Epson printers

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Barb Pelton

Barb Pelton

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Apr 14, 2002
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We're looking to purchase a new printer for my hubby's photo business. He is considering an Epson 1800 or perhaps a 2400. (He's been using a 1270 for a few years). He's heard different comments, but I was wondering if there is any input from Grumblers on the subject. Likes, dislikes?
 
Barb -
If hubby can wait a little longer, the newer generation of Epson wide format prints will be available. Replacing the 7600 (24") & the 9600 (44"). The newer models have (I think) two additional inks. It has been a while since I've researched these. Anyway, the price difference between the 2200/2400 and the 7600 is minimal & I would opt for the wider 7600.
Have him check out: EpsonWideFormat@yahoogroups.com - it's a pretty good forum - but not as entertaining as TG :D
 
Interesting you should bring this up ... we just bought an Epson 2200 .... replaced by the 2400 on the market ... a HUGE price difference, if you can find one .... we got one through Boscov's Department store after having scoured the net and come up empty. The technology of the 2200 compared to the 2400 is the same ... and the 13" x 44" printing capability is fine for us.

Do what you want, but if you can find one of the last remaining 2200's out there, it'll be worth it (ours was $650).
 
I have not tried a 7600 yet but I can say for a fact that the 2400 is an amazing beast!
Only thing I do not like is that you can not have the gloss and matte black ink tanks in at the same time. You have to switch them out which on an epson can get a little dicey sometimes.
 
Actually, the 7600 and 9600 replacements are out now. I have a 9600 using ultrachrome inks and it is one great machine!! Of course the old adage still holds: garbage in, garbage out. If your system isn't properly calibrated and if you don't have really good ICC profiles for the printer then you will be dissapointed in what comes out of printer.
I just printed a 20x30 piece on canvas for a customer and it came out great! I'm using the printing as an addition to my framing business and it is starting to take off. I had 5 pieces this week alone.
Honestly, if you can afford it, go for the 7600 (7800) as it will print 24" wide from a roll and you can get hyper accurate ICC profiles for it which aren't available for the smaller printers.
Plus, the bigger printer allows you to batch images together into one printing session rather than one at a time.

Actually, the price difference between the 2400 and the 7600/7800 is alot more than minimal. The 2400 is around $850 and the 7800 is around $3,000. Plus the cartridges cost alot more also. It seems the 2400 takes the really small cartridges while the 7800 takes the really big ones.

You will be buying the small cartridges ALOT more than the big ones. It may seem like alot more money to start with but in the long run it will be well worth the extra expense to go to the larger machine.
 
2400 is taking what I would call epsons middle sized ones. They are a lot larger than their smaller (home use) printers but they are not nearly as big as their pro ink tanks.
For $800 the quaity is wonderful!

I have also had the opertunity to try the 7800. Results are amazing!! but.....$2k difference?

Try this! Find you a good printing sales / photography supply place and take an image in and ask for samples
That is what I did. That way you can see the TRUE difference


I own a computer repair / installation business and my customer is a former US army and National Geographic photographer, for him the quality difference did not justify the expense.
 
I love my 7600 and use it almost every day.
the 7600 will take 220ml carts these are almost the size of a vcr tape.

I am considering going to the 7800 it has 3 greyscale inks for true b/w printing.

I use the 7600 for everything from store signage to fine art printing. It will end up costing about 5k for a full set-up including computer, monitor, printer, scanner and Photoshop.
I would suggest going with a Mac based system though.
 
Mark mentioned one of the photographers on another BB he reads discounted one of the models (1800, I think) because he had prints "bronze" when he went to dry mount them. I wanted a little more specifics about how he mounted the prints, but all I've heard so far was it was "low temp".
However, that was enough to put a doubt in Mark's
mind about how the 1800 prints my react during the mounting process.

Also, do you see that one machine preforms on glossy paper better, and another on matte paper better?

Thanks for the responses so far--most helpful!
I'll try to get Mark on here to converse about this. At this point I'm just acting as a go between and he'll have questions that I won't know to ask.
 
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