I am considering purchasing a large format printer.
Previously I have had all my prints done by a lab, they print up to 12x18 on an AGFA D-lab2 and larger on a Chromira. The prints are really nice and are on proper Fuji DP-2 paper, not just Crystal archive like most lab use.
However.. I am trying to work out if the cost is efficient, apart from the benefit of getting the print straight away, being able to print on fine art papers and so forth.
It has proven next to impossible for me to find some actual data on the ink consumption of the two printers I am interested in, the Epson Photo 2880 and the Pro 3800. I know the 3800 has the bigger ink tanks and that it is really nearly the same price as the 2880 once you count the ink that you get with it and such (This has just been discussed in another thread.)
However, on "average" how many colour 12x10's for instance would I be able to make on say a full set of inks for the 2880, a set of inks costing £75 and for instance 50 sheets of Ilford galerie smooth pearl A3 costing £43, providing that the ink set would produce 50 12x10's that would bring the price to £118, the price for the same 50 prints from my lab would be £137.50. So not really a great saving and I somewhat doubt that a set of ink cartridges would stretch to 50 10x12's?
So to cut a long story short can anyone give me a guestimate on how much one gets out of the ink cartridges or perhaps how many cartridges on average one goes through in order to produce a specific number of prints in a specific size?
Best regards
Jan
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