I've always wanted to have a photo printer and it seems that it's difficult not to take notice of the current price point of these two as there's a current sale at the Glorietta. I got brochures from Villman Computers and this is what the offer says...


Canon Pixma iP4200
SRP: php 5,995

9600 x 2400 dpi
29/19 ppm (mono/color)
4x6 borderless in 51 secs
1/5 picoliter ink droplet
5 color printing
pictbridge
35-up contact print

advanced media handling
2-way paper feeding
auto-duplex printing
cd/dcd direct printnig

individual ink tanks
CLI-8 Bk/C/M/Y
PGI-5 Bk



... or ...


Epson Stylus Photo R250
SRP: php 5,994
0% interest (php 999 for 6mos)

5760 x 1440 dpi resolution
up to 15 ppm (black/ color)

6 individual ink cartridges
usb interface
memory card slot
pictbridge compliant
direct cd-r printing


I just copied what their brochure says word for word. This is part of the BPI Madness promo running from August 30 until September 17.

Guys, hoping for your comments on which printer yields better results. I'm just a starting hobbyist so my application is simply to print one-off copies of my selected images.


Thanks in advance for your replies :)

additional info, the canon brochure also mentioned the following:

Smart LED Ink Tanks:

CLI-8 Cyan/ Magenta/ Yellow/ Black
SRP : php 725

PGI-5
SRP: php 850


the epson brochure didn't mention inks.


would also like to consider opex costs between each printer. does anyone have the epson ink cartridge costs, or at least an approximation?

thanks!

I have the R350. The cartridges are in the 500-600 peso range, sorry, can't remember exactly how much.

I don't use any of these printers but just from reading the specs I would say that they probably print very close to the same quality and operating costs would be roughly the same.

Don't get bowled over by the high printing dpi resolutions because you can print at 1200 dpi for the Canon and 1440 for the Epson without seeing any difference between 9600 or 5760. This is purely a marketing game. I also wouldn't pay attention to speed because you can't print larger than A4 anyway with these printers.

The direct printing functions don't matter to me because we take everything through Photoshop anyway.

FWIW, I think these two printers are a toss up. Both will probably give the same quality.

Hi there, you can actually try out the PIXMA iP4200 at Canon D-Zone in Makati, Glorietta 3. They have a demo unit there. :)

They also have sample print outs so that you can see the actual print quality of the printer. :)

The cost per print of the iP4200 for inks is about Php6.00 per 4x6 photo.

Also, the PIXMA iP4200 has a unique feature called "Auto-Duplex Printing" in which you can print on both sides of the paper automatically. Canon also has PP-101D, double sided photo paper in case you want to use them for albums and such.

Hope this can help!

Reading the above post reminded me that you can also try out the Epson units at their showroom in Megamall.

gamit ko po ngayon IP42000, mura lang ink nya 3++, and ang print result nya ay mas ok compared dun sa R230 ko... tahimik sya magprint... pictbridge, duplex printing, direct CD print, 1pl droplet, dual paper source... and isa pa P5T lang bili ko, bumaba na po sha from P59++...
go for the canon... now i use my r230 for document printing na lang... super bagal pa nga pala ang epson.... kahit text lang ang piniprint... ang 4200 up to 30ppm...

the best is to try both printers, since canon has a demo unit in glorietta and epson in megamall (magsawa ka dun)...

do not be fooled by cost per page printing as there is no industry standard yet to compare this. its easy to mention that a 4x6 costs X amount while the competitor is y amount...but make sure that they are referring to the same images

Villman has them?
my printer supplier won't even release a canon 1700 or 4200 even if they have it in stock because they're supposed to be new models and haven't been launched. and yet no old models available.

I'm interested in the epson 4200 due to the duplexing feature! comes in very handy printing long documents and manuals and saves a few trees in the process. heard it's
also CIS friendly due to not having ink smart chips as compared to epsons.

Villman has them?
my printer supplier won't even release a canon 1700 or 4200 even if they have it in stock because they're supposed to be new models and haven't been launched. and yet no old models available.

