Choice of very good printers

[toyotadesigner]

I'm currently considering to invest into a new printer. Actually I like the Canon iPF5000 @ 17" width as well as the HP Z2100 @24" width. Don't know enough about Epson except that changing materials drains the ink. The HP is very appealing because of the wider format, the Canon is something I already know from the past (two Canons A4 and A3 used here).

The point is that I don't think I need a larger format because most of the prints will be in the size 40 x 60 cm (17" x 23" or longer from a roll for panoramas). With the HP we could print 60 x 90 cm (23" x 35").

Both the Canon and the wider HP are almost in the same price range (I don't mind to invest 1.000 Euros more if the printer is worth it and is reliable, meaning not driving us mad with bugs...)

Does anyone here have some experience with the HP or Canon? I've seen a print from the Canon which was great, I have seen a print from the HP which had a wow factor.

Larger formats would be sent to subcontractors, because they are currently only between 10 and 20% of the prints we deliver.

The point is that we need a larger format in house, because the better subcontractors are too far away (an hour driving distance) and sometimes out of control for us.

Does anybody of you use QImage for the output on larger formats? We are running QImage on our A3 size with excellent results - no standard printer driver delivers such a sharp output as this piece of software.

Any ideas or hints will be greatly appreciated.

 

[bobfowler]

I've also been giving a long, hard look at the HP. I've been waiting for an HP with pigment inks for a long time (the HP dye inks don't do well on canvas). At $3395.00 US, it's a bit of a chunk of change, but the quality I saw at an HP demo blew me away. Regardless, I'm planning on getting the Z2100's smaller brother, the B9180, in the near future for printing up to 13X19.

 

[Ted Harris]

The B9180 is a terrific machine. I have been testing one rigerously for a review in View Camera magazine. IMO it clearly outperforms the Epson 2400 and it costs less ... a real no brainer.

Moving up in size, I'd look harder at the Z3100 (one of those wil be here to test in the next few weeks) which gives you 12 inks. The Z3100 has a $1000 rebate in effect through the end of May if you furnish them the serial number from another wide format printer. Add to that the built in reflective densitometer for paper profiling which is worth ~ another 1000 (if you don't already own one) and the price is right in line with that of the Epson 7800 or 9800.

The Canon ipf5000 will be here for testing in a few days so I'll be able to say more about it very soon.

 

[bdial]

How is the B9180 for B&W? Does it play well with Macs?

 

[Ted Harris]

The B9180 only plays with Mac's in my shop (we have 5). I have it running as a network printer and have printed to it from a MacBook, a G5 Tower and a Mini ... all with no problems.

As for B&W so far I can only partially answer that. I have been printing matte only so far and I really like the results. I will run some Silver Rag through it this week and see how it does. I expect the results to be good.