Please recommend a printer!!!

I have always been loyal to HP...printer, paper, ink. But after having done much research, reading many reviews, and spending hours on the phone with HP with no results, I am just sick, and strongly considering another brand.

I know there have been many discussions on the topic of printers, so if you have a link, I would appreciate it.

In the meantime, I am looking for a simple inkjet printer that scans, copies, & prints excellent quality photos. (I don't need it to be wireless, fax, touchscreen, or any other fancy capabilities). It just needs to be Win7 64-bit compatible, print on cardstock, and have a flatbed scanner.

One other thing, I live in the middle of nowhere, & my Walmart only carries a limited supply of replacement inks. I would prefer a printer that only uses 2 ink cartridges---black & color.

I'm at my wit's end....so any suggestions will be appreciated!!!

What I learned when I asked the same question was that none of the home printers will match the print quality of a professional photo printer. So I send out my order online and print out a draft of my photo on my home printer so I can work on my LO while my photo is being printed. Currently I use Costco. It's fast, convenient and cheap but I've heard you can get even better quality photos elsewhere. I'm going to look into that and see if I can see a difference.

Barbara

I have a Canon MP640R. LOVE it. I've had it two years and no problems. It prints, scans (flat bed), and copies beautifully. Less than $200. I print photos and digital stamps all the time. It handles cardstock and thick, watercolor paper just fine.

I use a variety of photo paper with it. Sometimes, I just use cheap photo paper. It just depends on the photo. Other times, I'll use my expensive, high quality photo paper.

I agree that home printers are not going to give me the quality that a professional photo finisher can....I too use online services to get most of my prints. But occasionally I like to print my own photos.

I guess, the main thing I want to do with my printer right now, is scan old photos (fast) LOL, and be able to save them to my computer until I have time to work with them. (But since my new HP printer wouldn't work, I'm hooked up my old printer, and it doesn't work very well).

I've been sitting here for days searching for a new printer (and my butt is hurting). I am researching my options in Cannon printers right now. So far, the reviews are good on the Cannon Pixma MG5220--$59.00 at walmart. (I'm not looking to go cheap, or concerned with ink costs, just the ability to get ink replacement cartridges locally).

Well back to my search..... Thanks for your input Barbara!

This doesn't fit your criteria exactly but...

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=C11CB88201

or

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=C11CA74211

the first link takes 4 ink cartridges and the second takes 6. The ink lasts a good long while ( I own and use 3 Epson printers) and the print quality is outstanding. I buy my ink (90% of the time anyway) directly from Epson and ink and paper ship for free, which is the only reason I'm ignoring your criteria of 2 ink cartridges.

FYI... the Epsons with the 6 ink cartridges printed on good quality Epson paper, match or exceed lab produced prints. I've done side by side comparisons.

Never had a Cannon Printer....so not to run down anone who has one.....But I read a lot of reviews on the Cannon MP640 and the biggest complaint is that with mutiple ink cartridges, if one color (say red) runs out, not only can you not print in black & white, but you cannot even scan a picture. I'm sure this isn't the case with all their printers...just reviews on this one at Amazon.

I did look at the Epson545 Workforce, and read all reviews and I like it!!! Great price, accepts multiple paper types, and most of the reviews were excellent. Hmmm....need to look at this one more.

Thanks!!!

• Love 2 Learn Said:

This isn't true. You simply have to push the "ok" button on the printer and carry on. I do it all the time.

My regular printer is HP, but my photo printer is Epson. I love it. I thought I'd hate the 6 color cartridges, but it really does save me money - because I run out of certain colors faster and only have to replace those. I don't have a good recommendation for you since mine isn't a scanner, but the quality of the Epson printer is awesome. I do buy the 5-star luster photo paper though. It's more expensive, but once I tried it I couldn't use anything else. It's professional looking. Plus, I send away most of my prints too, so I'm just using my printer for the odd sizes, pics I want right now, etc.

• moxiegirl23 Said:

I should read ahead. THIS!

• Love 2 Learn Said:

You're welcome. I forgot to add that when I was looking for a home printer, I was concerned also about archival quality as well as photo quality. I learned that iif I want to preserve my photos for future generations, I had to make sure I got a printer that used pigment based inks rather than dye based inks and Epson has a good one but it was around $800 and I didn't want to spend that much. If you find out anything different , I'd be very interested.

