs servicing.

Second best I would say Hewlett Packard because the print heads are built in to every new ink cartridge and are easily replaced/repaired.

Hey, I have an Epson that sits with nothing to do because of having both the black and yellow clogged...anyone know how to unclog the print head on these?

[Mntsnow]

Personally I will recommend the Lexmark printers..Namely the Z51, 5700, 3200 or even the discontinued 2050 printer as I have had/used all of these models. They all support 1200x1200dpi printing and make excellent photo quality pictures (even great resualts on standard paper!)

Mntsnow

[socalgal]

I have in my office at work an Alps MD-5000 printer. The quality is truly outstanding for photo quality prints. It's a micro dry process and layers the colors on the paper, so it's not very speedy, and uses 8 (I think) cartridges, including black, w/options for gold or silver foil.

Alps Printers (http://www.alpsprinters.com/)

[BC]

The Alps IS a good one. I have a Lexmark 2050 it does not do 1200x1200 it was good for the time though. And Cheap. That is what Lexmark puts to the table low$. I just upgraded to an HP Photosmart p1000 And let me tell you. WOW! With a capitale W!. If you have a digital camera and a best buy/ Compusa near you take you memory down and print off a Sample from your own. Thats what I did. It will read smart media and compact flash without a comp. When you use good paper too the picture is outstanding. These printers are not cheap, but I am not going and taking my pictures down to Wal-mart and scanning them in and getting copies anymore. They are about $400, however, you can find some deals out there I just picked mine up for $237 shipped. But I did a lot of E-coupons to get that price. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Gotta love Christmas on the web.
Check out valueamerica.com they have it for $400 shipped and if you go through a site called ebates.com you get 10% back I think.
Sorry but thats all the help I can give ya,
BC

[GB]

ALPS 5000. My friend bought this one. $600.
On regular paper prints semiglossy.
Haven't seen any other printer that prints like that.

[seti]

I have an Epson Stylus 800. I would have a tough time sujesting this printer for one reason...It takes for-freak'n-ever to warm up. Though once it does it shoots out a reasonable 8ppm black and white, and goes to 1440dpi. It's kind of a utility printer...can do everything well just nothing exceptional. It's just someone sujested this printer and if you're looking for a photo specific printer you should look elsewhere. As this only has a 3 colour cartridge.

Oh Susan, on my printer I push the "clean printer head" button. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif There's one for the bw and one for the colour. They're the only buttons under the hood. It might be different for you based on your model...perhaps try this site.
http://support.epson.com/productpages.html

[This message has been edited by seti (edited 12-06-1999).]

[daveleau]

Epsons do print well but they tend to fall apart fairly easily. HP has durability and now has great print too in the P1000. The P1100 even prints double sided pages. The resolution is true photo grade and not limited to 1440 or 2400 dpi. it runs aound 400 for the P1000 and 500 for the P1100. All of the alps i have run into are EXTREMELY slow but they do have excellent print.

In a nutshell- noone can touch HP since they have released their current line.

[Susan]

seti, I did the clean print head routine about a dozen times for each and also had Epson Tech Support on the phone.

They told me to get a new ink cartridge, but that didn't work either. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[AQR8]

I appreciate everyone's input on this topic.

BC - I have recently seen the new P1000 from HP while making a quick stop at CompUSA the other evening. I'll take a chip in as you suggested and check the results. Sound very promising indeed. I need to do some checking around but certainly have some good leads.

Thanks to all.

[corvettedoctor]

After 18 months, the HP PhotoSmart and all their Photo Ret II printers are pretty good, If yours isn't working properly check the alignment carefully. I've had also the HP's, 697c,722c(me&sis),672c(mom's) and latest a great 712c. The HP's are reputedly bulletproof, yea right, but the 712 or 812 for $150 is hard to beat. Value America has Kodak Glossy for 19.24/50 sheet, the 882c is stingy on ink usage. my thoughts

[welsh wizard]

Personnally I go for the Lexmark 5700 and above, I used to be an epsom fan till they made it so that the heads on ink jets had to be replaced as a sep item which can cost almost as much as a new printer http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif,
carts might be more expensive on Lexmark but each time you install new cart you get a brand new print head http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
WW