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Imaging Devices

Best Photo Printers Revealed – Jan 2013 (Part 5) : Epson Stylus Photo R3000

1/17/2013 9:16:57 AM

Epson’s top-of-the-range A3+ printer

The Epson R3000 includes photo black, matte black, ‘light black’ and ‘light light black’ pigment-based inks. These varying shades of grey make for superb black-and-white printing – a major selling point of its predecessor, the Epson R2880.

Epson Stylus Photo R3000

Epson Stylus Photo R3000

A downside of the older printer was that you had to swap out the photo black and matte black cartridges every time wanted to switch between glossy or matte media. They’re both installed full-time in the R3000, but there’s still a catch, as they still share a common ink channek. This means that when you make the switch, ink has to be purged from the headm which is both time-consuming and costly.

In other respects, the R3000 is a real step forward, with ink cartridges that have more than double the capacity of the R2800’s, and are much better suited to large-format printing. Like the R2000, also on test, the printer comes with a roll-feeder attachment for creating big panoramic prints. It also features a colour LCD status display and connection options that include USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

“The R3000’s real forte is black-and-white photo printing, especially on matte media”

Upsized Turtle cartridges have a 26ml capacity and contain pigment-based UltraChrome K3 inks in cyan, light cyan, vivid magenta, light vivid magenta, yellow, photo black, matte black, light black and even light light black

Upsized Turtle cartridges have a 26ml capacity and contain pigment-based UltraChrome K3 inks in cyan, light cyan, vivid magenta, light vivid magenta, yellow, photo black, matte black, light black and even light light black

Performance

Considering it lacks a ‘gloss optimiser’ cartridge, the R3000 manages to create pleasantly smooth-looking prints on glossy paper. And even though four of its nine inks are given over to black and shades of grey, colour output is accurate and vivid, much more so than with the R2000. However, the R3000’s real forte is black-and-white photo printing, especially on matte media.

Print speed in top quality mode is a little slower than with the Canon Pro-1 for A3+ output. However, it’s slightly quicker for normal quality 6x4-inch output. Running costs are the dearest here, but only about 20p more expensive than with the Canon Pro-1 for A4 photo paper and ink.

In detail… Epson Stylus Photo R3000

In detail… Epson Stylus Photo R3000

It goes large on features as well as print size

·         Build quality

The R3000 is robust, despite being about half the weight of the Canon Pro-1

·         Connections

Like the R2000, this printer adds Ethernet and Wi-Fi to its basic USB and PictBridge connections

·         LCD screen

The 6.1cm colour status screen is an unusual bonus on an A3+ printer

·         Media support

Wide-range media options include a front-feeder and roll adaptor

Ratings

·         Camera digital

·         Features: 4 stars

·         Image quality: 4 stars

·         Build quality: 4 stars

·         Value: 4 stars

·         Overall: 4 stars

Print quality in focus

Canon Pixma MG6250

·         Landscape

Landscape

Rich, vibrant, yet natural-looking print quality is assured for landscape images, which look excellent on glossy paper.

·         Portrait

Portrait

Sumptuous and flattering skin tones make the Canon PIXMA MG6250 a really good choice for portrait pictures.

·         Black & white

Black & White

 In high quality mode, mono photo prints are the best you can expect from an A4 printer, thanks to the additional grey ink cartridge.

·         Test chart

Test chart

The MG6250 is highly accurate in its colour rendition, as well as in step changes through the tonal range.

·         Print test verdict

Despite its relatively limited range of ink colours, the MG6250 offers great quality and rules the A4 market. 4 stars

Epson stylus photo PX830FWD

·         Landscape

Landscape

Midtones in landscapes can be a bit on the light side, and unfortunately prints can look less than sumptuous as a result.

·         Portrait

Portrait

There’s a slight lack of depth in the skin tones with this printer, which makes portrait prints look a little washed out.

·         Black & White

Black & White

Unwanted colour casts are a common problem when printing mono images, but this is to be expected considering the range of inks.

·         Test chart

Test chart

Colours and tonal steps are fairly accurate, but mid greys are a bit light, as in our landscape and portrait tests.

·         Print test verdict

The PX830FWD fails to make the most of its photo-friendly range the most of its photo-friendly range of six inks, being beaten by the Canon MG6250. 3 stars

Canon Pixma Pro9000 mark II

·         Landscape

Landscape

The additional red and green cartridges help to bring out every subtle nuance of vivid landscape images.

·         Portrait

Portrait

Very lifelike for skin tones, this printer adds a touch of gold for extra beauty treatment and gives some really flattering results.

·         Black & White

Black & White

The slow greyscale print mode avoids colour casts, but mono photo prints are lacking in contrast and are quite disappointing.

·         Test chart

Test chart

Colour accuracy is impressive, but there’s a slight lack of separation in the darkest steps of the greyscale.

·         Print test verdict

Unbeatable for colour output on glossy paper, but unfortunately mono output leaves a lot to be desired. 4 stars

Epson stylus photo R2000

·         Landscape:

Landscape

Dark tones and colours take on quite a muddy appearance, which somewhat reduces the vibrancy of landscape prints.

·         Portrait

Portrait

Going the opposite way to Epson PX830FWD, the skin tones with this Epson printer can look a little heavy and lifeless.

·         Black & White

Black & White

With no grey cartridges, the R2000 struggles to produce convincing mono prints, and there’s often a green colour cast.

·         Test chart:

Test chart

Colour rendition and tone go to the dark side, bearing out the results from the landscape and portrait images.

·         Print test verdict

The R2000 is merely adequate for colour prints, but a poor choice for mono. The R3000 has a lot more going for it. 3 stars

Canon Pixma Pro-1

·         Landscape

Landscape

Rich landscape prints have plenty of contrast and saturation, yet with plenty of detail throughout the entire tonal range.

·         Portrait

Portrait

Full of life, portrait images look typically flattering for a Canon printer. It’s everything you’d hope for in a fully professional model.

·         Black & White:

Black & White

Regardless of glossy, matte or fine-art media, the Canon Pro-1 delivers superb mono results every single time.

·         Test chart:

Test chart

The Pro-1 demonstrates supreme accuracy for colour rendition, smooth gradations and step changes in tone.

·         Print test verdict:

This printer comes through all of our test with flying colours, and it’s equally impressive for black-and-white output as well. 5 stars

Epson stylus photo R3000

·         Landscape:

Landscape

Landscape colours are rich and vibrant, and glossy output is particularly impressive considering the lack of a gloss-optimiser.

·         Portrait:

Portrait

There’s a pleasant warmth to skin tones in default settings, and especially when using the ‘People’ colour mode.

·         Black & White:

Black & White

There’s plenty of detail in highlights, midtones and lowlights, with magnificent mono quality that’s almost on a par with the Pro-1

·         Test chart:

Test chart

The R3000 is Epson’s top performer when it comes to the test chart, with accurate rendition for colour and tone.

·         Print test verdict:

The Epson Stylus Photo R3000 comes closest to the Canon Pro-1, with excellent print quality in every area. 4 stars

 

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