First Prints from the Pro1.

[The Hat]

I tried out the Pixma Pro 1 over the past couple of day with a few test photos.
Now I am not big into photos at all so I dont really have the right paper to get the best out of this printer, I just use Lidl cheap Sihl glossy photo paper, and I also use HP rolls, gloss and satin papers for A3 + prints.

I put it against 3 other printers two dye and one pigment also itself a pigment.

I can say that if I was buying the Pro 1 to get a very big improvement in quality colour photos (Bering in mind the paper I use) to the other printers that I have, then I would have being very disappointed.

The colour output is just a bit better than my other pigment printer but nothing to shout about its only when I switched to B&W photos that the Pro 1 showed off its qualities, nothing came near to it.

The Pro 1 is faster than the 9500 and only slightly dearer but has the same characteristics of the 9500 in that is it difficult to trick into printing onto the size and the paper type you want (If not standard).

The paper feed is centred just like the iP4700 (which makes it difficult to get exact positioning when overprinting) and can only handle sizes to 420 mm (16 ) in width unlike it's sister the 9500, it also seems to be set-up just for everyday pre-cut out of the box standard sizes preferred.

It has a huge footprint, weights in at 31 Kg (70 lb.), has build-in Canon CISS Unit and is extremely quiet while running; it also has to be turned on manually with the on/off button but can respond to a set time off like the 9500 when idle.

The Pro 1 is outstanding when handling text and graphics which is the main reason why I bought it for and gets top marks for that from me, but for the hobbyist I would still recommend the 9500 as a better option for now.

Simply because the 9500 is more versatile, handles everything that is thrown at it with style and room to spare but above all refilling couldnt be easier so the running cost can be kept well within most guys comfort zone, also the price is dropping with all the rebates on offer at this present time in the US.

To summarise if I were a professional photographer then the Pro 1 would definitely be my first choice printer because it will print his pictures the way he feels that they should be printed and displayed.

Given a bit more time a reliable refill method will emerge which will make this printer much more accessible and affordable to everybody that which can only be welcomed, to be continued..
E&OE.

 

[mikling]

It's pretty much as I had suspected. For anyone sitting on the fence, if you have a pigment printer in your sights and don't print a lot, snap up the 9500 when it is attractively priced because when they are gone out of production, you might have regrets. It's really a gem as long as high volume and speed is not on top of your features list.

 

[Trigger 37]

The Hat,.... I'm sorry but I'm very confused about your post on the Pro I. My understanding from the Canon web site is that this is only a 13" x 19" printer,..the same as the 9500. Is this some different kind of printer only available in Europe? I had an Epson large format printer for years (13x19) for my photography work and finally gave it up to get a "REAL" large format printer. I have the HP DesignJet 130 which prints 24" wide and up to 6' long. I buy my paper in rolls of 100'. This printer will print on anything from every kind of photo paper to Canvas, Watercolor paper, transparency, poster board, etc. I am not a professional since I'm retired and don't need to earn a living from my sales but I do sell a lot and have enjoyed it more each year. It is only a 6 color printer but believe me the quality is excellent. It is VERY slow and VERY noisy but I could care less about that. It has it's own built in CISS system and the carts I use are refillable but they hold so much ink I can print for almost a year without having to refill them. Yes it is a 100% Dye ink printer and yes I do have a process to coat the final image to insure 50-70 years life. All of my photo art is display without GLASS as I feel the glare totally distracts from the beauty of the image. I also make my own frames and do my own dry mounting. Yes it is a lot of work but it's what I love to do. When people purchase one of my pictures I get a lot of pleasure in making them happy. I do not make a lot of money for as soon I sell something I'm out spending more money on experimenting with new methods of creating Digital Photography.

 

[OutOFtheinkwell]

The Hat said he bought a new Canon PRO1 and tried a few prints but then said, "I just use Lidl cheap Sihl glossy photo paper, and I also use HP rolls, gloss and satin papers for A3 + prints."
Then talked about the Pro1 not being any better then some other printers?
Sorry but am I missing something? I'm sure no printer expert but I have always read that the paper used to print good photographs is half the battle. Isn't this situation sort of like saying, "I bought a new sports car but it doesn't tow by RV very well? Just wondering, No offense intended! Outoftheinkwell!

 

[Trigger 37]

OOTIW,... I have no beef with "The Hat",.. but you are right about the paper. You really have no idea how good a printer is unless you use the best paper to test it. High quality paper is much more expensive than the best ink. One sheet of high quality watercolor paper that I use in my printer will cost $5-6 for 24"x36". I'm into LARGE prints and I like to make things almost life size. I have found that the current printer technology far surpasses the human eye's ability,..especially in art that is displayed. We are not talking about "PixelPeepers", but real people that stand the appropriate distance in viewing ART. My HP will print 6 colors at 4800x2400 dpi andmy Canon iP6700 will do the 9600x4800 and both have more resolution than I need. I used to hate HP printers because of dozens of thing, like over priced ink carts, difficult to refill ink carts, no available repair manuals, and it is almost impossible to buy parts for older printers. However, I love my HP 130.

