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Hello,

I'm putting together a "cost/benefit analysis" for the purchase of an Epson R800 inkjet printer. This will be submitted to the household Minister of Finance for review.

I know quite a few of you on this forum have this printer and have a high opinion of it. So just wondering if you can share your experiences in terms of running costs. I'm pretty sure it will cost more than those 15 or 19c 4x6 Harvey Norman/BingLee print labs, but I'd like to find out if the convenience of having a mini print-lab at home is worth the extra expense.

e.g. approx how many 4x6 or A4 prints do you get out of it before one or more cartridge needs replacing (I realise this will be a very rough figure, but it at least gives me an estimate to work with).

Thanks guys!

Ben

Never bothered counting, and I really don't care.

The printer sits a meter away from me, and if I want a print, I walk over and get it. No need to get ion the car, fight for a parking spot, drop the CD that I've made in .... wait (@$whatever you value your time at) till they're done, wait in their permaqueue to pay ....

And don't forget that it prints CDs too. That's a very handy feature.

Gary, this is how WE think... unfortunately, as logical as you sound, this is not how the better half thinks.

How's the quality of the prints that come out? As good as a lab (assuming using decent Epson paper)?

Ben

Ben,

I prefer the Ilford paper over the Epson - check some older threads on this - but the print quality is second to none.

As to how the other half thinks, remember to include in your discussions the costings for each of the things I've mentioned so that you can be sure that you're talking apples and apples.

I don't think we have any R800/1800 owners here who are dissatisfied with their purchase, and that runs across Canon/Nikon and Apple/PC boundaries too..

So, your purcahse of the R1800 can help bring about world peace. Cool, eh?




Seriously, if you're not going to print beyond A4 sizes, consider the R800 which is about half the price but uses the same engine. If you want to be able to print to A3+, the 1800 is great value and with quality paper and inks will not disappoint.

Ben, try a search, there was some estimates once. I don't think you will be in front, but as Gary says take into account time, petrol, etc and worth the effort.

Depends also what you want the prints for?

I use an epson r310 with a CIS . It uses after market dye inks rather than pigment. I found it prints well onto gloss Kodak paper, which is easily accessible.

But most of my prints I am not looking for long life, and print them off at a whim..A4 6x4 5x7 . I do this so I do not have to travel to the shop.

If though, I want a long lasting print to hang or give as a present, I take the time to go to a lab and get them done.

The printer was cheap, the CIS system cost $100 on ebay and came with 100mm (equiv 5 sets of carts)of each colour, allowing me to print cheaply with worrying about cost.

But what your needs are only you can decide. I'm hoping to go to a r1800 shortly, but will still run the r310 for everything else.

Goodluck
MATT

Ben,

I think that it is fairly hard to compete with the cost of the 6x4s that you mention. The Epson runs somewhere above that with Epson media. The paper alone (for a 6x4) will cost around 20-30c.
Full A4 prints probably cost around $3 (maybe a bit more) including the ink used.

If the printer does not see enough use it can become horrendously expensive to run with head cleaning.

I think that it would be difficult to justify the printer based on $/print. Gary mentions the cost of your time, the parking, the hassle…

I will add the hassle of dealing with a sales assistant who knows nothing about calibration, profiles etc when things are not right. More often than not you will be met by a blank look and a shrug. You will be on your own.

Print quality? My vote goes to the Epson…

My personal preference would be for the R1800. More money to purchase, but no additional running costs on 6X4 and A4 media and allows for those occasional larger A3 prints.

Nothing beats the satisfaction of having done it yourself. I think that in reality you will probably print a whole lot less than you think.
If you (and/or your wife) are going to quibble about $/print then I might (respectfully ) suggest that you have chosen the wrong hobby. Heck, you could factor in the cost of each shutter release (which is a real cost) plus all of the other costs in ownership... and give photography away altogether!

Allow yourself to explore photography in whichever direction you wish to take (and can afford)... and enjoy.

Cheers

MattC wrote:If you (and/or your wife) are going to quibble about $/print then I might (respectfully ) suggest that you have chosen the wrong hobby.

Or the wrong wife.

Heck, you could factor in the cost of each shutter release (which is a real cost) plus all of the other costs in ownership... and give photography away altogether!

And be thankful you're not using film, where there is a real $cost every time you press the shutter.

Anyone for TenByEights, large format?

I guess the emphasis is on getting a quality print, which is the reason I'm looking into the R800 in the first place.

I'm after prints with good enough image quality and paper quality for photos with sentimental value that I can give to parents/relatives/friends, as well as for the odd bigger print to hang up on the wall (assuming my photographic skills develop enough to take worthy photos).

As always, you guys have been most helpful. Thanks!

Ben

Vodka wrote:I guess the emphasis is on getting a quality print, which

eliminates the $0.15 labs immediately.

MattC wrote:Allow yourself to explore photography in whichever direction you wish to take (and can afford)... and enjoy.

Hmmm... agree with all your points. I think I've just convinced myself to get that macro lens I've been lusting after.

Ben

Over the last few weeks, I have been printing a number of photos from our honeymoon and other trips with barely a thought towards per print cost (and this is not because we are rolling in cash - trust me, with jr on the way, we ain't), but because of the satisfaction of doing it - I have a bunch of A4 prints which don't have a wall to hang on!

P

For a different point of view from the R800/1800 crowd, I do all my printing through RGBDigital. I have an FTP account set up, so no driving to or from the print lab. The staff are excellent, and they obviously profile their printers regularly, as the colour output perfectly matches my calibrated Eizo monitor. Each order incurs ~$15 courier charges, but this is easily offset by their ludicrous print prices ($9 for 18"x12" ). Delivery time is normally 1 day.

I haven't ever compared the quality of a good chemical print to a high quality inkjet. I do know that the prints from the Fuji Moto & Frontier printers are fantastic, and they allow printing on amazing Fujiflex stock, which has a glossy, metallic sheen. I've had prints done at various other pro and non-pro labs with varying results; I think I'm allergic to Kodak colours, as I preferred my Harvey Norman Fuji prints to 'pro' PhotoKing Kodak prints. YMMV.

Seriously, I couldn't be happier with the service, price and quality I get through RGB, which is partially why I've never even contemplated dropping $1k+ on a good inkjet

Can't speak highly enough about the R800, and I also use the Ilford Gallerie paper. A4 prints would cost around $3.00 each, and after you print a few shots at A4, 4" x 6" prints seem positively boring and "horrible". For anything bigger, I use Digital Works (http://www.digitalworks.net.au) with excellent results and service.