Epson Printer Question

[Ed Vatza]

I'm a total newb when it comes to printers. I have done absolutely no printing on my own to date. That said, I am looking move from sending images out for prints to purchasing a pro quality printer for home/business use. I've been looking at the Epson 3800, 4880 and 7880.

I am hoping to print from 4x6 for my wife to throw in her purse to at least 16x20 for display and sale. The 3800 covers that range but only appears to take single sheets - no rolls of paper. The 4880 will go to 17x22 and take rolls but I'm not sure of the smaller sizes - 4x6 or 5x7. It looks like it starts at 8x10 if I read it right. And the 7880 would be great if I wanted to go even bigger but it may be out of my price range. Then there are the variations on each.

I am wondering whether going to a printer of this quality straight out is a smart move? Would I better off starting with a smaller printer that can take me from 4x6 to say 11x14 and work with that a bit before jumping to something like the 4880? And which smaller printer might you recommend? Then it wouldn't matter if the 4880 doesn't go smaller than 8x10. Any and all advice is welcome.

Thanks.

[Maxis Gamez]

Have you though about the R2880? if you don't mind a smaller size, I think this printer will make you happy or even the R1900.

[Ed Vatza]

I am in the very preliminary states of decision making. Anyway, I have to finish paying off the Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS before laying down bucks on a printer. But that said, I am open to all options. I just think that whatever direction I go, I want to make the best choice right out of the box and not start "small" and find I have to trade up. I took that tact with lenses and, in hindsight, don't think it was necessarily to best route to take. Hope that makes sense.