I'm considering purchasing this printer, but was wondering if anyone has done a cost comparison between buying paper and ink versus going to the local camera shop to have prints made. I have another Canon printer that I use for personal stuff, but it's not suited for professional quality output. Do pros use the 9500 for clients?

So I guess that's two questions. Is this using printer cheaper than going to the camera shop? And, is the output consider professional grade?

It is cheaper, but the amount by which it's cheaper is generally not worth the time it takes to do it. I consider the output superior to the pro lab we use for the bulk of the printing we do, but the time constraint is the reason we do not use it full time.

I have never done a cost comparo and haven't seem anything on this particular printer. However, if cost is your main issue, it may be better to use a lab. I have never been one to enjoy consistency from a lab since the chemical days. And if that is important to you, many labs extra charge for that. My reasons for printing my own work was primarily for this reason and I like doing all the work myself. I have read that some find the cost in their favor, others feel the lab is less expensive. I have a suspicion that in my case it would be a wash, but it's hard to say.

It does seem to be universally accepted that a 17" printer will yield much better cost per print numbers, if you can fund the expense. I would love a ipf5100, but for now my 9500 suits me fine. I hope this may be of some help to you.