Which is the best place to buy large Epson printers?

[AYC Nee]

After reading all the advice on printing panaromic photos on Epson 1390, I have decided to bite the bullet and go for a larger Epson Printer, such as 4800 (more likely), or 7800 (have to fast much longer). Which is the best place to buy such printers? From Cathay? But they are usually not the cheapest. Some other outlets in Sim Lim and Fu Nam? I read from the net that 4800 is about USD 2K, while 7800 is USD 3K. How much would they cost here?

Tim, I believe you will be the first one to advise me as you own both printers. On the whole, what is the average cost per print? Say, 16 x 20 inch size on premium glossy type of paper. What is the ideal pixel size of a picture file for 16 x 20?

Many thanks in advance.

AYC Nee

[BlueFly]

Best is to go direct, as most commercial photo outlets don't carry the large printers due to low demand as in any case you'll probably hv to place an order if u go thro them. Also, be acquainted with what's the newest and latest - to avoid being creamed.

Therefore if I were you I will go for the Epson 7900 (24" wide printer), notwithstanding its USD4k tag. Probably not justified for occasional use if money is an issue. But if u're a comm pg, form a private coop with other like-minded pg to spread the cost.

Read the excellent review on luminous landscape site.

[tim]

I doubt you can buy a new 4800 or 7800 now, most likely only used ones are available.
The latest A1, 24" from Epson is 7900 which is more for proofing and 4900 rumored to be
launching soon. Your best bet is a 4880 or 7880 which I believe it's still available. You
probably can get better pricing as they are about two years old models.

You can check with Bits & Bytes or Pic and Pixel, Alternatively call Epson SG for their large
format dealers.

I have not done a cost estimate per print but there's no different between a 4880 and
7880 prints cost. If both uses 220ml cartridges, they are the same price therefore if printing
the same size on same type of paper, print cost is identical.

The 4880 has a paper tray for cut sheet and you have to load cut sheet individually and
manually for the 7880.

Originally Posted by AYC Nee What is the ideal pixel size of a picture file for 16 x 20?

That depend at what dpi you want to print.

* dpi stands for 'dot per inch', which, in most digital matrixes, is equivalent to 'pixel per
inch'. It is always expressed regarding one dimension (a side, not the surface).

E.g. If you want to print at 300 dpi; 16 X 300 dpi = 4800 pixels and 20 X 300 dpi = 6000 pixels.

You can read the link below and understand better, there's no magic:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...solution.shtml

Hope this helps.

[AYC Nee]

Hi Tim

Your replies are always most helpful! Did not realize 4800 and 7900 are outdated models as they are still being quoted on overseas websites. Would you say 4880 is a better buy now? Does it have a roll paper feeder?

I am not a very serious amateur and I would probably print about 10 sheets a month and sometimes for friends foc. I guess the 7 series is probably on over-kill in terms of price and functions? Or would it be better to invest in the 7 series then regret later and go for an upgrade? Larger printers can always print smaller sizes without problems I believe.

Thank you very much for the link to the thread on resolution. It is very useful.

Another silly question, what is the best way to mount large prints, aside from expensive and heavy photo frames?

AYC Nee

[1Ds]

Another silly question, what is the best way to mount large prints, aside from expensive and heavy photo frames?

AYC Nee[/quote]

5mm or 10mm mounting board.

[AYC Nee]

Many thanks.

I have seen photos mounted on such boards, but very often those boards tend to warp and can look quite awful and are very difficult to straighten. Another silly question: using double sided tape? Is this the best solution? I am thinking of mounting large white magnetic boards on the wall(s) and use strong magnets to hold the photo down. Easier to change from time to time... doable?

[tim]

Quote: Did not realize 4800 and 7900 are outdated models

You have a typo error, 7900 is Epson's latest mean machine.

Quote: Would you say 4880 is a better buy now? Does it have a roll paper feeder?

In term of pricing, the 4880 is cheaper compare to 7880,
both have roll paper feature which large format printer suppose to have.

In order not to sound like a Epson sales ppl which I'm not, this are my thoughts:

It's difficult to say whether 7xxx series are over-kill compare to 4xxx or not. But if compare
to a small desktop maybe it is. It's really depend on your personal preference or needs.
When I bought my ex. 4000, I thought it's smaller compare to my 7800 but after looking/buying
for a sturdy table/cabinet to place the 4000, it occupied the same area. So IMO the 4xxx is
not smaller.

In term of maintenance , both share the same costs. The smallest, both can print are A4
paper (if you want 4" X 6", get the 3850 but no roll paper).

Quote: I would probably print about 10 sheets a month and sometimes for friends foc.

I prints more; my own photos, my wife with her compact taking kids, nieces
and etc (photos print direct), on her weekly outing. For 4R @ 30cts, its better to send to
the colorlab.

My wife will stick the 6" X 9" photos (printed on Ilford Super Premium Photo Pearl paper @
$8.90 per 20 sheets pack) on the wall of our living room. She will change the photos every
other week. With the price of 44 cts per sheet using about $110 per 220ml ink cartridge
(5 cts per ml), it's very much cheaper compare to a desktop printer e.g. R290's $18 per
10ml cartridge ($1.80 per ml). Lastly these large format are very well built, it's suppose to
be heavily use in the printing industry.

However my needs and application are very different from others therefore it does not
means it applicable to everyone. Those master printers may thinks I'm crazy, talking
nonsense

Hope others who are more experience than me, can offer better opinion in the next post.

