Inkjet Printer

What I’ve found annoying when looking for this printer is that when think you’ve found one you like. Then you start reading the reviews and you get expensive this, flimsy that, poor paper feed, noisy, slow the list goes on. How do we decide what to put up with. It’s been interesting hearing all of your own views and experiences.

Hi Ratcatcher, It is that very reason, reliability and robustness, that I recommended the Epson ET8500 for A4 size or the ET8550 for A3 plus size.
I have learnt a lot with modern printers from the likes of Keith Cooper North Light Images, Leiceter based and also Jose Rodriguez American based.
I wouldn't worry to much about YouTube or magazine reviews but but both these guys understand printing from early to present days.
The Canon printers use a thermal head, in other words it heats up for the application of droplets of ink so needs to be used on a regular basis to prevent clogging
The Epson printers head is cold so while it still needs regular use it tends not to have such issues.
Then there are ICC profiles for the paper choice and such, it is a can of worms but worth it to persevere and the results will follow.
So my advice still stands, save an extra bit and go for an Eco Tank printer and never have to worry about ink replacement costs being a pain.

I appreciate what you’re saying, and if money wasn’t an option then I would definitely be looking at paying more for something better. I just don’t have that option. The closest I’ve got to purchasing one is the Epson Expression Photo XP-970, but still not sure.

There's an old saying "The best is the enemy of the good" (seems to have come from Voltaire). If that XP-970 looks good enough for you, go for it. The 'best' is always elusive, reviewers always have to say something even if there's nothing to say and what one person thinks is a negative might be totally irrelevant for you. I read that the XP-55 was loud, it made me wonder whether it would be a problem given where it had to be in the house, it turned out to be quieter than my previous printer. That's good enough for me (and Mrs L :wink even if it's not the best that some reviewer has encountered.

Steve

Taking your advice, sorry not the Epson's metioned but Canon's Pixma G650 which is at a more reasonable price.

I am surprised that folks who happily spend hundreds on a lens baulk at getting a decent photo printer, to me that is part of the process like old school darkrooms. Why get great kit and then print on a cheapo printer? Both Epson and Canon do refillable cartridge photo printers if the cost of the cartridges is offputting and you get to experiment with different papers whereas the choice in photo labs is very limited.