 

[Tin Ho]

Trigger 37, your post is very interesting to me. I am getting into large prints too. I am at 13" x nn" for now with an Epson. I believe your HP large format uses pigment inks, doesn't it? I will print with dye based inks with my Canon for proofing then print the final version with Epson. I know my proofing method is not ideal in terms of colors. I will do all the refinement with Canon then do a smaller final proofing with the Epson then print the large final print again with the Epson.

What watercolor paper do you use? Watercolor papers are not quite available from my local computer stores. I could get small letter sized locally. I am not sure the store still sells it today.

I once saw a surplus HP large format printer selling at less than $1k. While I was looking at it I noticed someone was checking the details of it too. He told me the hard drive was taken out and it would cost $500 to get one from HP. I remember there was a set of ink cartridges in it but the guy told me there should have been another set of larger ones too but they were not there. It's like a CIS kind of arrangement. It might need other stuff still to restore it. I thought that's too much hassle to deal with. I should have gotten it and given it a shot. I will not pass another if I run into one again.

 

[The Hat]

Trigger 37
The Hat,.... I'm sorry but I'm very confused about your post on the Pro I.
My understanding from the Canon web site is that this is only a 13" x 19" printer,..the same as the 9500.

The pro 1 custom size paper is set for a max of 16 wide to 26 long but I imagine that can be got round with a bit of tricky just like the 9500.

OutOFtheinkwell

The Hat said he bought a new Canon PRO1 and tried a few prints but then said, "I just use Lidl cheap Sihl glossy photo paper, and I also use HP rolls, gloss and satin papers for A3 + prints."

Then talked about the Pro1 not being any better then some other printers?
Sorry but am I missing something? I'm sure no printer expert but I have always read that the paper used to print good photographs is half the battle.
Isn't this situation sort of like saying, "I bought a new sports car but it doesn't tow by RV very well? Just wondering, No offense intended! Outoftheinkwell!

I totally agree with you I wouldn't use it to tow either, but I dont have a sports car for that very reason.
The other printers I have do a very good job printing the few photos that I do so there is no need for any extra ones.

Trigger 37
OOTIW,... I have no beef with "The Hat",.. but you are right about the paper. You really have no idea how good a printer is unless you use the best paper to test it.
High quality paper is much more expensive than the best ink.
One sheet of high quality watercolor paper that I use in my printer will cost $5-6 for 24"x36".

I only tested the Pro 1 on the papers I use every day and never intended to get special paper, it was not bought for photographic work.

The printer has to fit into the way I work but I dont have to fit into the way it works.

I can see by your post that you are very passionate about your photographic work and therefore will always strive to get the best paper to display it on and so it should be.

I was in publishing and advertising so I try to stick to what I know but I still can enjoy all the lovely photographs that I see around me but not necessarily want to emulate the artists if you know what I mean.

Just be Happy and keep on printing..

 

[Trigger 37]

"The Hat",.... I just double check the specifications for the Canon Pro 9500 and the Pro I and the maximum paper size is limited to 13" wide. The exit port of the printer is only 13" wide,...so just how do you get paper of 16" in and out of that printer???????. Printers have always been design to follow the industry and the 13" format has been an industry standard for years. Canon, Epson, and HP have been making printers for that format paper for over 10 years and 13" x19" pre cut paper is readly available in all stores that supply photographic paper. In all my experience in buying photo paper I've never seen any paper available at 16 or 17 " wide,..so I really doubt that any Canon printer you mentioned can print in that size. However,..having said that, I find that I learn new things everyday,...so I am looking forward to some factual information. If the Canon printer we are talkinb about is capable of 24" paper I would totally agree. I know you can cut the paper that width since I am continually cutting whatever size of paper I need for a special size frame out of the 24"x 100' I buy.

 

[Trigger 37]

"The Hat",.... As I indicated,..I'm always looking to learn something new. In checking into Canon's "Professional ImageGraf" printer series, I find there is one printer that is designed for 17" paper and that is the IPF500,.. However the units after that such as the IPF600 and above are 24" wide or more. So maybe you were talking about the ImageGraf printer series and not the Pro I.

 

[rodbam]

I've just read the review of the Pro1 over at DPReview & they say it's better than the Pro9500 & it really shined when they made profiles for this printer instead of using Canon profiles.
http://www.dpreview.com/printerreviews/canonpixmapro1/