Independent review of Epson Stylus Pro 7800 inkjet printer.

In mid-May 2006 we expected that at last an Epson Stylus Pro 7800 inkjet printer with K3 inks will arrive at FLAAR, courtesy of John Lorusso, president of Parrot Digigraphic (their website is ParrotColor.com).

FLAAR also has a large format 48-megapixel BetterLight for giclee as well as to produce panoramas, so we can produce excellent images with which to test the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 printer.

The logical printers to compare the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 with would be the Canon w8400, Canon imagePROGRAF iPF 5000 or Canon iPF 9000. Now the Canon iPF6000 and iPF8000 are coming out also.

FLAAR reviews do not regurgitate PR releases by the manufacturers. It is a sad commentary on journalism when an on-line rag just repeats what someone else has created as a PR release. But money talks.

FLAAR already has many Epson printers, and another dozen other brands such as an Iris giclee printer, two 72” ColorSpan printers, two Mimaki printers, and many HP printers, etc. This gives us a head start in our evaluations. It is rare to have such a diverse digital imaging background for evaluations of a wide format inkjet printer.

Too many other reviews are pseudo-reviews, just subliminal press releases that masquerade as a review.

The staff at Bowling Green State University and FLAAR’s own staff do the evaluation. We have experience with 23 inkjet printers, 9 RIPs, and plenty of media.

The review of the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 began as soon as the printer arrived from Parrot Digigraphic, and will continue all year. We have already started our review of the Epson Stylus Pro 9800 at the giclee atelier of Gary Kerr (Fine Art Impressions). We are starting our evaluation of the Epson 4800 as well.

And now the new HP printers have landed: the Z2100 and Z3100. So it is a busy season.

Every several years there is either a new Canon iPF printer or a new Epson or a new HP water-based printer. It is hard to keep track of the advances in inks and color management features. FLAAR is keeping track by visiting printshops around the world that have these various brands. Each brand has its good points and a few issues and an occasional deficiency.             

 Since FLAAR itself does not sell printers, for you to find out information on prices and availability of each model that can print digital photographs well, we suggest you contact a company that offers all three brands: Canon, HP, and Epson.  This way they are not going to push just one brand because they offer all three. Plus you need a company that has plenty of experience with photographs and photo labs.One company that we know is LexJet. Dr Hellmuth has visited their national headquarters twice. LexJet sells all across the USA and to Latin America as well. Contact info is sales@lexjet.com.

irst posted Sept 25, 2006.

Compare prices; is it best to buy by lowest price comparison?  Your best deal is to buy from a respectable printer dealer who can provide tips and assistance. LexJet is among several places we know that offer Epson Stylus Pro printers. They can be reached at sales@LexJet.com. Buying from a box-pusher, gray market, and other dubious outlets is not always a clever idea. We have visited LexJet headquarters several times and have visited their booth at key trade shows. Their other advantage is that they offer all three major brands: Epson, Canon, and HP. So they do not need to push you into only one brand.  Plus LexJet knows eco-solvent and UV-cured as well (which FLAAR covers on www.large-format-printers.org).

The complete FLAAR Reports are in full-color PDF format. Our institute has comprehensive FLAAR Reports on over 73 different wide format inkjet printers, RIP software, color management, scanners, digital cameras and on countless markets such as wide format inkjet printers for photography, giclee, proofing, CAD, GIS, graphic design, signs, and specialty applications too. All FLAAR Reports by Dr Nicholas Hellmuth and his team are available on Wide-format-printers.NET.

You can order these reports from FLAAR

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Nicholas Hellmuth’s Medium Format Digital Camera Initiative For over 40 years Nicholas Hellmuth has used Rolleiflex and Hasselblad cameras to record the flora, fauna, and archaeology of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Now for several years he is extending his medium format experience to digital photography. Since FLAAR works both in a studio as well as out on location, we are an ideal focus for judging portability. We have experience with large format digital scan backs (the excellent BetterLight) and we also use Nikon and Canon digital cameras. A full-service digital pro should have at least one medium format digital system and should consider large format digital options as well. Although we started with a Leaf Valeo 22 coupled with a Mamiya 645 AFD body and lenses, we are open to showcasing all bodies as well as other digital backs. Indeed we have tested an Imacon 4-shot back on a Hasselblad H1 body. Then (February 2006 onwards) we are evaluated a MegaVision black-and-white dedicated back for fine art photography. Next we are testing a 33-megapixel Phase One P 30. Since 2008 FLAAR has used a Phase One P25+ (a great way to update an aging Hasselblad ELX body with its excellent Zeiss lenses). Camera resellers or manufacturers who wish to have their cameras, lenses, and backs included in this initiative are welcome to send their equipment for evaluation. FLAAR is the de facto source of information because we have been university based, independent, blunt, and we are one of the few review sources that dares to review advertising specs, advertising claims, and advertising hype. We can afford to reveal all the pros and cons because FLAAR is a research institute. Photographers feel they can trust a university research professor who has devoted years to understanding the pros and cons of each aspect of a digital camera system and workflow. Notice you are not blinded by blinking, flashing, or pesty ads for low-bid camera stores on a FLAAR photography review. I am always amused by a pseudo-review that obviously is simply paid to send you to a camera store. You can download our colorful FLAAR Reports on our medium format digital camera initiative.