I'm interested in the epson 4200 due to the duplexing feature! comes in very handy printing long documents and manuals and saves a few trees in the process. heard it's
also CIS friendly due to not having ink smart chips as compared to epsons.

Hi there,

The Canon PIXMA iP4200 is definitely available in the market. You can try other IT dealers. Or also Canon D-Zone, you can call the makati branch at 752-7361.

The PIXMA iP4200 comes with the built in auto-duplex feature. :) Although, it's still recommended that you use original inks in order to preserve the life of the printer and not to compromise the print quality. :)

villman price of the 4200 is P5900
where did you hear about a lower price?

We've had the ip4200 (which replaced our i850) for 4 months now already and I couldn't be any happier.

It's very fast.

The inks last long and is relatively cheap. The dye based black ink tank isn't even empty yet, still half full. Blacks are black and there is far less color cast on grayscale printing.

The auto duplexing feature is handy. But I still find reversing the paper manually though tedious, cuts the printing time in half. Yes, it's quite slow for the printer to refeed the paper and print on the reverse side.

The lit tanks are a nice touch too when changing tanks on dark situations.

Did I mention it's very fast?

Villman has them?
my printer supplier won't even release a canon 1700 or 4200 even if they have it in stock because they're supposed to be new models and haven't been launched. and yet no old models available.

I'm interested in the epson 4200 due to the duplexing feature! comes in very handy printing long documents and manuals and saves a few trees in the process. heard it's
also CIS friendly due to not having ink smart chips as compared to epsons.

is this true (regarding the fact that canon does not have those ink smart chips)? Im having trouble with my Epson R210 right now (with the double red light blinking simultaneously)

I just got the ip4300, is this actually similar to ip4200? or is this the same product but with a different international name since i got mine in the USA? I'm worried that inks for this model might not be available locally. any info on this would be greatly appreciated.

The ip4300 is newer. It has nearly 2x more print nozzles and prints a little bit faster than the ip4200.

They use the same inks too.

PGI-5BK Black
CLI-8BK Black
CLI-8C Cyan
CLI-8M Magenta
CLI-8Y Yellow

Thanks for the info randall

Grabe Randall, it's as if you work for Canon! naunahan mo pa ako! hehehehe.. Thanks for the help! :)

Hehe no problem. I really do my homework before buying something new. :)

@bunny,

btw,

the CLI-8 and PGI-5 are widely available locally... so you won't be having any problems with your iP4300. :)

@bunny,

btw,

the CLI-8 and PGI-5 are widely available locally... so you won't be having any problems with your iP4300. :)


Thanks for the info ann...appreciate it

I was recently at Canon D-Zone SM North EDSA Cyberzone inquiring about the CLI-8 inks. Yup, they have it in stock. But I was an idiot for not buying any while I was there! I was just doing my usual stock availability and price check. I had neglected to check the ink levels of my Canon printers.

I have to go back to purchase CLI-8 inks (Photo Magenta and Yellow) for my Pro 9000.

@bunny,

btw,

the CLI-8 and PGI-5 are widely available locally... so you won't be having any problems with your iP4300. :)

the ip4300 is out now? Aiyah!
have to call my supplier about that.
Good thing the 4200 hasn't been delivered yet.

Now i want the 4300. :Grin:
does it have the duplex feature? bec that would be the main reason i want this printer.

Canon dealers has the 1700 and the 4300 in stock but won't sell either of them to me. Not yet released, won't even say when will it be release. It's frustrating.
so back on the waiting list for the 4200

the ip4300 is out now? Aiyah!
have to call my supplier about that.
Good thing the 4200 hasn't been delivered yet.

Now i want the 4300. :Grin:
does it have the duplex feature? bec that would be the main reason i want this printer.

yup, the 4300 has duplex printing

Canon dealers has the 1700 and the 4300 in stock but won't sell either of them to me. Not yet released, won't even say when will it be release. It's frustrating.
so back on the waiting list for the 4200

Hi enjoy! The iP4300 is not available yet locally, it will be available by around first week of February. However, the specs are very very close to the iP4200. The iP4300 just has a slightly faster engine.

