Recommendations for Photographic A2/3 printer, good ICFS and good inks

[MrOrange]

Im in the market for a A3 or A2 printer and a ICFS , (not sure if my budget can stretch to the a2). It will be used for photographic prints(color & B&W) so quality is the key, Im not to bothered if its slow, and size is no problem.

Im based in New Zealand, as mentioned before printing quality is every thing, any recommendation

Thanks in advance
Paul

Or does anybody know of any new models coming out soon, which i should wait for?

 

[pharmacist]

Have a look at this extensive link I made last year:

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4746

The Epson Pro 3800 with refillable cartridges is a good option for you and can print neutral B/W using 4 dedicated black/grey inks.

 

[RogerB]

At the moment the Epson 3880 is probably the best bet. A2 prints, big cartridges and great print quality, both colour and B&W. The cost of the printer includes the equivalent of about seven sets of cartridges for a typical A3+ printer, so the cost of ownership is pretty comparable.

If you are a high voloume printer and want to save more money you can use third-party inks in re-fillable carts. I have been using the ConeColor inks successfully in my 3800 and I am just evaluating the Inkjetfly inks. Neither has caused me any problems. Out of interest, the Inkjetfly v3 inks are giving me the same colour gamut as the OEM inks - I'm very impressed so far.

 

[MrOrange]

Thanks for the comments
Im surprised nobody has recommended the Epson 3880 over the 3800?

 

[RogerB]

I thought I just did?

 

[MrOrange]

Opps sorry roger, I thought it read 3800 not 3880, been looking at the screen to long.

 

[MrOrange]

pharmacist
Thanks for your informative post on the 3800, I was wondering if there had been any more experimenting since your last post and if there was there a brand of inks that you now recommend over the others?

Regarding all the modifications needed doing for the 3880 to allow the refills to work, our they straight forward for a total novice?

Thanks again
Paull

 

[pharmacist]

MrOrange,

No it is quite easily done. Actually the Epson Pro 3880 is physically the same compared to the older 3800. Inkrepublic.com sells the same phsycial refillable cartridges for the Pro 3880/3800. If you buy the Pro 3880 I-refill system the cartridges will function on the Pro 3800, but you will get different magenta inks.

For ink recommendations: there are alot of people (not sure they are linked to refill shops selling refillable cartridges for the Pro 3800/3880) saying this or that ink set works wonderfully well. I myself still esxperimenting with and sofar the Image Specialists IM-K4 ink seems to perform very satisfactory, albeit less glossy compared to the original Epson K3 ink and smaller gamut for the magenta's, but stronger on the cyan's (deeper blues). When profiled, most won't even notice it. I still do not have converted to the Inkrepublic's IRK4-nano inkset, so until then I cannot comment on them. Is it good, is it bad: I actually do not know. I think this answer is more fair compared to the product placement done at other websites telling ink X or ink Y is much better, because we have tried it. Actually I onced heard a scientifically complete nonsense telling ink X is far superior in terms of non-clogging, because the ink is filtered using reverse osmosi. Well: expect to get purified water in your bottle.

Have a look at my link, which extends several pages with many pictures and explanations.