Choices for a medium format professional printer?

I'd like to make professional quality prints up to a 8.5x14 inch size ( or 8x12 ).

I want to print matt, semi-gloss and on art papers in color and also high quality B&W.

It seems that the only printer choice is the Epson R800. Is anyone aware of other printer choices in the size?

Thanks,
LG

You probably want an archival printer for truly professional results. the Epson 2400 is a good choice and will allow you to make larger prints should you need to.

If you want what is considered a truly archival printer (meaning pigment inks) there are four main players in the 13 inch wide format (which would accomodate your stated sizes, and larger, as E.J. suggested) :

Epson 1400
Epson R1800
Epson R2400
HP B9180
Canon Pixma PRO 9500

These vary in price from about $260 (1400) to about $850 (R2400 and 9500). The HP has been getting great reviews, and seems to be a good value (about $600 last I saw) for the features, and B+W capability. The 2400 is the oldest printer here, I think, and kind of sets the standard in this class. I'd check out http://www.photo-i.co.uk for lots of good review info on these.

If you don't need prints to last quite as long, dye ink printers are very nice. I just bought a Canon Pixma PRO 9000 (dye version of the 9500) for $400, and really like it on all kinds of paper - and B+W is very nice as well.

The Epson R1800 has been an excellent printer for me!

David has a good list above. LG, since you specifically mention high-quality B&W, I would recommend particularly the Epson R2400 and the HP B9180. Both of these printers are great for color and outstanding for B&W. I would not recommend the first two (the Epson 1400 and the Epson R1800) for B&W, however. If you intend to alternate fairly regularly between matt and semi-gloss, then it comes down to one: the HP B9180. It holds both Matte Black and Photo Black inks at the same time, without requiring you to physically swap the black inks (which can get tiresome after a while).

Thanks for the responses. Printers are much more difficult to research than cameras.

LG

I am a very happy camper with the HP 9180, paid about $500.

Eduardo

I've thought about the same thing for a while now and am just waiting to have the money to buy the B9180 for the reasons mentioned by Eric.

You can also look on the used market for an Epson 2200. Awesome archival prints and costs less than a 2400. That said, if I was going to buy something new right now in your needs, I would take the Epson 2400 given my excellent experience with Epson.

I just bought a Epson R 2400 from Hunt's Photo at a very good price. They advertise at NSN. Contact Gary Farber. It arrived yesterday and I will set it up today. I am now researching papers am am looking at different papers from Epson like Premium Luster and Semigloss and Moab Paper like Kokopelli Satin and Estrada Fine Art and Lasal Photo Matte and Semi Gloss. You ought to check out Moab Paper. I got this lead from NSN.

Joe Smith

The 2200 printer was a pioneering printer in many ways, but compared to the newer generation of printers (including the R2400 and B9180) it has its drawbacks, including:

- Noticeable gloss differential and bronzing on glossy/luster/semi-gloss media

- Noticeable color shifting under different lighting conditions, particularly noticeable for B&W. Example: a print that looks dead neutral under daylight will take on an unpleasant purple cast when viewed under fluorescent lighting. The phenomenon is known generally as metamerism.

- Good, but not stellar, black density on glossy/luster/semi-gloss media

All three of these issues are largely addressed with the B9180 and the R2400.

Two additional thoughts on a choice between the B9180 and R2400:

1. The B9180 doesn't support roll paper, the R2400 does. (This isn't likely to affect the original poster.)

2. The B9180 has a slightly smaller set of compatible papers. This has to do with the differences in ink formulation in HP's Vivera inks (designed for a thermal print head) and Epson's UltraChrome K3 inks (designed for a piezo print head). In other words, Epson K3 is more widely compatible with papers (e.g., Innova's White Gloss paper works great on Epson K3 but not so well with HP Vivera pigments). But if you want the B9180, this isn't a big deal -- just be aware of it and ask if in doubt.

madmanchan wrote:Two additional thoughts on a choice between the B9180 and R2400:

1. The B9180 doesn't support roll paper, the R2400 does. (This isn't likely to affect the original poster.)

True. It does support lengths up to 44" though, but you have to feed them manually.