photo printer recommendations?

[RichardM]

It looks like our old workhorse HP OfficeJect G85 is on its last legs. We need to replace it with a new printer/copier/scanner and will use it for printing lots of pics (up to 8x10, but mostly in the custom 4x6 to 5x7 range) and the occasional b/w printout, etc. We'd prefer to stay under $100 and get something that doesn't drink ink like crazy. Any recommendations?

[Sotol Vista]

as far as all in one printers that do great at 4x6, 5x7 and some 8x10's that will also do good black and whites, its going to be hard to find one for close to $100.

I have a HP Photosmart C6280, printer, scanner, copier (no need for a fax option for me) its network ready and love not havening to do print sharing through my PC so the wife can print. It does a great job at 4x6 and 5x7 and does a fair job at 8x10's so your image quality for 8x10 prints needs to be excellent or your results will not be what you intended

I think I paid $199 when I bought mine about 8 months ago

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000UY3O22/interactiveda8702-20

James

[RichardM]

We're currently looking at the HP C5580, which can be bought for $110 from newegg.com. However, I read a bunch of horror stories of software installation problems for it as well as other HP printers like the C6380. One reviewer got it narrowed down to a M$ IE8 incompatibility. Others have mentioned it being "touchy" about its USB connection. I already have lots of problems with my USB2.0 card I installed last year, so that doesn't give me any warm fuzzies. I really didn't want to have to buy a new PC right now, but that may end up being added to the list as well...

[presidio]

It looks like our old workhorse HP OfficeJect G85 is on its last legs. We need to replace it with a new printer/copier/scanner and will use it for printing lots of pics (up to 8x10, but mostly in the custom 4x6 to 5x7 range) and the occasional b/w printout, etc. We'd prefer to stay under $100 and get something that doesn't drink ink like crazy. Any recommendations?

I have an HP Photosmart D7460 that works well. As to drinking ink? Well, that's mostly a sole function of what you are printing and how large. I find the yellow ink goes the fastest.

Whatever you buy...be sure to get one that uses individual ink cartridges so you aren't tossing unused ink because one color ran out. This is such a no-brainer it amazes me that combo cartridge printers still are being made.

I would definitely get a dedicated printer and stay away from multifunction units....they work, but don't do any one function well.

[bdann]

I would go with something like this:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63075470  It is $149.99 over at Amazon. 

Has wi-fi, 6 inks (which is a good thing, like Presidio said), etc.  Personally though, I gave up on printing photos at home and ditched my photo printer.  You can have them printed for you cheaper and better quality than you'll get from a cheap photo printer. 

[RichardM]

Personally though, I gave up on printing photos at home and ditched my photo printer.  You can have them printed for you cheaper and better quality than you'll get from a cheap photo printer. 

I do a mixture of home printing and photo lab prints. Most of the home stuff is prints my wife wants "right now" or custom sizes for photo frames. Kinda nice to be able to whip out a 4.625x6.75 or whatever rather than sending off for a 5x7 that then has to be cropped. Of course, I can always edit before sending off to the lab, but the whole point of having the printer at home is for convenience. If a high-quality print is needed, I usually send it out to the pros. I do, however, need to be able to print the occasional document and absolutely need to be able to scan.

[bdann]

Personally though, I gave up on printing photos at home and ditched my photo printer.  You can have them printed for you cheaper and better quality than you'll get from a cheap photo printer. 

I do a mixture of home printing and photo lab prints. Most of the home stuff is prints my wife wants "right now" or custom sizes for photo frames. Kinda nice to be able to whip out a 4.625x6.75 or whatever rather than sending off for a 5x7 that then has to be cropped. Of course, I can always edit before sending off to the lab, but the whole point of having the printer at home is for convenience. If a high-quality print is needed, I usually send it out to the pros. I do, however, need to be able to print the occasional document and absolutely need to be able to scan.

yea, I know what you mean...I have a nice scanner at home and just a regular ink jet printer for printing regular documents.  I ditched my photo printer mostly out of frustration with the expensive ink and the sub par results.  I've heard and read good things about the newer Epson photo printers though and would consider getting one if I ever decide to jump back into printing photos at home. 

[RichardM]

Anybody have any familiarity with the Canon Pixma photo printers? The MP480 seems to be a decent budget option at $78. Its biggest drawback is that it doesn't have an auto-power feature. You have to turn it on whenever you want to print. Although, with a four year old in the house who loves to play on the computer, I'm not sure if that's a bad thing. After all, if she's already figured out how to switch from my account to hers without any help (we're running XP Home), so it's only a matter of time before she figures out how to print.

The Epson Artisan looks like it might be a good one for photos. And of course, they all seem to go thru too much ink far too fast. My big worry is I'll go buy a new printer, then find out it's really my old PC that needs to be replaced.

[presidio]

Although, with a four year old in the house who loves to play on the computer, I'm not sure if that's a bad thing. After all, if she's already figured out how to switch from my account to hers without any help (we're running XP Home).

Now that's some real danger in the home.

[bdann]

Although, with a four year old in the house who loves to play on the computer, I'm not sure if that's a bad thing. After all, if she's already figured out how to switch from my account to hers without any help (we're running XP Home).

Now that's some real danger in the home.

yea, you may want to go back and review this thread: http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/other-stuff/china-syndrome-t7176.0.html      

[RichardM]

I ordered the Epson Artisan 700 from the online Epson shop. Went with the free shipping, so it'll be a week or so before I can give any feedback.

[Lorax]

The Epson Artisan 700 is awesome.  I bought it be cause it fit my budget.  I typically have prints done by snap fish.  The Artisan with two paper supplies allows you to prints anything then swith to pictures with a second stock of paper.  The Artisan is all I use.  I'm not certain of the costs since I've only had it since November.  I've printed lots of pictures and I'm still using the original cartridges.

Ted

[RichardM]

I ordered the Epson Artisan 700 from the online Epson shop. Went with the free shipping, so it'll be a week or so before I can give any feedback.

Had to stop by Fry's to pick up a new USB 2.0 PCI card, as the cheapo one I installed last year ain't working. The test page printed during setup looks fine, but the first 4x6 photo I printed looks like complete crap. Hopefully that's a short-term thing, otherwise I'll be shipping it all back to Epson.

[RichardM]

I hate my PC and apparently the feeling is mutual. Now I can't get my camera to connect. Neither the old USB2.0 slots nor the new ones will work with the Canon software. It keeps disconnecting the camera. The original equipment USB 1.1 ports still work. What is it about USB that makes it so damned tempermental? I'm able to connect my cell phone via the new port and it connects just fine.

[RichardM]

Hmmmm, second 4x6 photo is worse than the first, and that's after deselcting the "high-speed" option.