Opinions on Epson Stylus Photo R1800?

My Epson 1280 finally died after about 5 years. It would cost about $400 to
fix, so I thought I would just buy a new and better printer. I have my eyes
on the Epson Photo R1800. Anyone have experience with this printer?
Comments? Is there a better printer for the same price or within $100?
Pros and cons?

thanks

"rbaker3" wrote:
My Epson 1280 finally died after about 5 years. It would cost about $400 to
fix, so I thought I would just buy a new and better printer. I have my eyes
on the Epson Photo R1800. Anyone have experience with this printer?
Comments? Is there a better printer for the same price or within $100?
Pros and cons?

Use Epson ink, and use it *every* day.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

Thanks. I noticed that rebate. I loved my 1280, but I have been wanting to
upgrade for sometime now to something better. Spending a couple hundred
more for something better with higher resolution, archival inks, better
prints in general supposedly, etc is worth it.


"Ed Ruf" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 2 May 2006 07:48:53 -0500, in rec.photo.digital "rbaker3"
wrote:

My Epson 1280 finally died after about 5 years. It would cost about $400
to
fix, so I thought I would just buy a new and better printer. I have my
eyes
on the Epson Photo R1800. Anyone have experience with this printer?
Comments? Is there a better printer for the same price or within $100?
Pros and cons?

I own an R800 and am happy with it. Note these are pigment based inks
which can look a fair bit different than the dye based inks of the
12x0. Look at some of the on-line reviews.
FWIW, you could also buy a new 1280 from Epson directly for $300
counting a $100 mail in rebate.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...s&oid=28907797
__________________________________________________ ______
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 )
http://EdwardGRuf.com

Funny you should ask.
My 1280 died and I got an r1800.
I got the 1280 fixed--replacing the print head was about half the cost of a
new 1280 (did you have the blue lines of death?). This was a sentimental and
not a wise economic decision.
In truth side by side print comparisons show some differences between the
r1800 and the 1280--as to which is better is a matter of choice.
Print longevity is not an issue for me as I doubt anyone will care to see my
inkjet masterpieces two hundred years from now.
Despite what I have read in some reviews I do not see startling differences
in color range, depth, brightness etc when prints from a 1280 and 1800 are
compared side to side, but there are subtle differences.
One caveat with the r1800 is that a gloss optimizer, which has to be
activated in the print driver, is sprayed over glossy papers leading to a
border effect such that you may want to trim the excess paper or always
mount behind a cutout matte.
At times I have been forced to print text with the 1280, not something I
would recommend with the r1800 but not impossible either.
I hope you calibrate your monitor and use color management as these are both
unforgiving printers.

"bmoag" wrote in message . com...
Funny you should ask.
My 1280 died and I got an r1800.
I got the 1280 fixed--replacing the print head was about half the cost of a
new 1280 (did you have the blue lines of death?). This was a sentimental and
not a wise economic decision.
In truth side by side print comparisons show some differences between the
r1800 and the 1280--as to which is better is a matter of choice.

With some types of prints (e.g. monochromes) the R800/1800 runs
rings around the 1280.

Print longevity is not an issue for me as I doubt anyone will care to see my
inkjet masterpieces two hundred years from now.
Despite what I have read in some reviews I do not see startling differences
in color range, depth, brightness etc when prints from a 1280 and 1800 are
compared side to side, but there are subtle differences.
One caveat with the r1800 is that a gloss optimizer, which has to be
activated in the print driver

No it doesn't. The option to turn gloss optimizer off or on is in the
printer driver.

, is sprayed over glossy papers leading to a
border effect such that you may want to trim the excess paper or always
mount behind a cutout matte.
At times I have been forced to print text with the 1280, not something I
would recommend with the r1800 but not impossible either.

We print business statements every month with an R800. Text mode
is excellent although pretty slow.

I just got the R1800 and so far I love it. It's a lot faster and quieter!
I'm wondering what the difference is in the R2400 that justifies $300 more.
I thought about buying it, but couldn't justify the price at the time. Only
thing I notice in the description is K3 Ink.

thanks

"John" wrote in message
ink.net...
"bmoag" wrote in message
. com...
Funny you should ask.
My 1280 died and I got an r1800.
I got the 1280 fixed--replacing the print head was about half the cost of
a
new 1280 (did you have the blue lines of death?). This was a sentimental
and
not a wise economic decision.
In truth side by side print comparisons show some differences between the
r1800 and the 1280--as to which is better is a matter of choice.

With some types of prints (e.g. monochromes) the R800/1800 runs
rings around the 1280.

Print longevity is not an issue for me as I doubt anyone will care to see
my
inkjet masterpieces two hundred years from now.
Despite what I have read in some reviews I do not see startling
differences
in color range, depth, brightness etc when prints from a 1280 and 1800
are
compared side to side, but there are subtle differences.
One caveat with the r1800 is that a gloss optimizer, which has to be
activated in the print driver

No it doesn't. The option to turn gloss optimizer off or on is in the
printer driver.

, is sprayed over glossy papers leading to a
border effect such that you may want to trim the excess paper or always
mount behind a cutout matte.
At times I have been forced to print text with the 1280, not something I
would recommend with the r1800 but not impossible either.

We print business statements every month with an R800. Text mode
is excellent although pretty slow.

I like mine.

On Tue, 2 May 2006 07:48:53 -0500, "rbaker3" wrote:

My Epson 1280 finally died after about 5 years. It would cost about $400 to
fix, so I thought I would just buy a new and better printer. I have my eyes
on the Epson Photo R1800. Anyone have experience with this printer?
Comments? Is there a better printer for the same price or within $100?
Pros and cons?


I've had mine for half a year and am very happy with it.
The resolution is incredible, the gamut excellent for a
pigment ink printer.

In truth it's the first pigment ink printer I've seen that
does a credible job on glossy paper.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com