Gadgets: Digital Photo Printer
filed in Media: Photography on Nov.29, 2005
Anyone have any recommendations on a quality Digital Photo Printer? I’ve been looking at a host of Epson and HP options but don’t know what to go with. I’ve traditionally been an Epson man. But I feel as if HP has really caught up to Epson in terms of quality.
Here are my requirements:
- Should print both 4×6 and letter-size color photos/prints
- Should be in the same ballpark as Snapfish/Shutterbug prints
- Under $250
- Not a big fan of these “all-in-one” machines
- Big fan of the LCD preview screen on some models
- Should take Sony MemoryStick media
Is it even worth it now-a-days to print at home? Should I just send my prints to Snapfish (or competitor)? Is that just easier and cheaper?
Advice?
November 29th, 2005 on 12:34 pm
I’ve been struggling with this as well. The problem I have with inkjets is how pricey the inks are. It’s about $20-$25 for the CMY toner, and about $30-$35 for the K. And I end up using about 3 cartridges a year of each. Add the cost of the printer and archival paper and you’ll break the budget.
$250 Printer
$200 Ink
$50 Paper
= $500 Total
= $41.66/month in printing costs. (conservatively)
I can’t decide what to do either, so in the meantime I’ve been using the print-it-yourself machines at Target or Kinkos and occasionally Shutterbug.
I hope my math was right. 🙂
November 29th, 2005 on 12:59 pm
I have debated for the past couple Chrsitmases whether to get a photo printer as well. From the ones I have seen, I dont like the quality of the prints. They dont look like what you get from the online sites…maybe I just have not seen one from a good printer. Anyway, I find the best deals are ordering them from Walmart.com and picking them up at the store so you dont have to pay shipping or ordering from Winkflash.com where shipping is always 99 cents no matter how many prints you order. I think Snapfish just teamed up with Walgreens to so you can order online and have it ready to pick up at the store.
November 29th, 2005 on 1:06 pm
Jess – the prints you have seen from my printer are not better quality than snapfish because my printer’s technology pre-dates digital cameras. The technology in digital photo printers today is far superior to mine.
November 29th, 2005 on 7:09 pm
Costco does chemical processing ala Target for $.19 per 4×6 print. Sam’s does too. If you already have such a membership, it’s an excellent way to go. Depending on your shopping habits and the number of prints you would create in a year, it might be worth the membership.
December 7th, 2005 on 12:00 pm
Hey guys….sorry to get in on this so late, but we have one of Kenny’s favorite “all-in-one” jobbies. It’s an HP and I really do like it! It has the LCD screen and prints both on 8.5″x11″ and any other smaller size you through at it.
Recently I went on a trip to Disneyland and took over 700 pics. I am not about to print them at home. I”ll buy my prints and bulk through Snapfish (love them). But, for some that I want to through in a frame, send prints to friends and family, etc., it’s great!
The other thing i use it for is scrapbooking pics. It’s easy to crop them and adjust them without leaving home. 🙂