Looking to purchase a new printer. I've never had a nice printer just your standard $49 canon inkjet that burns thru cartridges like squirrels thru bird seed...curious what the concensus is on a new printer?
I can't help on a new printer. I just have it done at a shop so I no longer have to maintain the inks.
What I can say, however, is that cheap printers generally have small ink cartridges so the cost per print is higher. The higher end printers generally have larger ink capacities and cost less per print. It is hard to beat the low prices from discount places like Sam's Club and the inkjet quality is surprisingly good. For fine prints, I get Lightjet prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper.
I have fought printers for many years. I love to hate them for many reasons. My biggest concern now is (reasonable) print longevity from the printers I have at home. Just simple small stuff, 4x6 to 8x10. I'm not looking for 100 years, how about just 3 years on display? And no not displayed in sun light, just window light, like on a kitchen refrigerator. However, some prints from Costco have held up very well in room daylight. Are commercial printers, like Costco, using a different technology, e.g. dye-sublimation? Pigment inks?
And FWIW, I re-fill the ink cartridges myself. Otherwise like Roger I wouldn't bother. And yes, Canon paper, Canon inks, I still have color fade problems. And it is hard to beat prints form Costco, up to 12x18inches, but you may have to waste a couple to dial in the color.
Tom
A lot of people like Epson. I have a 3880 is think it is great. I had a larger printer before, but it was designed to run everyday and clogged up if I did not use it often. The 3880 can sit several months and then spit out a great print on the first try.
I have been printing with Epson printers for years and have had good results. Although I admit Canon printers have vastly improved in the past few years.