So, here we are again. Oh, wait, I don't think I have ever actually been here before. This is kinda long and rambling and meaningless to most, so feel free to stop reading right here.
What I am thinking is this. I love to be able to print at up to 13x19", and while I am pretty happy with the image quality from my Epson 1270, I am just not happy with inkjet prints. I desire real photographic paper and feel and durability, and inkjet just can't deliver on that. I also want continuous tone, and while inkjets have gotten very near, they still aren't there. And mostly, I am tired of wasting half an ink cartridge cleaning the heads when they clog, and how much it costs to replace those cartridges (at least, to get good, realiable, quality cartridges). So all of this has led me to think about this.
Sell my Epson 1270. Not sure what it is worth, maybe a bit under $200? Take that $200 and buy an inexpensive laser printer. I found a few decent ones for around $250. Then splurge and buy the Olympus P-400 dye sub printer ($470).
Here's my logic (well...). I print two things, emails / letters, and photographs. Period. It is very, very rare that I print anything in between. I also tend to go long times without printing anything, hence all of my inkjet clogging cartridges drying up problems. The price of the dye sub is higher than most 8"x10" sized inkjets, but less than the 1280 or P2000/2200. Cost per print is similar, keeping in mind that I use high quality glossy photo paper 98% of the time I print (about 60 cents per sheet for glossy paper, and probably another 50 - 80 cents worth of ink (or more?) making roughly $1.40 per 8x10 print VS roughly $1.80 per print for the dye sub). The laser would fill the void for printing text, and from what I have seen, the $55-$80 (depending on what printer I get) toner yields from 2000-5000 prints. So while I have to pay for the laser to begin with, the cost to operate it is really low.
So if you have gotten this far, thanks! Now my question. Am I totally nuts? Ok, I am, but what about this route I am thinking about taking? And if any of you have the Olympus P-400, what do you think of it? Has the 7.6" width been a hinderance to you? I used to think not being able to get a true 8" wide print would suck, but then a lot of mattes have about a 7.5" opening, so it would still work (not to mention, 7.5"x10" means less cropping of my camera images).
Ok, that's all for this forum. Now on to the next forum with my other ponderings...
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