I bought the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 about 18 months ago. I used it a lot the first months. Then I went abroad for a rather long time. And when I came back to Sweden I have been working a lot and not used it. So it have just been standing on the table with the ink inside for one year. Today I just pressed the on button and started to print. No clogging or any other problem. Just worked perfect from the first print.
I will give my Epson 3800 a test because i didn't use it for more than 1 year due to 1 ink is finished, i will buy that ink and any other soon to finish inks and print again.
My 3800 can go quite a while also without clogging, I love it! It was such an improvement over my R1800 that would clog if something wasn't printed at least once a week.
I've been using a 2880 and really like but saw a three month old 3880 on the buy and sell board for $600.00 shipped so I bought it. The seller, Steve, also included an almost full box of Epson Premium Luster paper. I've only made a few prints and with the included print profiles I'm impressed.
I love the 3880 but still have a hard time with 4x6's at times, hate those things. I used to use Ilford smooth pearl but have switched completely over to Red River. Red River also posted a Cost on printing report on a bunch of printers including the 3880
One feature I use is to buy roll paper and cut it to sheet size. If you go full frame without cropping the image you are down to 12-14" on the image width on a 17x22. If you go up to 17" width the image length is going to be 4" past the 17x22 cut sheet size. I also have had no issues with my 3880 but I am sticking with Epson oem inks. I like the 3880 so much I just ordered a 7980, with the rebate they are about the same as a used one on ebay. I calculated break even at about 18 24x36 prints vs. using a lab.
JohnC wrote:
One feature I use is to buy roll paper and cut it to sheet size. If you go full frame without cropping the image you are down to 12-14" on the image width on a 17x22. If you go up to 17" width the image length is going to be 4" past the 17x22 cut sheet size. I also have had no issues with my 3880 but I am sticking with Epson oem inks. I like the 3880 so much I just ordered a 7980, with the rebate they are about the same as a used one on ebay. I calculated break even at about 18 24x36 prints vs. using a lab....Show more →
The normal size for me to print in is A2 size. And the printer is called a A2 printer here. Those cut sheets which I normally buy in boxes with 50 sheets are A2 (59,4 x 42 cm) that's about 23,4 x 16,5 inch. And that's the normal zize here where I live.
You don't have to buy 17x22 cut sheet size. All major brands have both larger and smaller sizes that you can buy. And it doesn't matter if it's longer than those 22"
Khun Hans wrote:
How performes it with b/w printing, Lars?
I also have the epson 3880 and for black and white prints, I use the epson Hot Press Bright papers and wow, I mean wow, the blacks are deep blacks and whites are really bright whites. For B&W, it is better than the epson exhibition fiber paper and better than the Epson Velvet papers. Also, I found out the matte black ultachrome K3 inks will clog the nozzle and heads if you have not use it for a while. I found it the hard way yesterday. So run a test first before printing with matte black ink.
Jo Dilbeck wrote:
My 3800 can go quite a while also without clogging, I love it! It was such an improvement over my R1800 that would clog if something wasn't printed at least once a week.
Almost every printer ever made in an improvement over the R1800 as regards clogging!!
I got so fed up with mine I started using dye inks with it. It dramatically reduced the clogging but not entirely......but when it functioned properly it gave great prints. But I replaced it nearly two years ago with a Canon pro9000.....and said goodby to clogging issues!
I also bought a R2880 a few months later for pigment work.......it has had one minor clog in that time and one nozzle clean cleared it. Just done a nozzle check after nearly two months of inactivity......perfect printout.
I agree it has been the finest printer by a mile I've ever owned, and I've had top Canon's and HP's as well. It never clogs and renders dead on colors every time. A real pleasure indeed. Not real fussy about the paper profiles either.
I also have a 2880 (outstanding machine/quality)and have been longing for a 3880 for the addiitional size...they have a special on them here now...just too bad the 3880 doesn't do roll or cd's (not that cd's will be around much longer) but then I wouldn't have to stack (keep) the two machines when I get the 3880...(tight for room here)
