Best digital camera printer for a good price.

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DaRat

[H]ard|Gawd
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I was wondering what everyone thinks is the ebst bang for buck small printer to print around 3x5's ( i think thats the size)

Thanks.
 
4"x6"

Sign up with an online site like www.shutterfly.com(i think you get 15 4x6 free for signing up) or ofoto.com. They use lightjet printers to expose regular photo paper so you get the same quality prints you would get from a film camera (provided your digicam has high enough resolution). All that and the pictures are like $.29 each cheaper if you buy in bulk. Tough to beat that shelling out $50-$200 on a photo printer, and buying your own ink/paper/thermal carts/etc.

If you have a costco/ritz/etc they also probably have the same kind of device for a similar price. Drugstores/etc with the printer in the kiosk are just using inkjet or thermal which you probably dont want.
 
DaRat said:
I was wondering what everyone thinks is the ebst bang for buck small printer
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Coscto or Walmart :D .


Seriously, if you are interested in saving money why not get higher quality, longer lasting prints that cost LESS than it costs you to print at home.

The cost of these prints ranges from $0.16 to $0.29 (Costco on the cheaper end) and both of these companies use Fuji Frontiers which will give you great quality matte prints.
 
Well, i'd rather have a printer because i like the ability to just print them out like now.

Plus im not buying it, my mom said "why not just let me buy a printer for you so you can print out the pictures i want"

She thinks its better to do it yourself, and it's easier than getting in a car and things i guess.. Shes almost as lazy as me.

haha
 
if you use the online sites they deliver ;)


Plus you get some free for signing up (may have to pay for shipping) you should check it out with minimal investment.
 
ambientZ said:
if you use the online sites they deliver ;)
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Indeed. :D


Mommy won't be too happy when her "photo" prints fade in a few years. That is unless you plan on getting a dye sub printer.
 
how much are dye subs nowadays? my friend had one and got it for a good priceover a year ago, they cant be as expensive as they once were.
 
DaRat said:
how much are dye subs nowadays? my friend had one and got it for a good priceover a year ago, they cant be as expensive as they once were.
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I got a HiTi 730PS dye-sub for xmas. it does 4x6 and 5x7. I believe it cost around $300-$350. The consumables are pretty cheap, like $15 for a 60-pack cartridge of 4x6 (about .25 per print), each cartridge includes paper and ink, just insert it and go.

It's a standalone unit, meaning it does NOT require a PC to make prints, but it's not exactly portable either. Also, there are cheaper versions around (one that only does 4x6, or one that's not standalone, etc.) so you could get the same quality for as much as $100 cheaper if IIRC.

The print quality is excellent, inkjets don't even come close to it, the prints are exactly the same as you'd get from a good processing lab, and the dye-sub process means you won't have to worry about clogged inkjets or running out of a specific color when you need it.
 
DaRat said:
how much are dye subs nowadays? my friend had one and got it for a good priceover a year ago, they cant be as expensive as they once were.
Click to expand...


I bought a Sony DPP-EX5 dye-sub that does jaw-dropping 4x6 prints for $200. It runs about 60 cents per print, but they look *fantastic* - and there is a clearcoat over the print, you can dip them in your coffee if you want.

I'd love to get them cheaper at Costco, but so far I haven't been able to get a decent print from them no matter how hard I try (even using the color profile for their printer). I'll have to try Walmart next. The printer is great for when I just need to whip one out quickly.

steve
 
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