A3 size inkjet printer

photo2k · 13th December 2004

Hello,
I am searching for a A3 inkjet printer mainly for photo printing. I came across a couple of them (canon i6500, $499, i9100 $699, i9950 $749). I guess the main different is either 4 colours, 6 colours or 8 colours. Does it really make a big different in your print out between these printer ? Any comments if I get the i6500 ? Any better recommendation are welcome ?

Thanks a lot.

Neo · 13th December 2004

The simple answer - YES!

While some may dismiss the extra inks as gimmicks to make people buy more ink, the more knowledegable ones who've actually used the printers will tell you otherwise. While I cannot speak on behalf of everyone, personally I can tell the difference between a 4, 6 and 8 colour inkjet photo print. Of course, on some prints it's more obvious than the others, but on the whole the extra inks do add punch and subtleness to your images.

The 6 inks printers basically add more subtleness via gradation with the 2 photo inks (photo magenta and photo cyan). This dramatically increase the levels of gradation in a photo, giving you better details and smoothness in your photos. But this is a old trick already, and many photo printers feature 6 inks. You'll notice that your photo inks will run out much faster compared to the regular 4 inks, so buy a photo printer with individual ink tanks as a favour to your own pocket.

The latest 8-ink printers from Canon actually feature additional red and green inks to the 6-inks, so you get additional "punch" in the red and green chroma. It really makes a difference, especially if you can compare the same print from a 6-ink and 8-ink printer. For me, the truth looked me in the eye when I printed a macro image of a flower with my Canon S9000 and my friend's i9950... man... the difference is like day and night!

Get the i9950... no regrets!

singscott · 13th December 2004

Epson Stylus Pro 4000

kajun_liu · 14th December 2004

Originally Posted by photo2k

Hello,
I am searching for a A3 inkjet printer mainly for photo printing. I came across a couple of them (canon i6500, $499, i9100 $699, i9950 $749). I guess the main different is either 4 colours, 6 colours or 8 colours. Does it really make a big different in your print out between these printer ? Any comments if I get the i6500 ? Any better recommendation are welcome ?

Thanks a lot.

if u get i6500, dun compare with i9950 side by side.
if u do, u'll say

if u dun, u'll be very satisfied with i6500. i owned it b4, after bought i9950,
i neva use my i6500 anymore n sold to my friend...
when printed on third party paper (i'm using konica n mitsubishi),
i6500 is noisy, but sharp...!
i9950 is smooth, but d detail's gone(when u print wallet size or smaller size)...!
but on canon photo paper pro(pricy), it's no problem.

i6500 uses BCI 3 series, it's color fade easier than 6 series(i9950 uses)

photo2k · 14th December 2004

Thank you for the information. How about Epson ? I believe they are more expensive than Canon. I will probably get the i9950.

tim · 14th December 2004

Originally Posted by photo2k

Hello,
I am searching for a A3 inkjet printer mainly for photo printing. I came across a couple of them (canon i6500, $499, i9100 $699, i9950 $749). I guess the main different is either 4 colours, 6 colours or 8 colours. Does it really make a big different in your print out between these printer ? Any comments if I get the i6500 ? Any better recommendation are welcome ?

Thanks a lot.

For a different of only $50 between i9100 n i9950, you don't need to "crack" your head..... I will also suggest to go for the i9950.

If you want a epson... I will suggest to wait till next feb or march (if you can wait) for the new A3+, 8 inks epson....

The current epson 2100 is about 1 1/2 yrs old model. I think the new replacement should be also selling around $900 +/-.

But if you do a lot of B&W n also want a very good B&W cum colour photo printer.... nothing can come close to epson 2100, 7600 and 9600 not even the new R800 or 4000 Pro.

tim · 14th December 2004

Sorry my mistake... I have double checked... the 4000 Pro has Photo Black, Matt Black and Light Black (grey) therefore it's also a good B&W cum color photo printer.

Neo · 15th December 2004

The i9950 shares the same print engine as the iP8500, which incidentally won the Best Performance for Photo Printing (together with the R800) by the latest issue of Hardware Mag. So you'll get very good monochrome printing with the Canon i9950 printer. I've been printing monochrome prints from the i9950 on matte archival photo paper... some prints are slightly cyan, but the majority are very nice b/w... just my 2 cents...

13th December 2004	#1
photo2k Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 72	A3 size inkjet printer Hello, I am searching for a A3 inkjet printer mainly for photo printing. I came across a couple of them (canon i6500, $499, i9100 $699, i9950 $749). I guess the main different is either 4 colours, 6 colours or 8 colours. Does it really make a big different in your print out between these printer ? Any comments if I get the i6500 ? Any better recommendation are welcome ? Thanks a lot.

14th December 2004	#5
photo2k Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 72	A3 Inkjet printer Thank you for the information. How about Epson ? I believe they are more expensive than Canon. I will probably get the i9950.

13th December 2004	#2
Neo Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 947	The simple answer - YES! While some may dismiss the extra inks as gimmicks to make people buy more ink, the more knowledegable ones who've actually used the printers will tell you otherwise. While I cannot speak on behalf of everyone, personally I can tell the difference between a 4, 6 and 8 colour inkjet photo print. Of course, on some prints it's more obvious than the others, but on the whole the extra inks do add punch and subtleness to your images. The 6 inks printers basically add more subtleness via gradation with the 2 photo inks (photo magenta and photo cyan). This dramatically increase the levels of gradation in a photo, giving you better details and smoothness in your photos. But this is a old trick already, and many photo printers feature 6 inks. You'll notice that your photo inks will run out much faster compared to the regular 4 inks, so buy a photo printer with individual ink tanks as a favour to your own pocket. The latest 8-ink printers from Canon actually feature additional red and green inks to the 6-inks, so you get additional "punch" in the red and green chroma. It really makes a difference, especially if you can compare the same print from a 6-ink and 8-ink printer. For me, the truth looked me in the eye when I printed a macro image of a flower with my Canon S9000 and my friend's i9950... man... the difference is like day and night! Get the i9950... no regrets!

13th December 2004	#3
singscott Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: www.whltelightphotographer.com Posts: 1,659	Epson Stylus Pro 4000

14th December 2004	#7
tim Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eastern Singapore Posts: 789	Sorry my mistake... I have double checked... the 4000 Pro has Photo Black, Matt Black and Light Black (grey) therefore it's also a good B&W cum color photo printer.

15th December 2004	#8
Neo Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 947	The i9950 shares the same print engine as the iP8500, which incidentally won the Best Performance for Photo Printing (together with the R800) by the latest issue of Hardware Mag. So you'll get very good monochrome printing with the Canon i9950 printer. I've been printing monochrome prints from the i9950 on matte archival photo paper... some prints are slightly cyan, but the majority are very nice b/w... just my 2 cents...