Topic: Epson 3800 news

[Susan B.]

While I'm a purist in heart, I have to print digitally right now.
So forgive me fellow wasters, but I'm happy to hear about the new Epson 3800.
I think this one might be calling my credit card's name if I don't shell it out for a 7800 before the release in Dec 06.


Details can be found at either one of these links:
http://www.inkjetart.com/epson_3800_pro/index.html
http://www.digitalartsupplies.com/ep38fconew.html

[FrankB]

It'd be interesting to see a few independant reviews of this thing, partially with regard to print quality but mainly re the running costs.

9 tanks at $60 a pop holding just 80ml each...? 

I'm in the wrong business...

(Sorry if I'm raining on your parade, here!)

[Dave_M]

Does that mean your portfolio is going to go 17"x17" 

[david b]

Susan - you do realise the 7800 is the size of a small bus don't you?!  On the plus side, you could set the shipping box out on the hillside and charge rent for a family of four to live in it...

I'll have to do some number crunching and see if the 3800 is a worthwhile upgrade for me - the 4800 is too big to fit into my work "space" and I go through carts on the 2400 like water, so it might actually save me money in the long run.  More changes though.  Damn Epson.  Damn digital.

[Francois]

I haven't checked it out much but I know HP and their new Vivera inks look pretty sweet.
Wilhelm Imaging research (http://www.wilhelm-research.com/) calculated the ink's lifespan to be 82 years if I remember.
And I know their printers are built like Sherman Tanks...
Might be worth a look.

[outofcontxt]

Oooh, oooh, oooh! A new toy! I agree with Susan. It's seriously worth looking into. I, too, go through cartridges like crazy on the 2400. And I'd love to go a little larger, like 15x15. On paper, the 3800 sounds like a nice compromise between the 2400 and the 4800. The 4800 does have the advantage of larger cartridges. It comes standard with 110mL cartridges and can take the same 220mL cartridges that can be used with the 7800 series. And those 220s are very expensive. To replace the set would run mucho bucks. I'll be interested to see some real world tests before I part with a lot of cash. On the other hand, I'm trying to convert a small oddly shaped basement bathroom into an alternative process darkroom so I can start doing platinum/palladium and ziatype prints and I need to devote my resources to that before I even begin to consider a new printer. Damn. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

[Susan B.]

Does that mean your portfolio is going to go 17"x17" 

Hey Dave.
Yep. Bigger the better.
 

[Susan B.]

It'd be interesting to see a few independant reviews of this thing, partially with regard to print quality but mainly re the running costs.

9 tanks at $60 a pop holding just 80ml each...? 

I'm in the wrong business...

(Sorry if I'm raining on your parade, here!)

No worries. I realized that. The two downfalls of the printer are the lack of a roll feeder and smaller tanks than the 4800.
But initial tests state that the printing is better than the 4800.
And the comparison price is a huge selling point.
The jury is still out, but it's appealing.
 

[Susan B.]

Susan - you do realise the 7800 is the size of a small bus don't you?!  On the plus side, you could set the shipping box out on the hillside and charge rent for a family of four to live in it...

I'll have to do some number crunching and see if the 3800 is a worthwhile upgrade for me - the 4800 is too big to fit into my work "space" and I go through carts on the 2400 like water, so it might actually save me money in the long run.  More changes though.  Damn Epson.  Damn digital.

Ha! 
Actually, the 9800 is the size of a small bus. The 7800 is more like a motorcycle.
But you have a point...I could use some extra income. I'll think about renting that box out if I go that way.
Excellent idea as always Dave.
 

[david b]

The dither pattern looks MUCH nicer than the 4800 on that Inkjetart sample page ... in fact that's quite a bad advert for the 4800.  Could make a noticable difference in smooth tonal areas of prints, and I assume the 3800 will be a professional level printer and so very carefully aligned and calibrated unlike the 2400 with which I've had occassional banding issues. Hmm.

