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What is the most important the printer or the paper?


Beryl

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I would like to print off some of my photos from my digital camera and may be frame a few. I do not yet have a printer to do this, but is the quality of the printer the most important thing to think about or the ink or the paper?

Can any one recommend a good printer just for photos, that isn't overly pricey?

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Beryl, this is a huge subject, but briefly, I would advise,

If you just want to do photos buy a photo specific printer. They, in some cases have additional ink cartridges to cover a wider range of colour but ink cartridges will be your biggest expense. Epson, I think, have come up with a range of photo paper with an amazing anti-fade life. Trouble is, we'll all be dead before the warranty runs out.[:D]

I would say check the manufacturers out on the web and buy an up to date magazine like 'What *****' and see what's being recommended.

I hate to say this but the cheapest option is to  download them onto a CD and take it into a photo shop and ask for a set of prints.

If you want to be really hi-tech buy one of the new photo frames that you put your memory card into, set the timer and your photos are displayed like a slide show, brilliant, but still a bit pricey.

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The CD ➞ printshop route is very good. I can't remember if you are in the UK or France, but I have had excellent results at a very reasonable price from Jessop's, and also from Bruno in Mortain - at a much higher price.

As BB says Epson have some good products available now, but the printer has to be photo-quality, which they will tell you all about in their blurb. I have seen very good reports on the Epson 2400 (I think) which I am thinking will be my next printer. Look for bundled software.

As for paper, Epson is excellent, Kodak is very good. Kodak tends to be cheaper, but the anti-fade makes me think Epson.

In the end, it is you that is paying, but this really is an area where you get what you pay for.

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I agree with the above.  Depends on what you want to do.  I'm a huge Canon fan (paper and printers) and have an S9000 (pricey) A3 printer of theirs which I love.  However, I also invested in a real baby - a Selphy CP400.  This just produces postcard-sized prints but they are of excellent quality and you know exactly what you are paying as the ink and paper come in one pack (about 30 euros for 110 prints.)  My feeling is that Canon have the expertise both in printing (as makers of photo-copiers) and cameras ; also their ink cartridges are a good deal cheaper and  the print heads do not clog if left unused for a while.  But the critical thing is as above, buy a photo quality printer.  It's not paper or printer but rather paper and printer. btw pics done on my S9000 with Canon Photo Paper Pro 5 years ago, still look as good as the day they were "born".
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"a Selphy CP400.  This just produces postcard-sized prints but they are of excellent quality and you know exactly what you are paying as the ink and paper come in one pack (about 30 euros for 110 prints.)"

I hope my wife doesn't see that, I've just bought her a Canon Camera for Christmas...............[:)]

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[quote user="Gary aka Bugbear"]

"a Selphy CP400.  This just produces postcard-sized prints but they are of excellent quality and you know exactly what you are paying as the ink and paper come in one pack (about 30 euros for 110 prints.)"

I hope my wife doesn't see that, I've just bought her a Canon Camera for Christmas...............[:)]

[/quote]So she knows what she wants then![;-)]
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Talking of ink I have an Epson printer that uses cartridges with the little chip built in and Epsons own cartridges are very expensive. I changed to alternatives quite some time ago and defy anyone to tell the difference. Have a look at this company and their prices. They deliver free to France and the ink quality is superb.I've just ordered a pack of 10 cartridges for £30 delivered and they throw in some photo paper as well.                                                    www.internet-ink.co.uk

 

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Amazon aren't bad for ink either - generics worked fine for me when I had an Epson but there's no point with Canon as the prices aren't that different.

Agree, Pierre, lots of shops have really good printing equipment.  Didier Faugas, here in Le Mans, has won awards for the standard of his digital print services.  If you're not printing much, then get something cheap for everyday and if you find anything is so good you want to frame it, make like P's professional mate. If it's good enough for him...

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Thanks .

Plenty to think about . I shall do a bit of research and check out Kelkoo !

 I have used one of those machines in shopping centres where you can print your own photos quick and also used a speedy photo developing shop, but I didn't think much of the results.

I will see if there is a Didier Faugas not too far away from me in the meantime.

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This AM I bought an HP Photosmart C3183. It seems ok on initial testing and has the slots for various cards. Is it an OK piece of kit or have I been a silly billy. We dont print a lot of photos, nothing special but it appealed because it was :- cheap - E71, it has photo copy facility, scan, and print. Any opinions?

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