Epson R210/230/250/350 Which one to get??

[di0nysus]

Seems to be leaning to epson over canon for homeprinting, is the consensus that epson is better than pixma printers?

Search CS and found that many were happy with their R210, now there're like a few new models, am quite blur about them,

anyone with any advice/comments over them? all are 6ink.

another tier up would be R800 with 8 inks.

thanks!

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by di0nysus Seems to be leaning to epson over canon for homeprinting, is the consensus that epson is better than pixma printers? Search CS and found that many were happy with their R210, now there're like a few new models, am quite blur about them, anyone with any advice/comments over them? all are 6ink. another tier up would be R800 with 8 inks. thanks!

Well, the R210 is already replaced by the R230 although there isn't any major change to the system at all. The R250 is interesting because it is using 4 inks instead of 6 by using 1pl drops to replace the light colors, which may be cheaper to run. The R350 is like the R310 although it has now a built-in LCD for control.

R800 is a pigment inks and is quite good actually, but at a significant price difference (2x of R250, 3x of R210)

[di0nysus]

Thanks watcher~! went to both canon and epson showrooms. canon svc was better, printed on 5200 and 8500...8500 is better (of cos?), @epson, only manage to print on R350, which is the same quality as R230, which turns out to be quite neutral and darker than pixma8500. the lady there was 'surprised' that i wanted sample prints, was trying have to get the R1800 going (which is the same as R800 but is A3 in size), cldn't select the required paper, and the print turned out crap.

so R210 is basically the same as R230? cos now R210 is only like $160++ i can't find R210 side by side tieh R230 comparison.

The sample print from R1800 is damn bloody nice though!

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by di0nysus Thanks watcher~! went to both canon and epson showrooms. canon svc was better, printed on 5200 and 8500...8500 is better (of cos?), @epson, only manage to print on R350, which is the same quality as R230, which turns out to be quite neutral and darker than pixma8500. the lady there was 'surprised' that i wanted sample prints, was trying have to get the R1800 going (which is the same as R800 but is A3 in size), cldn't select the required paper, and the print turned out crap. so R210 is basically the same as R230? cos now R210 is only like $160++ i can't find R210 side by side tieh R230 comparison. The sample print from R1800 is damn bloody nice though!

Well, paper selection is critical to the output... Believe me, it can get a lot more finicky.

As for the R210 vs R230, yeah, as far as I can tell. They use even the same inks if I'm not mistaken. The only difference I heard so far is a more steady CD-printing tray which I have not seen it myself. The R210 is really cheap at $160. If you are not critical, it is fine.

The R1800 is actually more enhanced the the R800 in terms of output. Most won't know it but Epson had stated that according to their tweaking, the R1800 can print up to 97% of the gamut of AdobeRGB vs 78% on the R800 (the numbers may be a bit off).

As for the R800 vs 8500, you can read it here. Mind you that the longevity on pigment inks on the right paper is impressive.

I'm using R1800 myself so I can tell you the colors are stunning.

[di0nysus]

hm...R1800 better than R800 even though same inks? think i'll head down to wheelock to get them to print sample prints from these 2 and see if got difference.

can one tell the difference between prints from FDI and high end epsons?

one vibe is printers are in 'A' sizes, while albums are in 'R' sizes...one will have to trim to fit the prints.......quite a hassle? A4 is too small for 8X12...sigh...$$$$$

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by di0nysus hm...R1800 better than R800 even though same inks? think i'll head down to wheelock to get them to print sample prints from these 2 and see if got difference. can one tell the difference between prints from FDI and high end epsons? one vibe is printers are in 'A' sizes, while albums are in 'R' sizes...one will have to trim to fit the prints.......quite a hassle? A4 is too small for 8X12...sigh...$$$$$

To be honest, yes, but it would be hard to see the difference between R800 and R1800. Should be able to in the more saturated blues and reds (IIRC).

FDI output has a smaller gamut to high end Epson, although it is not that noticable. The reason is that most FDI set their default to sRGB; so... FDIs even using Fuji Crystal Archive paper has a shorter longevity when rated by Wilhelm (under glass, 40 years for glossy vs 104 years for PGPP + pigment inks).

[di0nysus]

wow... but then R1800 still not the best for BnW.....only R2400 and above has the K3 ink thingy that has 'true' BnWs? sigh... or is the K3 just a marketing gimmick to get pple to upgrade

[Lenovo]

I know R210 is very good, I have not seen R230. Typically, a 6 ink printer is better than 4 ink. Of course 8 ink would be ideal. If I were you, I'll get R210/R230.

