Photo Printers 4x6

I am considering purchasing a photo printer... one of the dedicated 4 x 6
models such as the Epson Picturemate.

The printer will have a net cost of $100. I am debating the benefits to
print images at home. Although the print materials work out to be 29 cents
each, once I factor in the $100 for the machine, the prints come to 62 cents
each over 300 prints.

If you have this model, some suggestions on something similar, or going with
a "full-size" printer let me know your feelings.

Kevin

"kahout" wrote in message
...
I am considering purchasing a photo printer... one of the dedicated 4 x 6
models such as the Epson Picturemate.

The printer will have a net cost of $100. I am debating the benefits to
print images at home. Although the print materials work out to be 29
cents
each, once I factor in the $100 for the machine, the prints come to 62
cents
each over 300 prints.

If you have this model, some suggestions on something similar, or going
with
a "full-size" printer let me know your feelings.

Kevin

The PictureMate printer is slow, slow, slow.
It has one and only one endearing feature. You get 100 sheets and the ink
for it for a fixed price. I tried one for events I do and gave up in
disgust. I now use a r310 (r300 in the US) and it prints nearly 3 times as
fast at better quality for about the same price. I'm more concerned about
the fading of pictures than the print cost so my new printer (coming soon)
is a dye-sub job. 3 seconds a print!

Doug

"kahout" wrote in message
...
I am considering purchasing a photo printer... one of the dedicated 4 x 6
models such as the Epson Picturemate.

The printer will have a net cost of $100. I am debating the benefits to
print images at home. Although the print materials work out to be 29
cents
each, once I factor in the $100 for the machine, the prints come to 62
cents
each over 300 prints.

If you have this model, some suggestions on something similar, or going
with
a "full-size" printer let me know your feelings.

Kevin

The PictureMate printer is slow, slow, slow.
It has one and only one endearing feature. You get 100 sheets and the ink
for it for a fixed price. I tried one for events I do and gave up in
disgust. I now use a r310 (r300 in the US) and it prints nearly 3 times as
fast at better quality for about the same price. I'm more concerned about
the fading of pictures than the print cost so my new printer (coming soon)
is a dye-sub job. 3 seconds a print!

Doug

Printing is not as easy or automatic as the printer manufacturers would have
you believe. Their advertising and marketing yield many disappointed
customers.
If you have a balanced, well exposed image it may print adequately directly
from the memory card or through some simple imaging program without any
manipulation of the image or the printer driver.
Unfortunately many images, actually most, will not necessarily print well in
this fashion.
If you only print occasionally and are happy with mass market services, web
based, Costco, Walmart etc then you will probably be happier continuing to
use that service than printing yourself.
There is no cost benefit to occasionally printing at home so save yourself
the effort of counting the pennies. There is no comparison between the
quality you can obtain by making your own prints, compared to mass market
printers, if you are willing to spend the time and effort to learn how to do
it.
If you are willing to learn how to get more out of your images and print
them as optimally as possible then get a photo printer. The Epson picture
mate technically can print as well as any Epson photo printer in its class,
which means potentially excellent quality, but you are limited to 4x6
photos. A printer that can handle 8.5x11 paper can also print 4x6 . . .

Printing is not as easy or automatic as the printer manufacturers would have
you believe. Their advertising and marketing yield many disappointed
customers.
If you have a balanced, well exposed image it may print adequately directly
from the memory card or through some simple imaging program without any
manipulation of the image or the printer driver.
Unfortunately many images, actually most, will not necessarily print well in
this fashion.
If you only print occasionally and are happy with mass market services, web
based, Costco, Walmart etc then you will probably be happier continuing to
use that service than printing yourself.
There is no cost benefit to occasionally printing at home so save yourself
the effort of counting the pennies. There is no comparison between the
quality you can obtain by making your own prints, compared to mass market
printers, if you are willing to spend the time and effort to learn how to do
it.
If you are willing to learn how to get more out of your images and print
them as optimally as possible then get a photo printer. The Epson picture
mate technically can print as well as any Epson photo printer in its class,
which means potentially excellent quality, but you are limited to 4x6
photos. A printer that can handle 8.5x11 paper can also print 4x6 . . .

