I'm buying a new printer soon. And I have been thinking about the Epson 3880 printer. Anybody here that have been using it or have any comments about it? And how is the ink? I have always been using Canon printers before

Hello Lars,
They reckon the 3880 is a lot more economical than the 2400. The ink on the 2400 is a real rip off. I never ever thought that I would do it, but I have installed (myself) the continuous ink flow system from Permajet, and I have to say it's brialliant.
I printed a photo with the Epsom genuine ink, then installed the Permajet system and the truth is that the Permajet system looked better. I have a friend that used to own a printing company that also has the system and he agrees that it is better.

http://www.permajet.com/product/591/Eco-Flo_Epson_Pro_3800.html

Lars, if the 3880 equals or exceeds the 3800, which it surely should, you'll find it to be terrific printer and very trouble free. I've used Epson inks and have very good results.
Eric Chan has written a very comprehensive set of notes on the 3800 which should also apply to the 3880. http://people.csail.mit.edu/ericchan/dp/Epson3800/index.html
After over two years with my 3800 I'd not hesitate to buy it again or obviously the 3880 which replaced the 3800.

No experience with the 3880, but previously used Canon dye ink printers (i9100 and i9900) and the 3800 blows them away for ease of use, maintenance and ink costs.

Thanks for advice & comments everybody

I've had the 3800 since it was released in late 2006. (Been ink jet printing since 2000, owned many printers). The 3800 is definitely the best printer I've ever owned. You will not be disappointed!

same here. Love my 3800 too! great printer!

I think Im beginning to get 3800 fever, I really need to stop poking into these threads.

Papathanassiou wrote:
Hello Lars,
They reckon the 3880 is a lot more economical than the 2400. The ink on the 2400 is a real rip off. I never ever thought that I would do it, but I have installed (myself) the continuous ink flow system from Permajet, and I have to say it's brialliant.
I printed a photo with the Epsom genuine ink, then installed the Permajet system and the truth is that the Permajet system looked better. I have a friend that used to own a printing company that also has the system and he agrees that it is better.

http://www.permajet.com/product/591/Eco-Flo_Epson_Pro_3800.html

I am with you totally. The 3800 is so much more economical than my old R2400 and it's a great printer. the only downside is it could not take roll papers. I am also considering the continuous ink flow system or refill system. I will be ordering a refill cart system from Ink Republic.
http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800-irefill.asp

joost horsten has reviewed their system.
http://www.inkrepublic.com/members/JoostHorsten/review.asp

the installation seems to be easy and clean cut. I hope it's a great fit to my 3800.
http://www.inkrepublic.com/knowledgebase/3800-iRefill-faq.asp

My old 2400 was a great printer, but ink costs were ridicules. My 3800 is light years better and way more economical.

Thanks everybody, another question. The 4880 has come down a lot in price and I see it with discount price also. How much better is that one ? And what about economy and ink for that one compared to the 3880?

jjlphoto wrote:
I've had the 3800 since it was released in late 2006. (Been ink jet printing since 2000, owned many printers). The 3800 is definitely the best printer I've ever owned. You will not be disappointed!


so true

timgangloff wrote:
No experience with the 3880, but previously used Canon dye ink printers (i9100 and i9900) and the 3800 blows them away for ease of use, maintenance and ink costs.

I had a i9900 and this printer is better imho
I am sure it would do justice to the lovely photographs you post here on FM

steve

I have the R2880 and am waiting for my order to be filled for the 3880, but did consider the 4880. They all use the same ink set, they all have the ink repelling coated print head (which I assume has been why have had no real clogs), and they all have similar output ... but maybe the 3880 may have an edge since it is the latest technology.

In anycase, the 4880 should run even cheaper (from an ink perspective) since its tanks are larger, and it offers even larger tanks the ones it comes with. However, the 2 reasons I didn't consider it is because I wouldn't print enough to use the ink within the 6 month window (it's going to be a close call with the 3880 ... but maybe now I'll print more), and the size / weight of the 4880 also made me wait for the 3880's release.

I just got my 2880, haven't taken it out of the box yet and already start to have buyers remorse.

I am not printing larger than A3+ and do not print much, so I thought that with the same inks as the 3880 and 4880 it was a no-brainer for me. I have however since read up on Epson printing and found out that for the best results one should print with Colorburst technology and the 2880 does not support it.

Well, I guess I just have to see how the 2880 lives up to my expectations.

Zalllon wrote:
I have the R2880 and am waiting for my order to be filled for the 3880, but did consider the 4880. They all use the same ink set, they all have the ink repelling coated print head (which I assume has been why have had no real clogs), and they all have similar output ... but maybe the 3880 may have an edge since it is the latest technology.

In anycase, the 4880 should run even cheaper (from an ink perspective) since its tanks are larger, and it offers even larger tanks the ones it comes with. However, the 2 reasons I didn't consider it is because I wouldn't print enough to use the ink within the 6 month window (it's going to be a close call with the 3880 ... but maybe now I'll print more), and the size / weight of the 4880 also made me wait for the 3880's release.

if you havent taken it out, just send it back.

