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Photography
Discussion Board -> Photography -> Printers
Printers
::cynlee
08/08/12 3:14 PM GMT
Posted this originally under Desktop art, but not sure it was correct place. So...Not sure if this is the right area for posting, but I'm looking for suggestions for photo printers. Low budget printers. Seems my new Gateway computer died after 25 days, but Best Buy replaced it. There are no drivers for my Canon scanner that work with Win7, so I had to buy a new scanner. Since scanners and all in one printers cost about the same I got talked into an Epson Workforce 645 all in one printer. I am not keen on the Photo quality and have a working Epson Photo R280 already. I heard that Canons are ink hogs, so I am looking for input. Do I just buy a scanner and return the Workforce 645 or find a better all in one? Which brand of printers produces the best photos?
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Hi Cindy,
I guess you would get different opinions from each individual person.
I started with a bottom of the range Epson that came free with my first computer and it printed beautifully. When that died I bought another Epson (Stylus C63) which was ok but no better.
Now I have a Canon Pixma iP4300 - basic but very good. I have no complaints at all about the print quality (5 cartriges) and I find it far more economical with the ink than either Epson was. Using Canon paper and their own cartridges improves quality (its hates kodak paper)
If you have windows 7 Pro you could try installing your current scanner in XP Compatibility mode.
My old Epson printer will not work with my Windows 7 laptop but if I have a lot of text to print I use it on the XP machine and I keep the Canon for photo prints from both machines.
Can not advise on multifunctions - still using my ancient Agfa Snapscan scanner. I have it in the back of my mind that the more functions the more can go wrong but I am probably just and old stick in the mud!
Have you considered an A3 printer? On my wish list - would love to be able to print larger photos, especially canvases.
One thing I like about my iP4300 is that it accepts printing canvas with no problems.
It does auto duplex printing, has two feed trays, and can print directly onto CD's. Can also print direct from camera although I have never done so. I downloaded Win7 64bit drivers for it no problem.
http://www.cnet.com.au/canon-pixma-ip4300-339271902.htm#comments
I guess you would get different opinions from each individual person.
I started with a bottom of the range Epson that came free with my first computer and it printed beautifully. When that died I bought another Epson (Stylus C63) which was ok but no better.
Now I have a Canon Pixma iP4300 - basic but very good. I have no complaints at all about the print quality (5 cartriges) and I find it far more economical with the ink than either Epson was. Using Canon paper and their own cartridges improves quality (its hates kodak paper)
If you have windows 7 Pro you could try installing your current scanner in XP Compatibility mode.
My old Epson printer will not work with my Windows 7 laptop but if I have a lot of text to print I use it on the XP machine and I keep the Canon for photo prints from both machines.
Can not advise on multifunctions - still using my ancient Agfa Snapscan scanner. I have it in the back of my mind that the more functions the more can go wrong but I am probably just and old stick in the mud!
Have you considered an A3 printer? On my wish list - would love to be able to print larger photos, especially canvases.
One thing I like about my iP4300 is that it accepts printing canvas with no problems.
It does auto duplex printing, has two feed trays, and can print directly onto CD's. Can also print direct from camera although I have never done so. I downloaded Win7 64bit drivers for it no problem.
http://www.cnet.com.au/canon-pixma-ip4300-339271902.htm#comments
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My thanks to all who leave comments for my work and to those of you who like one enough to make it a favourite. To touch just one person that way makes each image worthwhile. . . . . . . . . .. . . . "The question is not what you look at, but what you see" ~ Marcel Proust
sorry, double post
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My thanks to all who leave comments for my work and to those of you who like one enough to make it a favourite. To touch just one person that way makes each image worthwhile. . . . . . . . . .. . . . "The question is not what you look at, but what you see" ~ Marcel Proust
Thanks, Lyn. I was hoping someone was home here. lol That was a finely detailed answer to my question and quite welcomed. I still have a few days to decide if I want this Epson Workforce 645 to go back. I don't need the FAX function on it anyway. I have been reading lots of reviews and still it does little to help me make a decision. There are bad things to be said, but mostly good things about both the Epsons and the Canons. It was photo quality and fairly reasonably priced ink that I was striving to obtain in one bundle.
Epson offers little in the way of a guide to help you through setup and they offer no 800 number, so you pay for the calls no matter how long you are on the phone with them. Had I not called, I wouldn't have had a clue about what was wrong with my installation. I do like the wireless feature a lot.
I had my eye on a Canon Pixma MG6220 also and the Epson Artisan 730, which seems to take up too much room in the work area though it is geared toward photo printing and doesn't have a FAX function, but does scan and copy.
The Canons can print up to 8" X 11" photos (unless you buy the wide bed printers), but the WF 645 can print banners, though I am certain no canvas could be used here since the limit on paper size is .44mm. I had a Canon Pixma before my Epson Photo R280, which still works very well, but I can't remember why I decided to choose Epson the next time. It may have something to do with the ink costs.
Oh well. Not sure I am happy with Canon either. My shutter on the 7D failed and had to be replaced and Canon wanted too much to fix it. I found a camera repair place that saved me almost $50 on the repair. Now I downloaded a firmware update for my Canon 7D and the photo review screen now reverts to the Quick Info Screen when I want to leave the review screen!
Can't seem to get everything in one package and I am so disillusioned with technology since the new Gateway failed after only 25 days. The store clerk told me they mass produce computers, etc. now and there isn't as much QC as there used to be. The mother board on this new computer should have lasted around 7 years and not 1 month!
Windows 7 also required me to buy a new scanner. I wonder what Windows 8 will have me do.
Thanks again, Lyn. I am going to check out ink prices and base my final decision on that alone since the printers I selected are very comparable as far as review ratings and function.
Epson offers little in the way of a guide to help you through setup and they offer no 800 number, so you pay for the calls no matter how long you are on the phone with them. Had I not called, I wouldn't have had a clue about what was wrong with my installation. I do like the wireless feature a lot.
I had my eye on a Canon Pixma MG6220 also and the Epson Artisan 730, which seems to take up too much room in the work area though it is geared toward photo printing and doesn't have a FAX function, but does scan and copy.
The Canons can print up to 8" X 11" photos (unless you buy the wide bed printers), but the WF 645 can print banners, though I am certain no canvas could be used here since the limit on paper size is .44mm. I had a Canon Pixma before my Epson Photo R280, which still works very well, but I can't remember why I decided to choose Epson the next time. It may have something to do with the ink costs.
Oh well. Not sure I am happy with Canon either. My shutter on the 7D failed and had to be replaced and Canon wanted too much to fix it. I found a camera repair place that saved me almost $50 on the repair. Now I downloaded a firmware update for my Canon 7D and the photo review screen now reverts to the Quick Info Screen when I want to leave the review screen!
Can't seem to get everything in one package and I am so disillusioned with technology since the new Gateway failed after only 25 days. The store clerk told me they mass produce computers, etc. now and there isn't as much QC as there used to be. The mother board on this new computer should have lasted around 7 years and not 1 month!
Windows 7 also required me to buy a new scanner. I wonder what Windows 8 will have me do.
Thanks again, Lyn. I am going to check out ink prices and base my final decision on that alone since the printers I selected are very comparable as far as review ratings and function.
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