New or used printer for M8?

[eleskin]

My problem is I want to print 16"x20" ,my standard for exhibition prints , but do not want to shell out alot of cash for a printer. I am only interested in black and white. Should I buy a new Epson for $799 and have to deal with smaller prints, or should I buy a used Epson Stylus Pro 4000 for the same money. Would Canon be an option, and which model would be economical on ink use.

 

[sojournerphoto]

If you can find a new old stock or secondhand one a Canon IPF5000 should be cheap and gives excellent output. Mines just gone to printer heaven after an apparently impending head failure (the £400 head cost is the big potential drawback of these printers) lead me into a new relationship with an HP Z3100.

The canon takes rolls or sheets, will print glossy or matte black inks without cost and in use mine just worked. A local photog has just bought one from somewhere.

Mike

 

[Tom Niblick]

Many dealers sell reconditioned Epson printers. With the 9900/7900 series coming out, you could get a good deal on a 7800 for just a few dollars more. Try shadesofpaper.com or Jimmy Robbins at allsquare.com

Buying used from a private party is risky. Too few people use their printers enough to keep the heads and lines clean.

 

[johnastovall]

Look at a refurbished Epson 3800 for just a 100 dollars more.

 

[quadtones]

I'd definitely consider the Epson 3800 over the 4000, which is much older. Great B&W with no metamerism that I've been able to see, either in color or B&W. It also loads both the black inks for glossy and matte papers simultaneously, and switches over at the click of a mouse, with minimal in waste.