lastboat
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
I was set on an Epson 9900, but now looking at this Canon. Anyone using this printer? ANy info would be appreciated. thanks
Any one using CANON imagePROGRAF iPF8100 ?
- Thread starter lastboat
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Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
I know a lot of people with large format printers (I'm talking very, very large numbers) and the only feedback I have ever heard on the purchase of a Cannon or HP was they are cheaper. The only other comment I have heard is that when the time comes it will be replaced with an Epson. I think that speaks for itself.
Call each manufacturer and inquire about how and where you get service on the printer. If I were buying another printer today, I'd seriously consider both Canon and HP if they have better maintenance options. I'm happy with my Epson but when it shut down for a "required maintenance" there were no good options for servicing the machine. I ended up getting a service manual and doing the maintenance myself.
Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Jay, it seems that a printer that ran with no mainanace needed for 10 years would override the desire for service techs. Would you trade quality and possibly reliability to know someone was in the area.
The printer heads have counters and at specific counts the printer shuts down for required maintenance. Rather you print more or less will determine when you will reach that level but eventually every printer will reach that level. I just hit the first stage. There are more required maintenance points coming. Epson offers very little in the way of service for their machines even though they force the the printers to stop working.
The options they offered me was to pack the machine up and send it off or pay a tech to come from Alabama. Both would easily cost more than the machine was worth. I got a service manual and found a company that would retail Epson parts. It cost me about $50 and one hour to do the required maintenance myself. Why they can't certify local techs to do this elementary repair is beyond me.
You print much much more than many of us do. You may end up with a 2 or 3 year old machine that works great but get's shut down because the print head reached a specific number of passes. I hope there is a local Epson tech that can help but I wouldn't bet on it. If they force a printer to stop working for service then they should offer a reasonable solution to get it serviced. They don't.
I considered buying a new machine rather than doing the maintance becuase they had made it so difficult to get the work done. I suspect that happens often. A local photographer tried to give away a fairly new machine that didn't read one of the carts. Nobody would take it and he threw it away. For all I know it maybe have also needed a $50 fix. He will never know becuase there wasn't any reasonable way to get it looked at.
If I were in the market for a new printer today, I'd at least eyeball the competitors just to see if they also offer this poor level of service. I don't know of any specific quality or reliability issues with the other machines. When I've seen them at trade and photography shows, they seem as good as my Epson.
The options they offered me was to pack the machine up and send it off or pay a tech to come from Alabama. Both would easily cost more than the machine was worth. I got a service manual and found a company that would retail Epson parts. It cost me about $50 and one hour to do the required maintenance myself. Why they can't certify local techs to do this elementary repair is beyond me.
You print much much more than many of us do. You may end up with a 2 or 3 year old machine that works great but get's shut down because the print head reached a specific number of passes. I hope there is a local Epson tech that can help but I wouldn't bet on it. If they force a printer to stop working for service then they should offer a reasonable solution to get it serviced. They don't.
I considered buying a new machine rather than doing the maintance becuase they had made it so difficult to get the work done. I suspect that happens often. A local photographer tried to give away a fairly new machine that didn't read one of the carts. Nobody would take it and he threw it away. For all I know it maybe have also needed a $50 fix. He will never know becuase there wasn't any reasonable way to get it looked at.
If I were in the market for a new printer today, I'd at least eyeball the competitors just to see if they also offer this poor level of service. I don't know of any specific quality or reliability issues with the other machines. When I've seen them at trade and photography shows, they seem as good as my Epson.
Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
I know what you mean on the service and I have found somebody in the area who has done as you did to repair hers. She said it was simple and just figured she'd give it a shot. She has also found a device that resets the ink cartridge to give many extra prints once the printer says it is empty. Isn't the internet a wonderful tool.
I don't know about the current printers from the competitors but the ones of just two years ago did not make several professionals happy. Print quality was not as good and ink fading was an issue in the past. I would hate to have to replace my 9800 but I have already printed around 10,000 pieces on it so if it would die that is a fairly inexpensive tool.
I bet most independantly owned service shops would fix the Epson printers but since they are not authorized centers they don't advertise it. The local copier sales business here fixes wide format but I have never asked if they would work on an Epson.
I don't know about the current printers from the competitors but the ones of just two years ago did not make several professionals happy. Print quality was not as good and ink fading was an issue in the past. I would hate to have to replace my 9800 but I have already printed around 10,000 pieces on it so if it would die that is a fairly inexpensive tool.
I bet most independantly owned service shops would fix the Epson printers but since they are not authorized centers they don't advertise it. The local copier sales business here fixes wide format but I have never asked if they would work on an Epson.