What is the best A3 Printer Up to £400
What is the best A3 Printer Up to £400
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Discussion

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Monday 28th February 2005
quotequote all
I find myself in the market for an A3 printer to replace my R300. Obviously I would like to get the best I can for the money. Anyone know of the best deal about at the mo or any recomendations?

ehasler

8,574 posts

303 months

Monday 28th February 2005
quotequote all
I've got the Epson 2100 and it's great!

It's more aimed at the fine art market rather than for printing big glossy photos, so uses pigment inks which don't have quite the same impact as the dye ink based printers such as the Epson 1290 and other makes. On the other hand, these inks are far less prone to fading, and give a fantastic finish on the less glossy papers, which makes it great for producing framed prints.

cliff123

458 posts

262 months

Monday 28th February 2005
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We're using the Epson 2100 photo printer, and have to say it is great. Price has dropped a lot since it came out a year or so ago. (Think it was originally £700) Still a great printer in my opinion. 7 cartridges at £9 a pop, with a special cartridge if you specifically do a lot of black and white printing, though in its normal setup it is very good at this too. We use it for graphic layouts and photo prints. Just use the right papers and its great. Right in your bull park for cost too.

www.macwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/EPS2100R

GetCarter

30,561 posts

299 months

Monday 28th February 2005
quotequote all
I also use 2100.

Excellent quality. Tend to get through the ink with A3 prints mind... and it's always the one ink that runs out for which I haven't got a spare. (Usually Light Magenta or Light Cyan).

Steve

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
Thanks guys. Been out looking this morning and have also decided to get an R800 for the better ink quality. Any prefs on the paper to use, especially canvas type?

Thanks

dave

ehasler

8,574 posts

303 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
I wouldn't say that the R800 has better ink quality, but rather that it's more orientated towards glossy photo type prints, while the 2100 is more aimed at people who want to make prints to frame, sell or exhibit.

The 2100 uses exactly the same inks as the high-end 4000, 7600 and 9600 which are used to make gallery standard fine art prints.

If you're doing canvas, then I'd have thought that the extra size of the 2100 would come in handy - by the time you fit an A4 sheet to a wooden frame, there won't be much area left for the print.

I've just got a few sheets of canvas to try on my printer, so will be interested to see how you get on with yours.

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
The R800 is additional to the 2100

ehasler

8,574 posts

303 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
expensive day out!

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
ehasler said:
expensive day out!


And I went to In Focus yesterday and bought a "Few" bits. Saw a Flash Trax 40 gig HDD storage unit in John Lewis today for £379. I paid £219 for mine yesterday

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
Just read on another forum that there is a new A3 printer due out within the next month or 2 - Epson PX-G5000. This is an 8 colour printer that will replace the 2100.

ehasler

8,574 posts

303 months

Tuesday 1st March 2005
quotequote all
pug406 said:
Just read on another forum that there is a new A3 printer due out within the next month or 2 - Epson PX-G5000. This is an 8 colour printer that will replace the 2100.
I think this is actually the R1800 in Europe, and is an A3 version of the R800. They had one at Focus. Apparently a more fine art orientated replacement for the 2100 will appear later in the year, but for now it will be available alongside the R1800.

tvr t350

20 posts

256 months

Thursday 3rd March 2005
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hp photosmart 7660

pug406

Original Poster:

3,636 posts

273 months

Thursday 3rd March 2005
quotequote all
tvr t350 said:
hp photosmart 7660


That's an A4 printer, not an A3

Thanks anyway

Dave

stuh

2,557 posts

293 months

Thursday 3rd March 2005
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I recently purchased a Canon i9950 - It's the new 8 ink system and the results have blown me away.

I've done a couple of a3+ prints of landscapes from my 20d. People who've seen them don't believe they came from a humble inkjet. The only give away is my crappy photo skills

Oh, and the a3+ borderless prints take less than 3 minutes!

>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 3rd March 19:37