I'm looking for somewhere new to live at the moment - and after pondering on some North Manchester dumps yesterday found myself idly thinking, "well there's always Susan's Epson box to fall back on"... If you can put in some plumbing and find someone willing to give me a green card you might just have a deal.

[outofcontxt]

After the reading the tech info on the 3800, the more I'm sold on it. I love how compact it is, the fact that you can print on 17x22 paper, and that it wastes so little ink when switching from matte to photo or vice versa. The latter is particularly appealing since I'll be doing alternative process by the end of the year (hopefully) and will be making my own digital contact prints. Personally, I can live without the roll feed but I can see others needing that option.

I do have a sneaking suspicion that Epson will eventually come out with a replacement for the 4800 sometime next year since this new printer is kind of encroaching on the 4800's territory. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll have to wait sometime down the road before I spring for a new printer. On the other hand, a few print sales could change that equation... ;-)

[FrankB]

Sorry, I hadn't bothered looking at the world of digital photography and printing for a while and I'm still reeling from the costs (both initial outlay and running) involved. It if were me, I'd look at talking someone else into buying one of the bigger models and set up a darkroom in the packing crate, probably for less than the cost of a set of inks! 

But it isn't me, so I hope whatever decision you make works out really well for you.

[CarlRadford]

I too am looking at the 3800 for making digi negs. I have just ordered the PDN system and will initially learn using an old epson 870 before parting with the big bucks though!

Carl

After the reading the tech info on the 3800, the more I'm sold on it. I love how compact it is, the fact that you can print on 17x22 paper, and that it wastes so little ink when switching from matte to photo or vice versa. The latter is particularly appealing since I'll be doing alternative process by the end of the year (hopefully) and will be making my own digital contact prints. Personally, I can live without the roll feed but I can see others needing that option.

I do have a sneaking suspicion that Epson will eventually come out with a replacement for the 4800 sometime next year since this new printer is kind of encroaching on the 4800's territory. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I'll have to wait sometime down the road before I spring for a new printer. On the other hand, a few print sales could change that equation... ;-)

[Susan B.]

I'm looking for somewhere new to live at the moment - and after pondering on some North Manchester dumps yesterday found myself idly thinking, "well there's always Susan's Epson box to fall back on"... If you can put in some plumbing and find someone willing to give me a green card you might just have a deal.

David B-

There's a hose in the backyard and a big metal tub I use for a cold dip--that can easily dupe as a bath.
So there you go-- Instant plumbing. 
You might have to negotiate with the deer who use the dip as a water fountain...
but besides that, all you need is your own bottle of Mr. Bubbles and you're sporting.

Green card-schmean card. You're better off without one here --free health care and benefits as long as your not American. 
So whenever in need, I'll set a nice box up for you off the hillside. 
Of course, you might have to discuss sharing the territory with Blue.
But she was quite fond of you and can always be bribed with cookies. 

[Tammy]

Bigger prints, eh???   

sounds like fun. 

[david b]

Thanks Tammy for dragging this back on topic - I'm sure there's only so much time people are willing to spend reading about me being hosed down in Susan's yard 

[Tammy]

Well, I didn't want to say the obvious, but being hosed down in Susan's yard, and living in her printer box sounded like fun too.  Maybe more fun than digital printing since I don't get on well with my printer at all. 

I'm just trolling the topic.  I'm not really in the market for a new printer, but it's nice to get an idea of what's out there and what folks are using.  I'm still in the "dark" so to speak.

[Ed Wenn]

I'd love to have a tasty pro inkjet in the house and this new Epson sound great, but currently I'm doing the 'pay someone else' routine as I tend to only print about 6 photos a year anyway. Should be picking up a couple of nice bromides next week as it happens. They're of Amy. I can persuade jacqui that the money's well spent if it's of our daughter, but when I move towards more arty territory she's less willing to commit funds :-) Suppose it's my own fault. I should just take better photos!!