Test: Canon Pixma Pro 1 vs Epson Stylus Photo R3000

[PeterBJ]

I found this comparison test of two high-end printers on the druckerchannel.de site: http://www.druckerchannel.de/artike...on_pixma_pro_1_gegen_epson_stylus_photo_r3000 or in English: http://translate.google.dk/translat...on_pixma_pro_1_gegen_epson_stylus_photo_r3000

 

[mikling]

Since I don't print larger than 13" width, I have finally found my heaven ( for the time being) in the R3000.
From a refiller's perspective, here's why:
1. Aftermarket carts that are easy and foolproof to refill
2. Controlled chip resets thus always enjoying the benefits of having electronically "full" cartridges each time I refill. I get long print sessions with no out of ink conditions.
3. As a side benefit from point 2. The requirement of an external waste ink is deferred so much that I might never need one in reality.
4. If I do need a waste ink tank and need to reset, there are programs readily available to reset the waste ink counter.
5. I don't print matte paper much so the switching from photo to matte is a non issue and the side benefit to this is that I don't waste matte black each time I print. So the switching requirement as shown in the comparison is actually a net positive for me, though the review throws a negative bias to this.
6. I prefer silk, pearl and luster papers, so I have no need for a gloss optimizer.
7. With three weeks of no use I was able to print immediately after turn on with no head cleaning required. The issue of Epson clogging is a Non issue with this printer, at least the specimen I own.
8. The R3000 is mechanically a simpler printer than the Pro-1. No unnecessary complications with air pressure systems and delicate sensors.

The above is my personal reasons why I have come to regard the R3000 as my personal ultimate printer. I now enjoy as well the latest brand new Vivid Magenta series by IS (Oct 2012 release) with a proper matched inkset.
Of all the serious desktop pigment printers I have owned and some I still own R800, R1800, R2400, Extended borrow R2880 and Pro9500 MkII, the R3000 is my favorite thus far as it looks like Epson finally has done the right things with this machine...and the aftermarket has the right stuff for it as well.

The following is another review by Imaging resource which I recently found and their findings are in line with mine.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/epson-r3000/

 

[barfl2]

what wonderful printers now where did I leave that lottery ticket. One can only dream. Is it my impression that the more professional members of this great Forum prefer Epson products?.

The availability of good refillable carts must help a lot. The review carried out in the mikling link seemed very thorough and very informative. I have saved to view in detail later.

 

[The Hat]

I take a different view as to which printer is better than the other, (Usually the one you have)
I normally just leave that to the experts to argue over because usually thats all they do.

I dont take much credence from these types of right-ups either, the guys writing them are either a Canon man or an Epson man,
so these reviews really dont mean much at all, except confuse the buyers.

I read both of these reviews and didnt find either of them that informative as I said
but in the second review (Imaging-resource) the guy states that the Pro 1 doesnt have an Ethernet connection,
Wow thats some porky all right. (Very creditable)

Now if that the quality of their reviews then there is nothing more to say..

 

[mikling]

(Imaging-resource) the guy states that the Pro 1 doesnt have an Ethernet connection,
Wow thats some porky all right. (Very creditable)

Now if that the quality of their reviews then there is nothing more to say..

I think the Imaging Resource author might have meant Wireless Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Their review of the Pro-1 clearly illustrates the availability of both USB and Ethernet ports. http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-1/index.htm
It appears the author was happy that his iPad app worked with the Epson, so there is some bias towards that feature. Irrespective of that, their review of the Pro-1 was also positive as well.

An addendum to the Pro-1: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-1/addendum.htm

is certainly worth reading. Hat will be less grumpy now. The issue of successive low ink warning grows more onerous, the more cartridges that a printer has. Hat might want to chip in on his findings and experience of the Pro-1 and flushing of lines and priming sequences. On the R3000, a set of decent aftermarket cartridges allow the refill and reset of all cartridges at any time and this totally eliminates the frustration that the author experienced in using OEM carts and ink. That was my point 2. in what I liked about the R3000 I own. Here is one instance where the refill cartridge is superior in useability of the printer. In the end, the author considered both printers to be equals. Keep in mind that these reviews are all based on using OEM inks.

In the real world in NA right now, the Pro9500 or Pro-10 (It's preliminary review by Imaging Resource is here: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-10/index.htm) is more likely the one to be pitted against the R3000, being that the Pro-1 is priced higher and Epson has discounted the R3000. At the price level the Pro-1 is being sold at, many might find that the Epson 3880 which prints wider than the Pro-1 to be a better alternative for that reason.