Right now, the stocks of the iP4200 have run out, but we it should be available by the last week of December, right after Xmas. :)

Pls just PM me if you need assistance in reserving with one of the Canon dealers. Thanks! :)

@ jill

thanks! i stayed on the wait list and got the 4200 unit. very happy with it. so far.

@ aly

I stand corrected, both Epson and Canon has smart chips.
Epson's chip can be reset through a utility
Canon's chip can NOT be reset (resetted) - but they can be requested stop warning you and just keep printing. ;)



is this true (regarding the fact that canon does not have those ink smart chips)? Im having trouble with my Epson R210 right now (with the double red light blinking simultaneously)

I am a happy user of a Canon iP4200. I have had my printer for over two months and it has performed well. But in order for this printer to really shine you have to use original Canon media and ink. I tried using third party media..... forget it! The prints really suck. The ink bleeds at the borders, the colors were off, and detail is lost. But with Canon paper, the output is perfect.

Oh.. and one more thing, a calibrated monitor will let you enjoy this printer even more once you get the profiles dialled in. Imagine output that matches what you see on your monitor! (I'm working on getting a 100% match) Ah... Printing Nirvana!!!

LOL! I see that you took to heart what I told you during out mini-seminar on inkjet printing :D

Don't hesitate to contact me if you need further information.

I am a happy user of a Canon iP4200. I have had my printer for over two months and it has performed well. But in order for this printer to really shine you have to use original Canon media and ink. I tried using third party media..... forget it! The prints really suck. The ink bleeds at the borders, the colors were off, and detail is lost. But with Canon paper, the output is perfect.

Oh.. and one more thing, a calibrated monitor will let you enjoy this printer even more once you get the profiles dialled in. Imagine output that matches what you see on your monitor! (I'm working on getting a 100% match) Ah... Printing Nirvana!!!

LOL! I see that you took to heart what I told you during out mini-seminar on inkjet printing :D

Don't hesitate to contact me if you need further information.

Yes Jo, I am enlightened! I will be paying close attention to getting my prints perfect. Afterall, it's prints that allow other people to enjoy and appreciate your work.

Thanks a million!

hi everybody, what's up with the r250? I was in cyberzone mega and was looking for ink cartridges so i can replace my spent ones, however nobody seems to have them in stock, i went to pc madness where i got my unit, and they said that the cartridges are by order only, what do you guys think ?

@ Macy

That's weird. Did you try Columbia in Megamall? They're a bit pricier compared to purchasing ink cartridges from the PC shops in Megamall Cyberzone. But they should have it in stock.

jo,

thanks 4 the response,am thinking of going cis,wht do you think?isnt it cheaper?what about pic quality? I am just starting this hobby,so i relly dont know much about photography. Thanks again

macy

@ Macy

I won't deny that your cost goes down with using CIS. But I would still recommend that you use original consumables (inks and paper) for your printer.

The print quality and longetivity is more consistent. My standard argument is that you've already probably gone the distance to shoot and post process the image just to get it right. Why not go all the way to ensure a quality print output?

I'm setting up a inkjet printing seminar. I'm creating a post for it in this forum. Why don't you attend?

ok will see if i can go on that day, ill just call or text you,

My standard argument is that you've already probably gone the distance to shoot and post process the image just to get it right. Why not go all the way to ensure a quality print output?

I totally agree with this!

That's why I just bring my files to DPI. ;-)

@ Dindin

I also have some prints done at DPI. However, there are times where I would rather use my inkjet printer if they are only a few pieces and to further save on gas and effort :D

@ Dindin

I also have some prints done at DPI. However, there are times where I would rather use my inkjet printer if they are only a few pieces and to further save on gas and effort :D

exactly! which makes this thread much more relevant.:)

seen your post of inkjet printing seminar in pipho though i can't commit as early as now :(

I've used my inkjet to produce impromptu folios. Some clients still prefer to see actual prints even if they can view the image on a web gallery. What are you going to do if you have to meet with the client later in the day and all the copies of your folio are with other prospective clients? :D