Buying a printer for photo printing

[+Tantawi Subscriber²]

Hi all,

I want to get more into printing photos (personal and family use, not professional), I have an aging HP DeskJet 3845 and as the ink is running out I'm planing to buy a new printer all together since it'll cost just few $ more than replacing the ink!

I'm looking for an All-in-one, I can't care less about the LCD/memory reader since I'll not print directly from the camera, also I don't care about printing speed but the printing quality is the most important factor. So far I'm looking at Canon Pixima MP210. It got some nice reviews.

I have a few questions:

1- I'll print at A4 size @ 300dpi from Photoshop on Canon glossy photo paper, in my particular case, is 2400x4800 dpi printer resolution fine? or it'll make a huge visual upgrade going to a 4800x9600 dpi one?

2- Do other printers which have 4/5 or even 7 ink cartridges, which offer obviously better output, are much more costly on the long run? (that's why I picked an entry level like the MP210) I mean If I'll replace 5 cartridges every time the ink runs out then it'll be very expensive! or am I missing something here?

3- What printer do you you have? and are you satisfied with its quality relatively to its price?

Thanks a lot :)

[SirEvan]

Quick answers, cuz im about to go to bed.

1.) Yes that resolution will be fine, what will determine print quality more is what paper you use to print your photos on

2.) Yes printers with more ink tanks end up costing less in the long run, because say you have 1 cartridge that does it all and costs 25$ to replace. If your yellow goes out...you gotta replace the whole thing instead of just that color. Individual cartridges cost around 11-15$ each, and you only replace the one that is empty, thus saving ink and money.

3.) I have a Epson R300, which produces some nice prints, and will be upgrading between the R1400 and R2400 soon to do 13x19" prints in house soon. For my high quality prints that i sell or use for display, I send them out to a lab that prints on a lightjet printer, which is a printer that uses a red, green, and blue lasers to expose a sheet of photo paper, same as your 1 hour lab uses for film prints. The quality is second to none, and its the CLOSEST you'll ever get to having a film print from a digital image, since instead of printing its exposing a piece of paper to light. Prints aren't too expensive either.

[notuptome2004]

you may want to look in to the Kodak Easy share all in one 5300 it is new but from what i have seen produces some dang good quality prints and the best of it all is Kodak made some new type of ink and cartridge tech. that enables 50% more prints ata cheaper cost the color cartages cost $15 so i woudl check in to that i may when i get some money buy one at that cost

[Matrix XII]

If you want a great photo printer get the Canon IP6700D :)

[+Tantawi Subscriber²]

Thanks SirEvan for the reply (Y) also thanks notuptome2004 & Matrix for the suggestions but unfortunately Kodak printers are not available locally, and IP6700D doesn't have a scanner which I really need :-/

I think I'll get the MP210 and do like SirEvan, print casual stuff on it and if I need a serious quality print I'll do it in a photo lab.