Help me, please recommend a photo printer!!!

[jaysonsmom]

I have no clue, and no idea what all the tech talk/specs mean. All I know is that I don''t want to pay more than $300, and preferably with higher resolution, and able to print different size photos. What brands are reputable? What speed is desirable? What ports are necessary? All I know is that our digital camera is a Canon Powershot G3, something that can connect directly to that camera would be great. I''m so clueless. This is a gift for my hubby, and ideally I should have him pick it out ''cos he''s the computer geek.

 

[mrssalvo]

hubby bought me one for christmas last year. i believe it was under $300. i love it. it prints all sizes of photos as well as regular paper stuff. it's a cannon pixma ip6000d. I do recommend using the cannonpro paper. i tried using kodak and the pics didn't turn out right.

ETA: i have the cannon powershot too. you can connect your camera right to the printer, or insert your memory card and crop you photos on it too. it has the little screen to see the pics before you print. i always load the pics into my computer and print from there but you don't have to.

 

[lilyinct]

I have a HP photosmart printer (less than $150.00)- and the pictures are amazing...several people have even asked where I get my pictures printed b/c they look so good.

Not to mention, it is truly idiot-proof. You stick your memory card in, select the photos, add some special printer paper, and press start. That''s it.

The ink cartridges are about $20.00 each, which seems a bit pricey to me, but well worth it for the money I''m saving by not going to my local printer.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I used to work for Best Buy and I totally recommend an Espon Photo printer. They are probably the best for photo printing (IMO). The main reason why I say this is because I used to work in the Computer department and I had plenty of opportunities to play with the printers and see what they can do, and we also had an Espon representative that was very informative and honest. The cool thing is that they now have ink that is waterproof, smudgeproof and fadeproof for 100 years, and it has Advanced Micro Piezo inkjet technology with 6-color archival pigment printing for rich color and microscopic droplets. Each color has a seperate cartridge so that you can just refill one color for less (about 10-15 dollars), rather than replacing a whole three color cartridge for 3 times as much (at least 30 bucks) even though you're only out of one color (like HP and Lexmark has). The photoprinters have card slots for memory/compact flash/smartmedia cards so you don't have to directly connect the camera to the printer. Some also have a little screen on the printer so you can see the picture before you print, which makes them PC-free (you don't need it hooked up to a computer to use it). The maximum resolution of the printers from what I remember is 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi (dots per inch), which is fantastic! The port you would need to hook it up to a computer is usually just one USB port. The speed usually varies depending on the size of the picture and the quality of the photo itself, so I can't really say what the best speed would be. It kinda depends on how patient you are. I think most high quality photo printers take about 40 seconds to print a 4x6. Canon printers are also very good.

What I would recommend is taking your hubby to your nearest Best Buy and play with the printers to see which ones have the best quality and features for you. Everyone knows that when you want to buy something you should see it in person first. Your eyes will be the only things that will tell you what you really like. I don't really recommend Circuit City because of all the bad experiences I've experienced and stories I've heard about their customer service.

Hope this helps!

 

[jaysonsmom]

Yikes, 3 different people with 3 different recommendations! Thanks for pointing out what to look for though, I didn''t know that you could just put int the memory card straight from the digital camera. ARe they all standard shape/size (sorry if I sound totally ignorant, I am!) Any more recommendations?

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Most photo printers have what''s called a "media manager" which looks like a bunch of slots. Depending on what kind of card your camera uses, you just stick the card in the appropriate slot. Each type of card has its own standard size, but the media manager supports most of them and it''s also labeled for convenience.

 

[Allie_oops]

I second the Epsons. I have one (I do a lot of photoprinting) and I adore it.

 

[jcrow]

Date: 9/20/2005 2:56:03 PM
Author: lilyinct
I have a HP photosmart printer (less than $150.00)- and the pictures are amazing...several people have even asked where I get my pictures printed b/c they look so good.


Not to mention, it is truly idiot-proof. You stick your memory card in, select the photos, add some special printer paper, and press start. That''s it.


The ink cartridges are about $20.00 each, which seems a bit pricey to me, but well worth it for the money I''m saving by not going to my local printer.

i agree. this is what i have. photos are incredible!!!!! it''s a great overall printer as well.

 

[mrssalvo]

i wanted the epson, but hubby doesn''t like them for some reason

so he got me the cannon. i like the idea of going with your hubby to best buy and see what he looks at. you might get a better idea of what he wants. i think Best Buy would let you exchange it if you bought the wrong one.

 

[jorman]

I love the HP Photosmart Printers. Their photo quality printing is AMAZING!

 

[jaysonsmom]

I kind of brought the subject around photoprinters to my hubby last night, and he said that we need a photo/regular printer because our regular one is a dinosaur, and needs to be replaced. So, give this information.....that it needs to print photos, and regular paper, would the Epson still be a good choice?

 

[mrssalvo]

i don''t know about the epsons...but my cannon does both

 

[jcrow]

IMO- the HP is best. when on regular paper, i prefer the colors on the HP compared to the Epson. I think it looks so much more professional. At home i have an HP, at work an epson. HP vs. Epson is always a debate in the line of work i am in.

i also agree with Best Buy. they let you exchange it if it''s within warrenty for a new comparable one.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Of course, Espon makes printers that do it all! Fax, Print, Copy, and Photos! And still with the same great features and quailty that I described to you. As for exchanging it if you bought the wrong one, if you don''t open it it''s ok, but if you do, it''s a 15% restocking fee.