for anyone who takes digital pics…

Hi all.

I have been using Jessops in Belfast to develop my pics because their machine displays the file name of the pics and it is easy to keep track of what has and hasn’t been developed. However recently their standards have left something to to be desired. On one occasion the digital booth was completely broke, other times the one hour service took 2 hours, and the last time I was in I left 1 hundred pictures to be developed only to find when I got home it hadn’t printed between 30 – 40 of the pictures. That’s not to mention the queues because there is only one machine.

Are there any other high street alternatives? I was wondering if anyone knew if the self service digital booths in Boots can read rewritable cds? Maybe I can develop 40 at a time.

I transfer all my pics from my camera to disc so there are between 300 – 400 pics on each disc. That was the advantage of Jessops because you could pick which pictures to develop from the disc, but do Boots require you to only have the pictures you want developed on disc?

Thanks in advance!

I also for various reasons would never recommend anybody touch an Epson printing product, unless – and it’s a big unless – it’s one of their big professional multi-thousand pound jobs.

The cheaper end of their range are very prone to blockages in particular, and don’t like being used infrequently.

As I understand, the technology in the large professional market Epson printers is broadly the same as in their consumer market printers. I suspect the only reason that printing results differ is because of the user. Professional users will have a colour managed workflow; home users frequently do not and often do not appreciate the need for such. No inkjet is quite the simple turn key printing solution for the amateur user that manufacturers would suggest, although some are better than others in this respect.

An appropriate analogy might be that the photo quality inkjet is equivalent to a colour darkroom set up. It is ideal for the committed serious photographer who wants control of the whole image making process, who is prepared to invest time and money in learning how to get the best results, and who’s aim is a relatively small portfolio of high quality prints.

However an inkjet is not a device for churning out lots of snaps. In this role it is expensive, often slow, and demanding of a good deal more time and knowledge than the average user is prepared to commit just to print a few pictures. Far better to take the camera memory card, or a CD of images, to a lab and let them do the printing.

I have experience of a number of Epson printers; Photo Stylus 700, Photo 1270 and Photo1290. All are capable of giving superb results, far better than the bog standard lab machine print. I have not had any particular problem with head blockages, but then I only use Epson OEM inks. Incidentally, never ever buy these from ‘high street’ stores; far too expensive! On line retailers are significantly cheaper. Neither have I had any problems arising from infrequency of use apart from ink consumption. If used only occasionally, Epson printers go through a head charging routine when switched on. This consumes ink. I doubt that the ink evaporates. Any apparent loss of ink is probably down to this head charging.

Oh yes, and for what it’s worth, I would recommend an Epson printer….. on the basis of my experience and from the knowledge that a lot of other serious amateur photographers and professional photographers also rate them highly. We can’t all be wrong? There are other technical reasons too. I’ll ignore these for now, but I’m happy to set them out in a follow up reply if there is any interest.

I supplied an Epson Perfection scanner earlier this year. I can’t remember the model now but it was around £150 with a built-in slide/negative scanner. Considering the price I was very impressed.

I’ve used Epson scanners at work and home, and am quite happy with them; thoigh the software and menu screens could (and should) be used as non-intuitive, non-userer friendly examples. Appallingly badly designed.

I know too tired to fix it

Thanks for your tips guys, I now know not to fiddle with the originals in the future. I think thats a good excuse to revisit Hendon and Duxford over the holidays so I can get some proper shots 😀 .

I only speak from my experience. My old Epson is used VERY infrequently now so it’s not really fair, but Damien’s right, it takes a good few cleaning cycles to work properly.

Most are businesses where they’re in constant use. Lexmark have staggering costs for consumables and the last few HPs I’ve had experience of have been decidedly unhappy about networks. Canon I haven’t any recent experience with, so when I found something that worked, I stuck with it.

Edit
Regarding the post from robbelc, I never modify the original files. You can’t modify a negative, only the way you print it so don’t change the original.

I only play with a digital camera compared to the majority of the people on here, so I’m sure there’s more to come from them.