P.S. If you are buying new, take a look at HP's Z series and Canon's IPF series too. In my
opinion, all three (epson, hp & canon) series of large format printer are good, print
beautiful images. Only their individual features e.g. Gloss Optimizer & etc set them apart.
It's only your own needs for the features that make the final decision. If you going to give
me one of the three, I'll grab any one of it and run.

[tim]

I believe you will be getting a few PM, on offer to sell you a new large format printer

[AYC Nee]

Hi Tim

Yes, my mistake, I meant 7800 and not 7900. Apologies.

Indeed, I have received several PM giving contacts of supplying large Epson printers, and I have asked them for quotes

Tim, you are right, 4900 seems to be in the air now. Maybe I hang on for a while longer.

I am quite impressed with Epson and tend not to look at other brands like HP and Canon. My first experience with an HP printer was not particularly good and hence I have decided to stay away from HP for a while until I am well convinced.

The larger the ink cartridge, the cheaper it works out to be per ml. This must be true. The 1390 cartridges finish like lightening, like some unseen forces sucking them dry.


Thanks again.

AYC Nee

[tim]

Hi AYC Nee

Quote: I am quite impressed with Epson and tend not to look at other brands like HP and Canon. My first experience with an HP printer was not particularly good and hence I have decided to stay away from HP for a while until I am well convinced.

Is your HP printer a old model? IMO most of the 3 brand's older generation desktop printers
are not really great. But their latest are really good. If you like and prefer Epson then stay
with it.

Quote: The larger the ink cartridge, the cheaper it works out to be per ml. This must be true. The 1390 cartridges finish like lightening, like some unseen forces sucking them dry.

They NEED ink to purge and clear any clog sometimes ones wonder whether if it's really needed or not. But it is
programmed in the firmware to do it. Like my 7800, I'm a bit regretted to flash it to latest firmware. If I
did not print anything for more than 3 days, when start-up it'll go into a mini cleaning cycle whether I
like it or not, even I have disable it in the LCD control panel. And I cannot flash back a older firmware
unless I pay US$10 for the epson service program. Epson SG want to charge me S$40 for
transportation plus S$150 per hour, just to do that

Happy printing.
Tim

P.S. you asked what photo papers to use; hahnemuhle, epson lustre or semigloss, kodak lustre,
harman, Silver rag and many more. I may want to try innova but all these papers are very expensive. For my wife's quick n dirty or giveaway, the cheap Ilford super premium pearl, cheap than smooth pearl

[chngpe01]

Visit this place:

www.datajet.com.sg

Their office is at Blk 21 Kallang Ave #02-175/177, Kallang Basin Ind Estate, S339412
Tel: 62942292.

They supply large printers incl large format printers - Epson and also sell color management
tools, special art papers and also Color Muki etc.

They can give you a demo at their office and training (if I am not mistaken)

Look for Malcom at malcolm@datajet.com.sg

See this
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542167

[jsohhl]

$110 per 220ml ink cartridge


Hi, i am cannot get the 220ml cartridge at this price, please recommend me which shop to get,

Thanks

[1Ds]

I just sold my Epson and switch to Hp Z3200 as I print lots of B/W photo , HP gave the best in mono print than Canon and Epson.

[1Ds]

Originally Posted by AYC Nee Many thanks. I have seen photos mounted on such boards, but very often those boards tend to warp and can look quite awful and are very difficult to straighten. Another silly question: using double sided tape? Is this the best solution? I am thinking of mounting large white magnetic boards on the wall(s) and use strong magnets to hold the photo down. Easier to change from time to time... doable?

Yes for the 5mm boards it will warp after a while , I have been using the 10mm boards now . Photo mounted with the 10mm board still look good after 6 months.

[tim]

C2O Corporation Pte Ltd

[AYC Nee]

Tim, many thanks for providing the contact of C2O Corporation Pte Ltd. Are you familiar with D-NEXUS On-line shop?

1Ds, thank you for advising to use 10 mm board, those are polystyrene foam based?

Chngpe01, thank you for providing the datajet contact, and the earlier thread.


AYC Nee

[AYC Nee]

Just saw this at the Adorama website:

http://www.adorama.com/IESSP4880K3R....roductIncludes

Epson 4880 at USD1409.95. Is this for real?

Any experience and comments most welcome.

AYC Nee

[proteonXPR]

Originally Posted by AYC Nee Just saw this at the Adorama website: http://www.adorama.com/IESSP4880K3R....roductIncludes Epson 4880 at USD1409.95. Is this for real? Any experience and comments most welcome. AYC Nee

adorama cannot be fake, only shipping kills

[AYC Nee]

I have asked Adorama. Apparently they do not export printers to Singapore. Not sure what is the reason, maybe some dealership constraint. But why should the same 4880 cost more than double in Singapore compared to the US?

[jsohhl]

Hi

The USD 1049 is a refurbish price, which is mean is a used, reconditioned printer

This is the new units price USD 1995
http://www.adorama.com/IESSP4880K3.html

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/j...seBVCookie=yes

if you import all the way here to Singapore you would not get any local warranty, and parts for this printer is expensive

If taken the excahnge for 1.5, that will be SGD 2,992 excluding GST plus freight charge cost you least 200 to 300 , end up to be almost or more or less the same like Singapore selling price

I guess it not worth it, and you don't have warranty for the printer when you PI