I'm left wondering now if the Pro-1 is destined to be sitting in limbo. Too pricey against the R3000 ( the Pro-10 is destined to be the competitor) , and prints too narrow against other Epsons in the same price category...The 3880. Interesting...the market will speak.

 

[Hainz]

I now enjoy as well the latest brand new Vivid Magenta series by IS (Oct 2012 release) with a proper matched inkset.

I have a problem Rub-Off (smudging) with the old ink VLM and VM Image Specialists!! - http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=58588#p58588

The new version was delivered to me yesterday (29.10.2012). New Vivid Magenta series you are already OK!!

On the above link, I read that you had the same problem. For me it was also possible to smudges ink even after several days and weeks. Maybe it was unsuitable photo paper. But he was certainly bad ink. Other colors are OK. This problem was also normal M and LM color for R2400, 3800, 4800, etc.

That here on the forum no one else did not have this problem?!

 

[pharmacist]

(Imaging-resource) the guy states that the Pro 1 doesnt have an Ethernet connection,
Wow thats some porky all right. (Very creditable)

Now if that the quality of their reviews then there is nothing more to say..

I think the Imaging Resource author might have meant Wireless Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Their review of the Pro-1 clearly illustrates the availability of both USB and Ethernet ports. http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-1/index.htm
It appears the author was happy that his iPad app worked with the Epson, so there is some bias towards that feature. Irrespective of that, their review of the Pro-1 was also positive as well.

An addendum to the Pro-1: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-1/addendum.htm

is certainly worth reading. Hat will be less grumpy now. The issue of successive low ink warning grows more onerous, the more cartridges that a printer has. Hat might want to chip in on his findings and experience of the Pro-1 and flushing of lines and priming sequences. On the R3000, a set of decent aftermarket cartridges allow the refill and reset of all cartridges at any time and this totally eliminates the frustration that the author experienced in using OEM carts and ink. That was my point 2. in what I liked about the R3000 I own. Here is one instance where the refill cartridge is superior in useability of the printer. In the end, the author considered both printers to be equals. Keep in mind that these reviews are all based on using OEM inks.

In the real world in NA right now, the Pro9500 or Pro-10 (It's preliminary review by Imaging Resource is here: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT/canon-pro-10/index.htm) is more likely the one to be pitted against the R3000, being that the Pro-1 is priced higher and Epson has discounted the R3000. At the price level the Pro-1 is being sold at, many might find that the Epson 3880 which prints wider than the Pro-1 to be a better alternative for that reason.

I'm left wondering now if the Pro-1 is destined to be sitting in limbo. Too pricey against the R3000 ( the Pro-10 is destined to be the competitor) , and prints too narrow against other Epsons in the same price category...The 3880. Interesting...the market will speak.

I have seen a friend's Pro 9500 and the printing speed is really disappointing compared to the R3000 and the Pro 3880 and despite the extra red (orange) and green ink, I do not see any difference in print out quality even in bright reds/oranges and greens. I think the R3000 is one of the beste A3+ printer Epson has produced. My only wish was a user exchangeable waste ink tank like the Pro 3880. Fortunately redirecting the waste ink tubing is easy.

 

[The Hat]

Because I heavily dumped on the Epson reviewer for his total lack of experience with the Pro 1,
mikling got the impression that I was being grumpy, not at all and far from it. ( Who Me)

I dont have to defend the pro 1, but if the reviewer has such a bios opinion before hand
therere naturally going to knock the hell out of it, thats why I made my comments. (No other reason)

The similarities between the 3000 and pro 1 are so little that its not worth talking about
and as for one being better than the other who cares, if you got either of them then just smile and enjoy it.

One thing I can say is if we could combine the two machines together,
now that would be the makings of a good printer and well worth talking about.

When it comes to popularity then Epson have it by a country mile and rightly so because its build on the extensive knowledge of their previous printers
with a lot less of the mistakes, and speaking of mistakes well Canon gets the cigar on that one, their pricing of the pro 1 is outrageous.

I dont have the 3000 but would like it just for the paper handling its so much better in that respect,
I stuck with Canon and got the pro 1 mainly because it used the same ink as my 9500 and was that much faster. (The ink is not quite the same)

The third party ink and cartridge supply situation is far superior for the 3000 at the moment and it will take some time before anything is as good for the pro 1,
their popularity is so low they may never get out of the high street shops at all.

There are now new compatible cartridges and inks available, (only this month) to be precise for the pro 1, which Ive used and are only a fraction of the price of OEMs,
these Chinese pigment inks were a better match than the 9500 ink set that I had to use in the pro 1, I got confirmation that ARC chips are under development also.

I did have initial problems with ink wastage when I first turned off the ink monitoring but it has settle down now and is no longer the problem is was thankfully..