...a Canon IPF5100 and a 17" roll of Red River 68lb. UltraPro Gloss.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controll...0&modelid=15275

This should be an enjoyable journey.

Enjoy - the 5100 is a wonderful printer. I have been thrilled with mine.

Josh, you may be hearing from me. What paper(s) do you use?

At the moment I am printing pretty much exclusivley on lford Gold Fibre Silk and Hahnemhule Fine Art Baryta - but its image dependant.

I also really like the Hahnemuhle Museum Etching for a Matt paper.

I havent bothered with any of the Canon papers other than the roll of Fine art premium matt that came with the printer - but I have been itching of late to at least try them.

Plenty of good info on the Wiki here:
IPF Wiki Here

Hi Jeff,

I'm in the market for a new 17" printer. Would you be wiling to expand on why you decided on the Canon IPF 5100 over the Epson 3800?

Mark, I feel the 3800 is substantially limited by its inability to use roll paper, which means one would be limited to 17X25" paper for an aspect ratio of 1.5:1--or print lower than c. 15.5" high. Some of my images are LOTS wider than 1:5:1. I did consider the Epson 4880, but when I found a new 5100 for $1335 delivered to me, I bought it. Of course, it's not here yet, but I've got space!

One reason I chose a 17 this time over a 24--I've had 2 Epson 24s, a 7000 and 7600UC--is the ability to get TWO matts and backs from the standard 40X30" sheets--cut to 30X20", of course. That makes framing lots less expensive.

Thanks Jeff. I see your point with the roll paper. I'd love to get a 24" printer but that will have to wait

I'm not Jeff but....

As the gentlemen above already pointed out: the 3800 has no roll feeder. To add to that: the 5100 is equally priced or cheaper, it prints faster, it has bigger ink tanks, no ink loss in switching blacks, it doesn't clog (at least mine doesn't, allways on standby), the Photoshop print plugin is a charm to work with.

On the other hand: the 5100 is a big, heavy machine opposed to the 3800, the 5100 can't print on anything smaller then around 8x10", less stock ICC profiles available from paper manufacturers.

Comparing the output with the Epson and HP's: all printers have their strengths and weaknesses but IMHO neither has real shortcomings.

Huib
www,huibsmeets.com

That's interesting. Will you share where you found that price?

Thankd, ...David

Sure, thru eBay, at Polanco Computers. It was an open-box model but still new and with factory warranty. Don't know if he has any more.

http://stores.ebay.com/PolComputers-1-800-489-3614

None left, but thanks anyway.

David