Key is 6-colors or more. All of the current vendors (Canon, Epson, HP)
produce photo 6-color+ printers that all do a great job at photo
printing - you can't go wrong with any of them today.
Some of the nice features you can look out for:
* built-in flash card reader to print directly from digicam cards w/o a PC.
eg. Epson 925 is blowing out (replaced by newer R-series) for $99
everywhere. Excellent buy for the price, and you can't really go wrong
with one.
* Paper roll feeder.
eg. Epsons have paper roll feeder so you can print panoramic prints,
and print continuously from a roll of paper (auto-cut by the printer).
* LCD preview monitor.
eg. Epson and HP have models with LCD preview monitor (option or
built-in) so you can see which images you want to print from the flash
cards. otherwise, you simply print a proof sheet from these flash card
printers and select them on a text menu.
* Max paper length.
eg. Epson goes 44"; Canon does only 17" or so. Limits the length of
your panoramic prints.
* Max paper width.
Wide-body printers can do anywhere from 13" to 17"+ paper sizes for
super-large prints.
* Piezography B&W ink compatibilty
If you're into B&W printing, this is one of the best ways to achieve
archival B&W prints. While the latest HP 79xx series does have a B&W
cartridge, it isn't using the same pigmented archival inks as the
Piezography setup.
www.inkjetmall.com for details
* CIS continous ink bottle feed system compatiblity
If you print thousands of prints per month, you must look into this
system to reduce ink costs.
www.inkjetmall.com
* U-feed or Straight-feed
HP is the only U-Feed system on the market, and their printers cannot
take or handle thicker paper stock. U-feed results in paper jams on
thicker paper stock due to the stress of the paper attempting to turn
180 degrees in the slot.
However, the advantage is that you don't have objects falling into
the paper path ala a straight-feed printer from above. (eg. more kid proof)
* OEM Papers. Epson has more papers to choose from than the other
vendors. You can use 3rd party papers, but you're never guarenteed
compatibility or color gamut as one made by the maker.
* Built-in Scanner/Copier.
eg. the new Epson RX500 6-color printer, 2400dpi scanner, color
copier, 35mm scanner all-in-one for $249 (see
www.epson.com ->
all-in-one models) is the best quality all-in-one you can buy today.
This one model, for not much more than a good 6-color photo printer,
helps reduce clutter on your desktop, and adds the convenience of
printing directly from digicam flash cards + scanning directly to flash
cards w/o a PC!
* Speed
If you want speed, Canon's are it. faster than the rest.
---
Quick picks?
Cheap? Epson 925 at $99 on sale.
More? Epson RX500 all-in-one at $249.
Wide? Any 6-color wide-body.
