First printer?
p.1 #1First printer?
Looking for first printer, any suggestions?
Epson L18050 - 6 colors
Epson EcoTank L8180 - 6 colors with different ink formula
Canon Pixma PRO-200S - 8 colors
Canon SELPHY
Printing is for family memories (so SELPHY max 4"x6" a bit restrictive), wont' be printing texts, laser BW does the job.
Pigment ink (Canon P-310/P-1100) seems like a nice idea, but I do not sell large print.
I understand I need to buy special paper, but I do not want to spend eternity working color profiles.
Thanks in advance.
Epson L18050 - 6 colors
Epson EcoTank L8180 - 6 colors with different ink formula
Canon Pixma PRO-200S - 8 colors
Canon SELPHY
Printing is for family memories (so SELPHY max 4"x6" a bit restrictive), wont' be printing texts, laser BW does the job.
Pigment ink (Canon P-310/P-1100) seems like a nice idea, but I do not sell large print.
I understand I need to buy special paper, but I do not want to spend eternity working color profiles.
Thanks in advance.
Sep 14, 2026 at 01:41 PM
p.1 #2First printer?
If it is family photos and not often printing, don't buy one.
Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.
Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.
Sep 14, 2026 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #3First printer?
My latest printer scans, prints, and has a massive 6-ink reservoir that costs pennies to print A4 photo prints all day long. I've replaced my home office printer with it; the quality and economics don't disappoint. About $300.
The Canon G620 printer is my latest addition, and the color photo prints are amazing, even better than the CP-1500 printer.
It doesn't quite match the quality of my professional printers, but it's close, good enough for wall display.
The Canon G620 printer is my latest addition, and the color photo prints are amazing, even better than the CP-1500 printer.
It doesn't quite match the quality of my professional printers, but it's close, good enough for wall display.
Sep 15, 2026 at 06:07 AM
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p.1 #4First printer?
guywithgas wrote:
If it is family photos and not often printing, don't buy one.
Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.
Thanks again. He knows his craft and he's right to some point. I liked the "walk the dog, play with the child, go to print shop" line.
He assumes there are plenty of print shops in the walking distance from you. All populated with professional staff that will happily color-match your photos for you.
In my print shop - 20 min ride - they don't even have color-correction software installed. Its a "print-on-everything" outlet they use dye-based prints.
I would not go to photography forum to ask "do need a printer?".
Yes I need a printer. Question is, which one from my list is better.
If it is family photos and not often printing, don't buy one.
Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.
Thanks again. He knows his craft and he's right to some point. I liked the "walk the dog, play with the child, go to print shop" line.
He assumes there are plenty of print shops in the walking distance from you. All populated with professional staff that will happily color-match your photos for you.
In my print shop - 20 min ride - they don't even have color-correction software installed. Its a "print-on-everything" outlet they use dye-based prints.
I would not go to photography forum to ask "do need a printer?".
Yes I need a printer. Question is, which one from my list is better.
Sep 18, 2026 at 04:37 AM
p.1 #5First printer?
olegsv wrote:
Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.Thanks again. He knows his craft and he's right to some point. I liked the "walk the dog, play with the child, go to print shop" line.
He assumes there are plenty of print shops in the walking distance from you. All populated with professional staff that will happily color-match your photos for you.
In my print shop - 20 min ride - they don't even have color-correction software installed. Its a "print-on-everything" outlet they use dye-based prints.
I would not go to photography forum to ask "do need a printer?".
Yes I need a printer. Question is, which one from my list...Show more →
Glad you found this video helpful. My intention is not to discourage you from buying a printer, but just making you aware of what goes into buying a printer. If you don't have a professional printer close to you, by all means go for one but just know what you are getting into before you buy one. Good luck!
guywithgas wrote
If it is family photos and not often printing, don't buy one.Be careful what you wish for! Check this video out before you make up your mind.
He assumes there are plenty of print shops in the walking distance from you. All populated with professional staff that will happily color-match your photos for you.
In my print shop - 20 min ride - they don't even have color-correction software installed. Its a "print-on-everything" outlet they use dye-based prints.
I would not go to photography forum to ask "do need a printer?".
Yes I need a printer. Question is, which one from my list...Show more →
Glad you found this video helpful. My intention is not to discourage you from buying a printer, but just making you aware of what goes into buying a printer. If you don't have a professional printer close to you, by all means go for one but just know what you are getting into before you buy one. Good luck!
Sep 18, 2026 at 06:04 AM
p.1 #6First printer?
I'd go for an ET-8550 (aka L8180) if you don't particularly care about longevity/prints fading in the sun. You can send £15 to Keith Cooper (https://www.northlight-images.co.uk/) and he'll send you the profiles he's made for that printer. It's a really good printer, my dad has one and I've used it some, just don't expect the prints to look the same in 20 years (and much less in the sun). The ET-8500/L8160 is the A4 version (which uses the same profiles) if you don't need/want A3+.
The L18050 uses a different inkset so you'd have to figure out color profiles on your own which I would definitely not recommend.
I don't see the point of a Pro-100/200/200S dye printers over the ET-8550.
The Pro-300/310 pigment inks should give great print longevity. I had the Pro-10S until a few months ago (which was the predecessor of the Pro-300) and a fantastic printer with cheap ink... I paid £100 for the printer and £5 per ink cartridge. It did not give me any problems, unlike the Pro-1000 I replaced it with which has been nothing but problems. The Pro-1 is another option from the era of the Pro-10 but I don't recommend the 1/10/10S due to annoying forced 30mm top and bottom margins for art (matte) papers.
Don't get a Pro-1000 unless you're really serious about printing and also note that the Pro-1000 won't let you print on good papers that are smaller than A4.
The L18050 uses a different inkset so you'd have to figure out color profiles on your own which I would definitely not recommend.
I don't see the point of a Pro-100/200/200S dye printers over the ET-8550.
The Pro-300/310 pigment inks should give great print longevity. I had the Pro-10S until a few months ago (which was the predecessor of the Pro-300) and a fantastic printer with cheap ink... I paid £100 for the printer and £5 per ink cartridge. It did not give me any problems, unlike the Pro-1000 I replaced it with which has been nothing but problems. The Pro-1 is another option from the era of the Pro-10 but I don't recommend the 1/10/10S due to annoying forced 30mm top and bottom margins for art (matte) papers.
Don't get a Pro-1000 unless you're really serious about printing and also note that the Pro-1000 won't let you print on good papers that are smaller than A4.
Sep 18, 2026 at 06:21 AM