I just received my R2880 on Wed and I've spent a lot of time reading up on it, and the 3800 because there was one for sale locally at a very good price, but unfortunately it's footprint was just too big to set it up without building a stand. (I'd have done that but I'm sort of laid up from leg surgery, and will be that way for a few months). I did however buy a huge assortment of Epson pro grade paper he was also selling which is going to be very handy in accessing the new printer. I read a lot about matching my monitor to the printer output (had my old set up matched but a new monitor & printer are in use now) and I found a very nice file sample to download for the purpose.
Using the sample, the ICC profiles from Epson for their papers, and the Color Management manual at their site has produced a very nice test print which to my eyes looks "right on" when printing from within CS 4.
If interested in the test print I used the one on the right side at the bottom of this page.

http://www.inkjetart.com/custom/

Thank you Larry, nice to know. The footprint of the 3880 is the main negative for it also for me (plus the $800 annual ink cost for a few prints). Otherwise I would probably have followed Howard's advice.

Nice to know that your test came out fine. I will check out some prints, they will probably be OK. The problem when you buy something is that you want the best possible quality, but then there are other factors entering the equation that make a decision harder.

Cicopo wrote:
I just received my R2880 on Wed and I've spent a lot of time reading up on it, and the 3800 because there was one for sale locally at a very good price, but unfortunately it's footprint was just too big to set it up without building a stand. (I'd have done that but I'm sort of laid up from leg surgery, and will be that way for a few months). I did however buy a huge assortment of Epson pro grade paper he was also selling which is going to be very handy in accessing the new printer. I read a lot about matching my monitor to the printer output (had my old set up matched but a new monitor & printer are in use now) and I found a very nice file sample to download for the purpose.
Using the sample, the ICC profiles from Epson for their papers, and the Color Management manual at their site has produced a very nice test print which to my eyes looks "right on" when printing from within CS 4.
If interested in the test print I used the one on the right side at the bottom of this page.

http://www.inkjetart.com/custom/

Kaj E wrote:
....Thank you Larry, nice to know. The footprint of the 3880 is the main negative for it....

It is really not that big unless you are really cramped for space.


Kaj E wrote:
....have however since read up on Epson printing and found out that for the best results one should print with Colorburst technology....

Not necessarily so. IMO, it is pure marketing hype. I have never heard anyone complain about the 3800 Epson driver ever.


Lars Johnsson wrote:
.... The 4880 has come down a lot in price and I see it with discount price also. How much better is that one ? And what about economy and ink for that one compared to the 3880?....

I buy ink at Shades of Paper. In US$, the 3800 ink carts are approx $0.60/ml. 4880 ink carts are approx $.34/ml (220 ml size carts). Big difference, but you need to print a lot to achieve the savings. Plus, the 4880 is no longer a printer that you can put on your desktop. It really needs its own place.

Is the 3880 in stock anywhere? I'm desperate to buy one.

EBH

I have seen it on line at B & H. They always have a good supply of everything.

At their website, Epson has in the specs for the 3880 that the volume of ink in the cartridges is 80ml. If this is correct, it's an increase from the 3800. For the lowly 2880 (on sale for $599), they don't bother supplying the ink volumes. I was curious and tried to find the ml figure for the 2880 cartridges on the web, but no luck.

I have an Epson 2400 and also an HP officejet as a utility printer. I can't find any info on the ink volume in the HP cartridges either. Does this sound like contempt for the customer?

I knew that I had read the answer to that question and here it is.

In the short time I’ve had my R2880, what has impressed me most though is its ink efficiency. The printer’s ink cartridges are the same capacity (between 13 ml and 15 ml, depending upon the source) and price ($13.99) as those of the R2400, which works out to between $0.82 and $1.08 per ml, better than HP’s Photosmart Pro B9180 and B8850 and Epson’s R1900 (but still considerably higher than the Stylus Pro 3800). After two complete ink changes and some careful comparison with our in-house R2400, the advancements Epson has made in the R2880 were readily apparent. Unlike the R2400, ink life was fairly consistent across all of the colors, and even with extremely low ink levels, I didn’t have to replace cartridges when swapping between photo and matte black inks.

and it's from this review

http://www.macworld.com/article/133625/2008/05/epsonr2880.html

I ordered my R2880 as a refurb through the Epson Canada web site at a price of $631 Cdn (plus local taxes) and that included free shipping. I expected that it would be shipped from somewhere in the Toronto area but in actual fact it was shipped out last Monday afternoon from Plainfield, Indiana and arrived here on Wed morning. It had traveled a long way in under 48 hours. Now re ink cartridges for it I had gone on line to see which local stores might carry them and Staples seemed to be my best possibility, but at 50% higher than the Epson web store price. I could order 1 single cartridge & pay shipping to my door & save over driving to any of the stores locally to purchase them.

pjbishop wrote:
At their website, Epson has in the specs for the 3880 that the volume of ink in the cartridges is 80ml. If this is correct, it's an increase from the 3800. For the lowly 2880 (on sale for $599), they don't bother supplying the ink volumes. I was curious and tried to find the ml figure for the 2880 cartridges on the web, but no luck.

I have an Epson 2400 and also an HP officejet as a utility printer. I can't find any info on the ink volume in the HP cartridges either. Does this sound like contempt for the customer?

I belive the ink volume is the same for the 3800 and 3880 (80ml)

I have the R2880 which is fantastic, but need to upgrade to an A2 printer, does anyone know why the 3880 has less resolution than the 2880 + will I notice it??

bakka303 wrote:
I have the R2880 which is fantastic, but need to upgrade to an A2 printer, does anyone know why the 3880 has less resolution than the 2880 + will I notice it??

What do you mean? Both are 1440 dpi printers/