After reading it one here I tried bonusprint.com, the results were mixed. I sent through 25 prints for just under £4. The few that were straight out of my camera were impressive. The problem came with those from a whille ago that I saved on my pc. I reduced their size to 8X6 inch so I could view them. The bonusprint software require the to be around 1600×1200 to be printed this makes them pixalated on the prints. Its noticeable on the edges of wings etc. Any tips to make these look better?

Unfortunately, if you haven’t saved the original files from your camera, you’re probably stuffed. There are a number of utilities that could help you improve the look, but nothing can restore lost information. They can interpolate (guess) what the missing info might be, but that kind of software is likely to be very expensive and a little hit and miss.

Yes it is important to use any IJ printer regularly. Big expensive jobbies or cheap ones. Frankly anyone who buys a big expensive one, and it doesn’t pay for itself and is therefore used very regularly has more money then sense.

I understand that may well be the case with some of the chaps here! :diablo: 😀 😉

After reading it one here I tried bonusprint.com, the results were mixed. I sent through 25 prints for just under £4. The few that were straight out of my camera were impressive. The problem came with those from a whille ago that I saved on my pc. I reduced their size to 8X6 inch so I could view them. The bonusprint software require the to be around 1600×1200 to be printed this makes them pixalated on the prints. Its noticeable on the edges of wings etc. Any tips to make these look better?

I highly rate these chaps . They have an online business too , it’s called Hamish McTavishs cartridges or summat like that . Save loads by purchasing in 10 at a time , 10 cartridges for the price of £3-£4 brand name cartridges.

http://www.tintolaser.com/

Fair enough! You wouldn’t want mine though, hatchet or not!

Strange how different people have different experiences.

I supply and recommend only Epson printers.

I’d never reccomend Epson printers from bad personal (work & home) experience.
My Epson printer had a close call as I was leaving the country. I was going to cerimonially chop it up with a hatchet, but someone offered money for it, so it was reprieved at the last minute. Close.

Take a CD ROM to a photo lab. Make it their problem to get decent quality prints rather than fiddling about with a compromised multipurpose or expensive speciallised printer at home…

Just my 2d.

for a budget price and great results and cheap ink refils you cannot beat the epsom r300 just around the £100 mark as 6 ink tanks that cost just under a £5 to replace or you can buy the large refil bottles and fill the tanks that use most ink if your doing pics then you will find they use more magenta and cyan color so very good in that respect also prints on the cd discs and reads most memory cards .i dont have one ive used various HP and canon printers but im going to grab one of theses in the sales .

I use a HP Deskjet 5150. Very good results, especially if using the 3 colour black cartridge. Quite pricey for ink replacements though (7dayshop.com are the cheapest I’ve found).
Have also just bought a Canon Pixma iP3000 which has a good write up & will also print directly onto CDs. Amazon UK offered the best value for this one. Not tried yet as Santa is saving it until next saturday.

I use 2 different printers

I have HP1350xi all in one printer which has a built in card reader for doing pictures . Nice for printing off “thumbnails” for sorting out what I have . Cost me about $100 at the local COSTCO warehouse .

Also have an early model HP Photosmart 130 I use as a portable printer . It goes with me on trips so I can print shots for friends on the spot again about $100 .

I prefer to store pictures on disc so the print cost(ink,paper, etc) does not bother me as much

I would say that Trumper put the pro and con of home printing right

Does anyone use a hp photosmart 7760…?

Mine is the Hp 7150 if that is of any use to you

For anyone who’d rather not ‘do it themselves’ go to www.printbig.co.uk
We use Epson Stylus Pro 10600 printers (they are 44″ wide) and have more materials to print on than you can shake a stick at. Matt, Satin, Gloss, Canvas, Banner, Self Adhesive etc…
I deal with sales and a lot of the production work. It’s top quality Inkjet printing and extremely affordable, also the more you order, the more discount i can offer 😉
Our contact details are on the site, give me a call. Just ask for Chris.

I can also send out samples to anyone who wants them. 🙂

P.s. i’m not sure i’m permitted to say the above on this forum. Selling a service? Moderators, please let me know if there is a violation of some sort.

FROM MOGGY There is a no advertising rule on the Forum, but I think its spirit is to prevent commercial concerns popping-up just to boost their products. I can’t see that a regular poster telling other forumites that they have a service on offer is an issue.