Best Photo Printer of 2024: Canon, Epson, Instax Compared

Canon’s Professional-300 is a giant step up from the G3560, however we’re coming into skilled picture printer territory and also you get what pay for in relation to picture high quality. The Professional-300 is a chunky machine, however it may print as much as A3 Plus in measurement (or 13×19 inches). It makes use of 10 particular person ink cartridges to permit for better accuracy in coloration replica.

The inks themselves are Canon’s pigment-based Lucia Professional inks, that are designed to supply deeper colours, higher replica and constant outputs. Canon additionally boasts that these inks are extra fade resistant, so your prints will look higher for longer. 

I discovered the setup of the Professional-300 to be pretty simple, and printing by means of Canon’s printing structure software program was largely hassle-free. The printer has Wi-Fi connectivity, however I discovered connecting over USB was by far the simpler methodology. I had some hassle getting correct colours printing through Adobe Lightroom with ICC coloration profiles for my Hahnemuehle paper, however after a number of check prints and tweaking of the settings I had prints popping out as anticipated. 

The step-up in high quality over the cheaper mannequin is noticeable, with pin-sharp particulars and wealthy colours that regarded nice on each Canon’s shiny picture paper and the matte texture of the Hahnemuehle paper. Should you’re seeking to take your first steps into printing for show or to promote on Etsy, the Professional-300 is a stable choice to contemplate. 

As the highest mannequin in Canon’s prosumer imagePROGRAF printer line, it is no shock that the Professional-1000 comes with the very best price ticket hooked up. What did take me again a bit although is how huge it’s. It is a hulking beast, measuring nearly 29 inches vast and weighing greater than 32 kilos (70.5 kilos). Briefly, be sure you’ve received a giant area in your house workplace put aside to accommodate it. 

But it surely’s massive for a purpose. Mainly, its capability to print pictures as much as A2 in measurement (or 17×22 inches), making it nice for these of you desirous to show your pictures in giant format sizes, particularly as it may deal with heavyweight paper as much as 300 gsm. It makes use of 12 pigment-based Lucia Professional inks, providing even better coloration accuracy than the cheaper Professional-300. And it reveals, as this printer is ready to produce completely pristine pictures, with very good particulars and spot-on colours. 

But it surely’s an expert machine, and as such it is not at all times particularly person pleasant. It is gradual to activate, and I needed to do a number of check prints, adjusting settings for every new picture I wished to print earlier than being proud of the outcome. 

That sort of fine-tuning is par for the course for a professional printer, particularly in the event you’re a photographer desirous to promote prints. But it surely’s necessary to do not forget that every check print makes use of up valuable ink and paper, and a full set of ink for the Professional-1000 prices $640. The printer may also have to carry out varied nozzle checks and different upkeep duties, which normally entails utilizing some ink as nicely. Whereas it is nearly unimaginable to say what number of prints you’d get from a full set of inks, some experiences on-line recommend you’ll be able to anticipate as much as about 200 A2 prints per set. 

You possibly can relaxation assured, although, that these prints will look very good and will definitely go well with professionals seeking to promote their work as prints. Simply be sure you’re promoting your prints at the next value to justify the quantity you are spending to make them. 

The P900 is Epson’s reply to Canon’s Professional-1000, providing A2-size (or 11×17-inch) picture prints at show high quality. Bodily, I choose Epson’s machine. It is a lot smaller and far lighter, and it is received a sleeker look. Do the aesthetics of a printer matter? No, probably not. But when it will sit in your workplace on show for years, then it definitely would not damage to have extra of a nod towards design. 

It makes use of 10 separate ink cartridges, together with completely different channels for matte black and picture black, that are designed to offer higher depth and distinction for each coloration and black-and-white prints. And definitely, I discovered the colour replica to be very good on the P900, with wealthy tones and satisfying distinction on my check prints and fine-art prints. 

As with Canon’s professional printers, getting the best colours when beginning every print run was a bit fiddly, and after attempting and failing with Lightroom and paper profiles, I truly discovered that utilizing auto settings in Epson’s personal print software program gave me the very best wanting ends in printing my very own pictures. That is advantageous by me, why overcomplicate issues? 