Printing is not as easy or automatic as the printer manufacturers would have
you believe. Their advertising and marketing yield many disappointed
customers.
If you have a balanced, well exposed image it may print adequately directly
from the memory card or through some simple imaging program without any
manipulation of the image or the printer driver.
Unfortunately many images, actually most, will not necessarily print well in
this fashion.
If you only print occasionally and are happy with mass market services, web
based, Costco, Walmart etc then you will probably be happier continuing to
use that service than printing yourself.
There is no cost benefit to occasionally printing at home so save yourself
the effort of counting the pennies. There is no comparison between the
quality you can obtain by making your own prints, compared to mass market
printers, if you are willing to spend the time and effort to learn how to do
it.
If you are willing to learn how to get more out of your images and print
them as optimally as possible then get a photo printer. The Epson picture
mate technically can print as well as any Epson photo printer in its class,
which means potentially excellent quality, but you are limited to 4x6
photos. A printer that can handle 8.5x11 paper can also print 4x6 . . .

I have 3 printers for Photo printing, ranging from a Canon S9000 for A3/A4
down to an HP Photosmart 100 series which cost me (over a year ago) about
£100 which at current rates is about $180US.

I know this price is above your budget but I'm sure they have come down in
price.

Although this is a very good printer to have from a convenience point of
view the results are not brilliant but are certainly acceptable. I like the
fact that it takes one cart and I can leave it stacked with 6x4 paper. As we
have a vary young baby in the house it is ideal for quick handouts.

Regards,

Dave

I have 3 printers for Photo printing, ranging from a Canon S9000 for A3/A4
down to an HP Photosmart 100 series which cost me (over a year ago) about
£100 which at current rates is about $180US.

I know this price is above your budget but I'm sure they have come down in
price.

Although this is a very good printer to have from a convenience point of
view the results are not brilliant but are certainly acceptable. I like the
fact that it takes one cart and I can leave it stacked with 6x4 paper. As we
have a vary young baby in the house it is ideal for quick handouts.

Regards,

Dave

kahout wrote:
I am considering purchasing a photo printer... one of the dedicated 4 x 6
models such as the Epson Picturemate.

The printer will have a net cost of $100. I am debating the benefits to
print images at home. Although the print materials work out to be 29 cents
each, once I factor in the $100 for the machine, the prints come to 62 cents
each over 300 prints.

If you have this model, some suggestions on something similar, or going with
a "full-size" printer let me know your feelings.

Kevin


Printing at home is expensive, period. You can take the flash card to a
photo printer with the proper equipment and get better prints for less
money. Sam's Wholesale Club prints 4x6 as low as $.14 each in my area.
Even 1 hour places do it for $.29, and you get better results, and
better paper which will last longer. Economically, printing your own
pictures doesn't make sense. If you print 300 pictures at only $.14
each, you will save the price of that printer.

If the convenience of the printer is worth $.30 a picture to you, have
at it. Note that if you buy a full size printer, it can do many other
things well, such as the rare 8x10 your might want.


--
Ron Hunter

kahout wrote:
I am considering purchasing a photo printer... one of the dedicated 4 x 6
models such as the Epson Picturemate.

The printer will have a net cost of $100. I am debating the benefits to
print images at home. Although the print materials work out to be 29 cents
each, once I factor in the $100 for the machine, the prints come to 62 cents
each over 300 prints.

If you have this model, some suggestions on something similar, or going with
a "full-size" printer let me know your feelings.

Kevin


Printing at home is expensive, period. You can take the flash card to a
photo printer with the proper equipment and get better prints for less
money. Sam's Wholesale Club prints 4x6 as low as $.14 each in my area.
Even 1 hour places do it for $.29, and you get better results, and
better paper which will last longer. Economically, printing your own
pictures doesn't make sense. If you print 300 pictures at only $.14
each, you will save the price of that printer.

If the convenience of the printer is worth $.30 a picture to you, have
at it. Note that if you buy a full size printer, it can do many other
things well, such as the rare 8x10 your might want.


--
Ron Hunter