Maxify vs Ecotank

[Celso]

Dear All,

Starting to look into new printers, I have the option for the Maxify´s (MB5XXX or MB2XXX) or the ecotank (G7010 or GM4010). All of them print 2 sides and have ADFs, although only the MB5xxx have double sided ADFs.

Maxify are pigment ink printers whereas the ecotanks are not. I can refil the Maxifys. I am experienced with the fading problem of the non-original dye inks.

I intend to print ocasional photos. The Maxifys and the GM4010 are 600 dpi. The G7010 is 4800.

Is the resolution 600 dpi too low?

What is your effective view on the quality of the photos from 600 dpi printers and, in particular, the Maxifys?

Thank you very much,

Celso

 

[stratman]

What is your effective view on the quality of the photos from 600 dpi printers and, in particular, the Maxifys?

1) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No one can tell you if you will like. It is best to go to a brick and mortar store and see a demonstration or test print out from the printers of interest. That might be difficult these days.

Fortunately, our intrepid Moderator @The Hat has posted a comparison using the Maxify:

https://www.printerknowledge.com/th...-black-cartridge-for.13821/page-2#post-120056

2) The Maxify line is a business printer, not a photo printer. It does what it is designed to do and does it quite well. If photo images are your primary purpose then look elsewhere, unless you are satisfied with the Maxify prints. See #1.

IMO, the Maxify MB5120 I have is a well-priced workhorse that is fast, well built (except for the flimsy outlet paper tray), reasonably cost effective to run using large PGI-2200 XL capacity cartridges, easily refillable, with great output for a business class inkjet at this price point. And, it uses pigment ink, so good water resistance for text highlighting and good archival potential whether using OEM or aftermarket inks.

 

[Celso]

Thank you. I see differences between both photos, although the Maxify´s photos is also nice. The dye photo colors are more intense. However, I have not trained eyes to analyze the impact of the lower resolution. I also do not know the resolution of the dye photo.

Are photos from pigment printers less "intense" than dye ones?

Is there an effective difference between 4800 dpi and 600 dpi? In many circumstances a higher dpi may not represent a real advantage. In cameras, for instances, the higher numbers of pixels means that it is possible to print larger photos. However, I will never print photos such imenses and big sizes...

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

The Maxifys and the GM4010 are 600 dpi. The G7010 is 4800.

Those are not the same numbers - please consider the following, the printer prints in a fixed raster - 300 or 600 dpi for Canon, and most Epson printers do 360 or 720dpi, some do 600dpi. These are image pixels recalculated into this fixed raster. But now every of these raster points has a color , and there are many - all combinations of RGB with 8 bit in each color channel. So each of these image raster points are printed with an embedded subraster to render most of these colors - e.g. in a raster of 4 x 8 color dots which makes 4x600 dpi=2400dpi and 8x600dpi = 4800dpi.
So don't get a hang up on these pixel numbers - it does not make a visible difference between these 2400, 4800, 5760 , 9600 dpi numbers - there is another variable in the game - the ink droplet size can vary as well - Canon uses different nozzle rows per color for different droplet sizes. And there is another factor when it comes to the look of photo prints on photo/glossy papers - dye ink colors look more saturated than pigment inks which relates to the ink type but not to the resolution, and it can be the opposite on normal/copy paper that pigment inks can deliver better looking photo prints. So it's all a matter of a compromise for a multipurpose printer. So one decision point for you is the question if you go for dye or pigment inks and if you do the typical type of refill with the Maxify printers or look for more convenience with a G-series model - you have the choice .

 

[Celso]

Thank you very much. Very nice explanation. Very kind of you!