A set of 10 inks prices $440, which is lower than the Professional-1000, however you’ll be able to anticipate to interchange them pretty continuously, particularly if printing at A2 sizes. Frustratingly, I discovered that the printer would typically present a warning about low ink ranges and advocate changing the tank however then would nonetheless go on to supply a number of A2 prints. Different small criticisms embrace a flimsy paper tray, which I managed to interrupt with nearly no effort, and a curler that as a rule did not grip onto and feed by means of thicker paper (290 gsm) regardless of this paper weight being supported by the printer. 

So no, the Epson is not an ideal printer, however its general measurement and print high quality make it my private selection for larger-size skilled picture prints. 

With a extra reasonably priced $300 asking value, however with print sizes out there as much as A3 Plus (or 13×19 inches), Epson’s XP-15000 is a stable choice for these of you desirous to experiment with bigger picture prints with out investing an excessive amount of up entrance. It makes use of the identical six Claria inks because the costlier EcoTank mannequin listed under, albeit in a smaller cartridge format that’ll supply a a lot decrease print yield in consequence (therefore the value distinction). 

But it surely nonetheless presents nice picture high quality, with vibrant colours and satisfying gradation between tones. I discovered it significantly straightforward to print with too, with Epson’s print software program rapidly delivering outcomes that I would be comfortable to ship to household and associates. Is its high quality pretty much as good as Epson’s P900? No, and that is why it is less expensive, however you’d have to essentially stand up shut to note a lot distinction, and it is hopefully unlikely any of your mates are going to be finding out your print high quality with a loupe after which complaining at you. In the event that they do, possibly drop them as associates fairly than fear about your printer. 

I significantly like that the XP-15000 prints rapidly and may maintain many sheets of respectable weight paper in its hopper, permitting you to show round larger print runs with out a lot problem. These of you seeking to begin promoting prints of photographs or illustrations on Etsy could be nicely served by the XP-15000. 

The mannequin I examined is definitely the Epson EcoTank ET-18100, which is not bought within the US. And whereas the 8550 has extra options, like a coloration contact show, the basic components of the six-tank printing and A3 Plus (or 13×19-inch) format stays the identical. They are not fairly excellent equivalents, however they’re shut sufficient, together with in value, so I am assured in recommending the ET-8550 to these of you within the US and the ET-18100 to individuals within the UK. What follows is my expertise with the ET-18100.

As a part of Epson’s EcoTank vary, the ET-18100 is all about maximizing quantity in its printing whereas conserving ink prices down. It makes use of six ink containers, which will be refilled individually with bottles, fairly than changing complete cartridges. Epson reckons you’ll be able to stand up to 2,100 4×6-inch coloration prints from a full set of inks, which is a formidable determine. 

Not having 2,100 sheets of picture paper to waste, I did not attempt to get anyplace near that determine, however I additionally did not discover any shift in ink ranges from all of my testing, so I am assured the ET-18100 presents good ink effectivity right here. 

Print high quality is nice too. I used to be impressed by the general coloration and readability of every print, with wealthy colours and glorious accuracy. 

The Instax title is maybe higher recognized for the road of on the spot cameras that churn out prints in seconds to thrill your mates on the celebration, however you may get the identical instant-print know-how in a standalone printer format too. Each the Sq. Hyperlink and Large Hyperlink (which, because the names recommend, supply sq. and vast format prints, respectively), hook up with your cellphone and permit you to print any picture out of your digital camera roll in seconds. 

You will print through the Instax app, which is fairly simple to make use of, and you’ll apply a wide range of picture results or different filters if you wish to jazz up your pictures additional. 

Instax prints are small and are available plastic cartridges of 10 that value round $20 for 2 units. So they don’t seem to be hideously costly, however the value will stack up in the event you do a number of celebration prints on your associates. The prints are enjoyable, although, with surprisingly good colours and element for an on the spot printer. I used to be anticipating extra of the grainy, washed-out look of a Polaroid picture, however after all I used to be printing pictures I would taken with a correct digital camera, fairly than an on the spot, so I suppose I should not be too shocked that they regarded higher. 

It is definitely not a “skilled” printer, however I can see it being a enjoyable approach for marriage ceremony photographers so as to add to their providing by giving out rapid small prints to visitors on the large day. Past that, both the sq. or vast printer is usually a little bit of enjoyable, letting you create some neat little pictures that might look good displayed as an ever-growing collage in your kitchen wall.