I just purchased a Nikon CP 900 and was wondering what printer to get to produce photo quality prints. Fading is not an issue since I'll stick my prints in an album or just reprint them if they fade. So what's the general consensus out there? For this price range $200-$400, who makes the best photo printer?

-- David Tam (David01@email.msn.com), April 05, 1999

Answers

I have a Epson photo 700 printer and am very satisfied with its speed and print quality. One thing I heard about the HP Photosmart (please someone correct me if I am wrong) is that it doesn't use black ink and for text it comes out more brown than black so you will need a second for general use. I use the Epson Photo paper for all of my photos. Epson has improved this paper recently and it looks like print longevity should rival the HP now.

-- Bob Gregory (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), April 05, 1999.

I have the HP photosmart printer and like the richness of the color. It costs about $1.80 for an 8X10 print but it looks just like a photograph.

I have a friend that has an Epson 700 and his prints look good as well. He didn't know the print cost but commented that it goes through ink fast.

Office Depot has both printers set up with a HP photosmart scanner and are willing to make comparison prints. Just take a photo or slide in to demo the scanner. That way you can be the judge.

You wouldn't want to use the HP photosmart printer for printing other than photographs. The ink is too expensive. I also have a Cannon photo realism printer that prints using photo or 3 color cartridges. I use it for preview photo printing and other color printing (cheaper ink). It only cost $100.00 on a closeout at Office Depot. The HP photosmart cost $200.00 (if I ever get my rebate back). The Cannon isn't close to the quality of the HP for photos. Round this pacakge off with my old HP IIIP laserjet and I am printer poor.

-- Robert Johnson (rjjohnson@silverlink.net), April 05, 1999.

Please read all reviews of products on the Web with some caution. The HP Photosmart does have seperate black ink - and does stunning black and white as well as color. The Epson is also a good choice. I chose the HP because the ink will last longer (Epson confrms their ink is not archival quality). I don't believe the HP is archival eiter - but it does last about 10 years as opposed to Epson inks rating of under 3.

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), April 06, 1999.

Here are a couple of web site that talk about print life for HP http://www.wilhelm-research.com/Print_Permanence/print_permanence.html for epson http://www.iafadp.org/technical/inklife.html

I had found a report on the Epson with there new Photo Paper that showed significant improvement in print life. Possibly approaching the the HP.

-- Bob (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), April 15, 1999.

For me, picture fade - picture life (on paper) is not a problem. If you save your photo file you can reprint it 5-10 years from now with your "new" printer with your "new" computer on new and improved photo paper. IF you save your image... it's digital, it's not going to fade. It's format may become obsolete but it ain'ta gonna fade on a floppy. :)

-- Chuck (wingit@rocketmail.com), May 03, 1999.

I have been using an HP PhotoSmart printer for the past year and am very pleased with it. The inks are expensive and I would be reluctant to use it for anything other than photo/graphics output. Epson seems to be taking the lead in technical innovation with their continuing new product introductions. HP entered the digital photo realm with a great flourish but seem to be getting behind the curve with regards to their photosmart printer. I wonder if HP have something new in the wings or if the 'photo REIT' technology that they are marketing on their new general purpose printers is intended to supplant the PhotoSmart printer product line. -Jim

-- Jim Dobbins (essdogs@pacbell.net), May 09, 1999.

I have both a Epson Photo 750 and a HP Photosmart printer. My experience is that Epson is a lot easier to use, is faster, and has better output. Epson is basically made for graphics and pictures for Macintosh so they seem to have more expertise and experien

-- Casey (Caciah@hotmail.com), January 17, 2000.

I don't buy anything with the HP ( Hewlett Packard) name on it....everything they sell is made to use lots and lots of ink...... Those triple tub color cartridges piss me off so bad when I know Im throwing them out because one color is empty...... I went to Brother brand because it lets me change individual colors when I use them and saves me a fortune...I won't buy anything without making sure that all the color cartridges are individual ones instead of combos.

-- david coates (weldallofsc@aol.com), April 28, 2003.