Barbara

I have a kodak printer that I love, does great on printing pics and the inks are really reasonable at wal-mart.

I have the Epson Workforce 545 and I love it. I'm out of Magenta ink so I need to replace that but I have printed in B and W and scanned stuff with no problems.

I just bought the epson arctic 725, may have been one Liz linked, I didn't click over. $200 printer for $100. Haven't played with it a lot yet but did a few copies and photos and think it works great.

My goal is to scan a bunch of old photos and be able to print a few here and there when working on a LO and I want different size or color. I ordered an extra black ink. I learned during my research that the 6+ ink cartridge are better quality photos and the ink lasts longer.

I have owned Canon, epson, and HP and I will say Epson is the worst and has the absolute worst customer service. I will never buy one of their products again. I had problems with the Canon but their customer service was fantastic, and I haven't had problems with the HP's.

We finally got a separate flatbed scanner and laser printer and each is much better than the all in ones. Our scanner will auto scan 3 pictures very fast, at better resolution and will also scan negatives. We used to have a all in one Epson and it didn't do any one of them well (jack of all trades, master of none).

Our color laser works great and toner lasts a very long time. It took four years of fairly heavy printing before we replaced the first one on our black and white and we haven't replaced any on the color. DH wouldn't let me get a color laser because he was worried about toner costs till he realized how long they will last. Good luck with your decision but I would stay away from Epson.

There is a new HP that I saw someone recommending that is 99.00 and is an all in one. Can't remember who it was but I know it's a name scrapbooker that I'm always impressed with her photos on her layouts.

I have the Canon MP620. Although it does use more than 2 ink cartridges, I think it does a very good job. It scans, prints and copies. It prints borderless photos also. I don't print a whole lot at home, but what I have has turned out well. I did go through a period of time where I was using a cheaper replacement ink instead of Canon brand. I finally figured out when I bought the Canon brand it lasted SO much longer. I also copy a lot of my son's school papers and the ink has lasted forever.

There is a new version of this printer. It is the MG5320. I don't know a lot about this one, it is just the upgrade to the one I have. It is a little over $100.

I bought my printer from Amazon and that is also where I buy my inks. I got free shipping and it is very quick. I usually keep a set of ink cartridges on hand so I never run out.

LEXMARK! It does everything AMAZINGLY and the ink is extremely cheap! I tell my printer I love it all the time!

• foltzy Said:

This is good to know!!

• CorrieW Said:

Thanks for your observations! I was leaning toward the Epson 545, but Customer Service is very important to me.

Spent an hour on phone with HP troubleshooting my new printer...they said no problems with software...and they would escilate it to hardware techs & get back to me in a day or 2. It's been a week with no call. So I'm done with HP, and I was able to return my printer to walmart for a full refund.

Sooooo many printers to choose from and so much to think about...printer quality, ease of use, photo quality, pigment or dye ink, customer service. I tend rely heavily on customer reviews when making purchases.

Just wondering....Does anyone know if all online photo finishers use pigment ink?

Off to look at some Cannon printers.

Online photo finishers do not use ink. They use a chemical and silver halide crystal process. In a nutshell, the paper is light sensitive because of layers of silver halide crystals that are layered onto it. Color comes from layers of Magenta, Cyan and Yellow dye that is also activated based on exposure to light. The image becomes visible after being put through a variety of chemical baths.

I've also had wonderful experience with Epson's customer service, which is part of the reason I have 3 printers from them all at the same time. Customer Service is important to consider, but I wouldn't make it the deciding factor based on other people's experiences... I just know who I won't give my business to again based on my direct experiences with them. What annoys me greatly might be minor in your eyes and vice versa.

Another Epson fan who is absolutely sure her Epson prints better than the average commercial print.

I have the Artisan, it does more than you want it to, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

Msceejay, which artisan do you have? I have the 50 that I use for everyday things.

Good info Liz! So does this process make a photo last longer than ink processed?

Also, I agree that I should not make my decision solely on other people's experiences. But, when I am considering a purchase, I do read reviews (in order from lowest to highest), and if there are 20 people out of 100 saying they have had the same problem with something, then I take that as a red flag to stay away from that particular product. It doesn't mean I won't buy another product from that company, just not that one.

