Epson R1800 A3+ Inkjet printer

In February Epson announced the latest addition to their photo printer range the R1800, aimed at the photo enthusiast and semi-professional photographers.

This is an A3 printer using ultrachrome pigment inks up to A3+, the debate is on whether dye based or pigment inks are best, it really depends on what you want from a printer. These inks give longevity of 70 - 100 years depending on the media they are printed on.

This really has the latest technology but is it a price your willing to pay? Photo-i have just extensively reviewed this printer and it has certainly wetted my appetite.

Press release from Epson February 2005 – "Epson announces the launch of the Stylus Photo R1800 printer. Available from April 2005, it is to feature many of the award-winning capabilities of the successful Epson Stylus Photo R800. The Epson Stylus Photo R1800 now delivers border-free printing up to an A3 format , enabling photo enthusiasts and semi-professional photographers to print images large enough for photographic exhibitions."  More...

Review at Photo-i - "Choosing which is the best printer is like asking a mother to choose her favourite child. Each printer has its own good points and depending on your style of photography, you make your choice."

"I can say that the print I produced this afternoon is better than anything I have ever done in the darkroom. The print has sharpness, great colour saturation and all the qualities that I would expect from a wet chemistry photograph, let alone a digital print. It is stunning. Any photographer who questions the quality or merit of a digital print compared to a wet chemistry print need only look at the output from the R1800."  More...

On the street price estimates from £370-£400 and will be available in April, I will keep you posted.