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by di0nysus wow... but then R1800 still not the best for BnW.....only R2400 and above has the K3 ink thingy that has 'true' BnWs? sigh... or is the K3 just a marketing gimmick to get pple to upgrade

No, B/W is better on the R2400 because 1) it has a light light black ink 2) it is linearized in factory to give better response on the shadow and light transitions.

The R1800 has only 1 K cart vs 3 on the R2400 so it is a significant advantage. However, if you are doing saturated color printings especially reds and blues, or print predominately gloss paper, the R1800 perform better due to the red and blue inks and the gloss optimizer.

Another advantage that the R2400 is better is that it can handle up to 1mm thick media (IIRC) via its straight paper path compared to 0.48mm on the R1800.

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by Lenovo I know R210 is very good, I have not seen R230. Typically, a 6 ink printer is better than 4 ink. Of course 8 ink would be ideal. If I were you, I'll get R210/R230.

You are right that "typically" 6 inks are better. However, with much smaller ink drops, there is a far lesser need for the so-call light inks. FYI, the R1800 has no light inks; its output is still stunning and far more than a match for 8 ink printers.

R250 is using 1 pl drops, far smaller than the 4pl (from memory) drops of the R210.

[idor]

Originally Posted by Watcher You are right that "typically" 6 inks are better. However, with much smaller ink drops, there is a far lesser need for the so-call light inks. FYI, the R1800 has no light inks; its output is still stunning and far more than a match for 8 ink printers. R250 is using 1 pl drops, far smaller than the 4pl (from memory) drops of the R210.

Heard r230 is an improvement of r210 in the aspect of printheads clogging problem. Just curious that since R250 is using 1pl drops will the printhead clog up more easily....

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by idor Heard r230 is an improvement of r210 in the aspect of printheads clogging problem. Just curious that since R250 is using 1pl drops will the printhead clog up more easily....

When I was using R210, there is almost no clogging except when I left it in the corner for about 7+ months. Cleaning it a few cycles cleared it.

So far for my R1800 using 1.5pl has no issue of clogging, since I have been printing weekly

[di0nysus]

R2400 will cost $1.7K leh...$1800~$1k. watcher, in your opinion is BnW from the R1800 close to those from labs? or....better?:P

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by di0nysus R2400 will cost $1.7K leh...$1800~$1k. watcher, in your opinion is BnW from the R1800 close to those from labs? or....better?:P

Oh dear. That is a hard question as I'm not a BnW user. The BnW on R1800 isn't that bad; in fact it is rather good. I had printed one picture and gave it to AcidByte and sykes tang. You can get their opinions on it.

But the R2400 is better. Someone did his own ratings on DPReview where he gave a 7.2 to a 9.3 for R1800 to R2400 when it comes to BnW. The post was in the last 36 hours of this post, in either the Epson or more likely the printer forum of DPReview. It is due to metamerism of R1800

[Sonus]

After so much research done on comparing R230 and R250. I had bought the R250. Reasons is the ink is cheaper in long term run, 4 ink cartridge and 2pl minimum ink droplet size. Below are my summary.

R230 $228
6 ink cartridge $18.50 each
3pl
Able to print cds.

R250 $288
4 ink cartridge $13.80 each
2pl
Direct memory cards printing

I had tried printing on Mitsubishi color inkjet paper & photo paper, the color is very natural and satisfying. The standard is comparable to my 5 year old stylus photo 880. Just few points to share.

[di0nysus]

Thanks Sonus. BOught the R800 in the end. Now trying to figure out how to load the blank CD for CD printing..can't fig it out!!!

[nikon_ray]

R210 - USB 1.1
R230 - USB 2.0

Slower transfer rate for R210, but should have no effect on print speed
Not sure if there are other differences

[alwayschampion]

Originally Posted by nikon_ray R210 - USB 1.1 R230 - USB 2.0 Slower transfer rate for R210, but should have no effect on print speed Not sure if there are other differences

Faster transfer rate enables to data for printing to be sent to the printer faster, therefore the time for printing is shorter.

[nikon_ray]

Sorry. Just check both R210 and R230 are USB 1.1.
So really no difference except for color

[di0nysus]

Threadstarter here. i've bought printer liao...thanks all for input!

shall close tis thread. Cheers!