Epson Stylus Photo R285 - The Photographers Choice (Epson Stylus Photo R285)

Member Name: danieljamesphoto

Product:	Epson Stylus Photo R285
Date:	29/01/09 (308 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quality prints, good value for money

Disadvantages: start up time of 25 seconds roughly (may be too long for some)

Having had a Canon iP6600D i decided to go for a different brand this time to try and take advantage of the CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) to help reduce ink costs.

---Costs---

I purchased this from the site inkexpress.co.uk with the CISS for just £81 (10% member discount by signing up for free), but it's available at Oyyy.co.uk for just £59.29 an absolute bargain for this printer!

The printer runs a 6 tank supply with each official cartridge looking to cost you around £6 which isn't bad for ink of this high quality (Claria photographic ink)

--- Setup ---

Couldn't be easier, one single power supply cable and a USB cable and you're ready to go.

Pop the CD into your computer and you're away, install the programs you want/use and you're done.

Around 25 seconds start up time from cold.

--- Printing ---

Simple feeder system from the top for paper with an adjustable tab for different sizes and a tray provided with the printer for printing directly on to CDs and DVDs (really gives them a personal touch!)

--- Aesthetics ---

The printer is primarily black with a shiny silver lid giving it a very stylish and professional look.

There are only 3 buttons visible to the left of the paper tray that are for Power, Ink (changing cartridges) and Delete (deleting current document). The only down side to this is that only the power one is highlighted in white and so the other are a bit tough to see at times.

--- Quality ---

The printer comes with a sample of 5"x7" Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper and this really is top notch paper. To fully test the capacity of the printer i selected for it to focus on printing high quality rather than fast speed (an option at the print screen) and despite the extra time taken and more ink used, the quality is outstanding.

As a professional photographer printing on this printer was like taking a photo to the local print shop. The ink dried quickly and the colours were wonderfully vivid, so much so i have ordered some more of this paper (on offer at the moment at Cartridge Monkey (discount code HOT for 10% off, START1 for £1 off £10 spend or START2 for £2 off £20 spend)

I have also tested the CD/DVD printing which really couldn't be simpler and is explained wonderfully.

--- Spec ---

- Printer Type: Photo printer - ink-jet - colour
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 45 cm x 28.2 cm x 18.7 cm
- Weight: 5.4 kg
- Ink Palette Supported (Colours): 6-ink - cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta
- Max Media Size (Standard): Legal, A4
- Min Media Size (Custom): 90 mm x 130 mm
- Max Media Size (Custom): 216 mm x 356 mm
- Print Speed: Up to 37 ppm - black draft - A4 (210 x 297 mm) ¦ Up to 38 ppm - colour draft - A4 (210 x 297 mm)
- Max Resolution ( B&W ): 5760 dpi x 1440 dpi
- Max Resolution ( Colour ): 5760 dpi x 1440 dpi
- Image Enhancement Technology: EPSON Variable-sized Droplet Technology
- Print on CD/DVD: Built-in
- Interface: USB
- Media Type: Envelopes, plain paper, photo paper, mini CD, DVD discs, CD discs
- Total Media Capacity: 120 sheets
- Media Handling: 120-sheet input tray
- Printer Features: Borderless printing
- Environmental Standards: EPA Energy Star

- provided by Amazon.co.uk

--- Summary ---

This printer provides all the things you can possibly be looking for in a printer with quality prints, good value for money and printing to CD/DVD, for the price you'll struggle to find better.

Summary: for the price you'll struggle to find better

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