That's why I don't buy newly introduced products either....because they haven't been reviewed yet.

How else is a person to decide whether or not to purchase something...if not by reviews from people who own it?

It depends on who makes the paper (Fuji Crystal Archive II is rated for 100 years, if I remember my photo lab manuals correctly but Kodak is significantly shorter) how old the paper is, how well the chemicals are mixed and how old or used the chemicals are.

As for how does one decide upon purchasing... I tend to rely on the opinions of people I know and trust instead of internet marketplace reviews by strangers. Or I go to a store and play. And play some more. And maybe ask a few questions when I go back to play a third time.

Liz you seem to know a lot about this subject. Have you worked in the industry? (I did read that paper quality is very important in the lifespan of the processsed photo). Do you use an online photo finisher, and if so, who do you recommend?

Unfortunately, I live about 2 hours from any city that has a lot of stores (except Walmart). So I don't have the luxury to play or test products for myself.

I spent 10 years working in and managing photo labs. One lab I worked in was a semi professional lab that in addition to one hour customer work, we did custom enlargements up to 24x36 as well as processed black and white film and slide film. Other labs were strictly consumer labs with very high standards.

I print at home. When I stopped working in the camera store/photo lab, I could not find anyone who would consistently produce an acceptable photo print, including my former co-workers. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for, and because I know what lab overhead costs are, I tend to stay away from the 2 cent print sales because I don't those labs will produce consistent quality work... not for those prices.

Paper quality is important, but proper storage and handling is also important. I could have photos printed on the best paper under the best conditions using the best chemicals to process them, but if I leave them out where the sun can beat down on them all day and it's overly damp/humid, the prints are not going to last a darn.

Continuing my search for the perfect printer...if there is such a thing? LOL

So far I have looked at many Epsons & Cannons. Some of my top choices are Epson 545 & 840, and Cannon MX882, PixmaMG5220 or 5320.

Wish me luck....suggestions are still appreciated!!!

I really like my Epson PictureMate. I think the prints turn out just as good as photo lab quality. Mine is the older version, but it gives you the option to print 4X6, 3X5, 2-3X4's, 2 wallets and micro's (I think?). It also has SD slots so you can just plug and print, and allows you to zoom, choose color, sepia or B&W as well as a few other basic photo enhancements all without the computer, although it can be hooked to the computer if needed. I just use my Canon Pixma (which I just got 'cause my HP got damaged by my 2yo) for all scanning and then use the Epson to print them off. The only downfall is that the paper/ink comes packaged together and it's kind of pricey, $30 for 100 sheet/ink set, but for printing off different sized scrapbooking photos that are lab quality, it works great.

I also used to work in a photo lab printing photos, I have an Epson PictureMate, I have had it for quite awhile and I think it is GREAT! The only drawback is the 4x6 size. I use a new HP for larger and custom printing at home. I bought it because it has AirPrint and I can print right from my iphone!! Love it and the prints are pretty good! (Good Price too)
I usually send out my vacation hundreds of photos! You would certainly want to test which company works best for you !!

Got my new printer last night at walmart. It's a Cannon MG5220 for $59.00. I LOVE it!!! Although it's wireless, I hooked it up today with USB cable and I did it all by myself!

I scanned, copied, printed a photo from sd card and Picasa, printed a word document, e-mail, and a page from internet. Also did a Print and Cut from my Silhouette.

Everything seems to be working fine, however, tomorrow I must hook it up wireless, because it is too big for my desk, and I don't want to buy a longer cable.

Thanks for your suggestions!!!!

Usually I don't print larger than 4X6 for my pages so the picturemate is perfect, especially if you just need 1 photo right now (which always seems to me my case LOL). I just got a Canon Pixma for Christmas and it supposedly has the air print, too. I haven't tried it yet but do love the wireless capabilties -- so handy. Haven't tested it with pictures yet so I don't know what kind of quality I'm looking at. I think it has the capability of doing 9600 X 2400 dpi which I think is supposed to be pretty good, so we'll see.

That's the one I just got for Christmas, can't beat that amazing price. I got one for my Mom too. And since she is technologically challenged I wanted something easy for her to use and it definitely is. Have you tried photo's yet? I haven't tried mine for that yet but am anxious to see how good the quality is. We got it to replace our old HP as more of a everyday and wireless printer (perfect for hubby's laptop).