A Lust-Worthy Printer: The Epson Stylus Photo R1800

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.epson.ca/cgi-bin/ceStore/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=60055275' target='_blank'>http://www.epson.ca/cgi-bin/ceStore/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=60055275</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/epson-stylus-r1800.jpg" /><br /><br />A few hours ago I picked up an Epson Stylus R1800 for the great price of $549 CAD, normally $699 CAD. Long story short, I was using my local Wal-Mart to do some holiday greeting card prints, and the colour reproduction was horrific - we're talking truly pathetic. I couldn't even find anyone that knew anything about colour to talk to, so I gave up and printed the photos myself at home on my R200, which turned out great. The reinforced my belief that being able to create great-quality output at home was of great importance to me, and being able to do larger prints has always been on my geek lust list. It's also part of the re-configuring of my work area to better serve my goals of upping the game of my photography. <br /><br />So, tonight I drove across the city to the one place in Calgary that had this printer that was open late on a Sunday, and picked it up. I was looking for a printer (available locally) that would do 13 " x 19" prints, but also printed on CDs and DVDs - and the list of printers that met those requirements was one item long: the R1800 (unless my research was inaccurate). I was initially a bit hesitant on getting this printer because it was released in February 2005, so it's a bit old, but Epson made no move to replace it with a newer version at Photokina 2006, so it seems it's still the most modern printer of its type - especially for $549. I haven't even un-boxed it yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! Much to my dismay, the store was out of Epson 13 x 19" paper, because someone bought an <a href="http://www.epson.ca/cgi-bin/ceStore/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=53540920">R2400</a> the day before and all of the 13 x 19" stock at the same time. So I'm off to another store tomorrow AM to pick up some big paper to make my first prints.

[aroma]

I absolutely love Epson photo printers. I run currently run three of them, but all standard size. I've been lusting after a larger format Epson for a while now, but haven't been able to justify plucking down the cash. (I'm extremely happy with my photo lab I use for all my large format stuff.) I actually have a couple of R220's I need to let go (replaced with R280s). If I can find a buyer for those, maybe I'll start saving up for a large format printer.

[Damion Chaplin]

I am so jealous! :)

I've been wanting a large-format Epson for years now myself. I also could not justify the expense, since my R300 does a fantastic job on standard paper for about $100. However, those large-format prints are always a nightmare to get to come out properly, even if you take them down to Kinko's and print them yourself. Last time it took me about $25 in computer time and prints to get the color to come out right. :?

P.S.: Jason's 5000th post! 8)

[j.freiman]

I'm enjoying using my RX700 (AIO) Epson and would recomend it to others.

However, about your choice to get a printer, Epson or not, that was releaed in early 2005... I'd be very concerned that the printer will lack drivers for Windows Vista!

-John

[Jason Dunn]

I'd be very concerned that the printer will lack drivers for Windows Vista!

Hrm. That's a very interesting point...tech companies used Windows XP as an excuse to sell new hardware rather than providing drivers for the new OS. I'll have to look into this more...

&lt;goes and looks>

I see drivers for Windows 64 bit, but nothing for Vista yet. Hrm. And here I was planning on migrating the machine that's going to be connected to this printer to Vista within the week...guess that won't work. Double hrm.

Oh, and paper choices are giving me a headache as well... :?

[Jason Dunn]

I phoned Epson tech support and they said that they definitely had Vista drivers planned - the tech said they'd release Vista drivers for all of their printers, even the old ones...that sounds almost too good to be true, but she insisted that it was the case. She said they wouldn't be released until January or February however. So that gives me some hope...but I'm still going to investigate further.

[Jeremy Charette]

A friend of mine is a makeup artist, and has been printing 9x12 shots from her large format Epson for several years now. Outstanding printer. Goes through ink like mad, but that's to be expected. The detail and resolution are phenomenal. Epson came highly recommended to her by other photography professionals.

[Damion Chaplin]

However, about your choice to get a printer, Epson or not, that was releaed in early 2005... I'd be very concerned that the printer will lack drivers for Windows Vista!

An excellent point. I'm using an Epson because HP orphaned my previous photo printer when XP was released. For a while there I had a dedicated W98SE machine just to print photos from. :? That was when I decided that HP wouldn't get my printer money any more. I'm curious to see what Epson's response will be (even if they do say all printers will be supported).