My CONCLUSIONS:  The Epson prints can be seen to be lifeless and washed out , with a stronger yellow cast, next to the Canon and HP prints, shown well on this web page. You might not notice this if you have nothing next to it to compare it to.

OKAY- now this  is important-- the Epson R800 MUST use select Epson papers to print properly because  it is using a new type of pigmented inks- In general, pigmented inks are much more muted than regular dye inks as used in the Canon and HP. Some call this a "natural" look. Others may prefer to call it dull.   But I've noticed relatively dull colors from OTHER Epson dye inks as well- so it seems to be a real Epson trait. Others are reporting the same: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003&message=10930372

An in depth review of  this printer can be found here,  with a more positive slant: R800 review

In person,  the Canon is quite brilliant  and eye catching, the HP clearly darker and more muted in  tone. Both the Canon and HP produce very good prints, and  it would be a toss-up except for the fact that the HP carts are CONSIDERABLY more expensive and much less cost effective. The HP uses 3 carts, 2 of them tri-color and one black. They are really  small as  well. HP carts have never been cost effective  because each cart  has a new print head. Further, the HP printer takes more  than three times as long to print as the Canon- a problem if you are doing high volume, or if you don't like sitting around for a very long time for large prints.

News is  that a new HP printer  coming  out uses  half the  ink and prints faster.  We shall have to see how it holds up against careful scrutiny.

The Epson printing time....well- how much time do you have? Others  have  reported faster  4X6 printing times at high resolution ( 2:46 ) than Mike here. Faster times at less quality can be had.

Mike experienced a CLOGGED YELLOW nozzle on the Epson printer. He told me that he went through $80 worth of ink trying to clean the head. He finally gave up and had to beak a new printer out of the box. This particular R800 is especially prone to clogging if you don't use it EVERY DAY. Please review my own experience on the Inkjetstuff page.   Even the positive R800 review above reports clogging EVERY time the printer sits for a day without printing. Like to waste ink cleaning nozzles? Welcome to Epson land.

The Canons have a medium and nice balance of yellow  which is seen in the green foliage and it is welcome in the snake's skin, and is just the right amount to make the reds as in the red flower pop, without overpowering the magenta. Yellow has seemed to disappear in the Epson flower print, leaving mostly magenta.

Again, for the very great majority of persons printing photos, 8 color printers are sheer overkill. A six color printer will do the job, if you can find one now- The Epson R320 is six color, as is several out of the new line of Canon printers, and a couple of last years Canons. The HP uses 3 combination color carts.

The R800 offers the increased permanence of pigment inks-- but at a price  in time,  finish, paper selection, convenience, and cost. Generally, pigmented inks do not have the brilliance of more common dye inks as in the HP and Canon. I think this printer would only be practical for real professionals selling prints with time and money to blow getting what they might consider the ultimate "art" print. Not for us mere mortals who have slightly less demands on print logevity. Even so, the current line of dye based inks seem to hold up very well. I have a wall full of Canon prints constatntly exposed to indirect sunlight, and no fading has been seen in two years. In a photo album or drawer, one could expect these prints to last a good long time, maybe till  you die.

Epson's ink carts for the R800 cost $14 EACH  X 8 colors for the R800.  Have fun. The tiny combo HP carts are similarly expensive.

Other R800 reviews here: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/epson_r800.html  http://www.outbackphoto.com/printinginsights/pi029/Epson_R800.html

See Steve's site for reviews of all printers as well.

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