Digital Camera News and Reviews

Epson Stylus Pro 7700

Epson has announced two new large format printers called Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700. They will cost about $2,995 and $4,995 in the US and about £2,395 and £4,795 in the UK.

Press release:
Epson America Introduces Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 Printers, Partners with Ricoh Americas Corporation in Exclusive Agreement

LONG BEACH, Calif., and WEST CALDWELL, N.J., – March 2, 2010 – Epson America, Inc. is introducing a new line of Epson Stylus® Pro printers that will further expand the company’s industry-leading printing technology to a new and broader range of professional imaging markets. The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 printers are specially engineered to exceed the expectations of CAD, GIS mapping, and corporate graphics professionals for applications such as high-resolution architectural plans, highly-precise engineering drawings, extremely detailed photographic GIS mapping, brilliant indoor signage, and more.
Epson America is also announcing it has joined forces with Ricoh Americas Corporation to sell these printers exclusively in North America. The combination of Epson’s latest advancements in commercial printing technology with Ricoh’s outstanding reputation and expertise in these markets will enable both companies to elevate the overall quality and range of product offerings in these markets that will be beneficial to customers in more ways than ever before.
“The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 offer unprecedented accuracy, speed, precision, and extreme quality that has never been available to the CAD, GIS and corporate graphics markets,” said Reed Hecht, product manager, Epson America. “The advancements our engineers have made with our technology in conjunction with the exciting agreement we’ve entered with Ricoh Americas Corporation will really make this a win-win for the industry and especially for our customers.”
“This new line builds on the strength of Ricoh’s exceptional wide format LED products and will provide choices that support a variety of customers,” said Michael Hunter, director, product marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “We value the high quality of Epson products and believe by adding these printers to our product portfolio, we are providing solutions that exceed what is currently available on the market.”

The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 (24-inch) and Epson Stylus Pro 9700 (44-inch) incorporate the company’s latest achievements in high-performance ink jet printing. The extreme precision, speed and image quality achieved by MicroPiezo® TFP™ print heads and the benefits of Epson UltraChrome® Vivid Magenta Inks position these printers to deliver a level of printing technology unprecedented within the engineering scientific and display signage markets.
Epson’s advanced MicroPiezo TFP print head is capable of producing extremely precise text and line-art, along with brilliant photographic quality prints, at speeds almost twice as fast as the previous generation. This advanced print head combined with a four-color Epson UltraChrome Vivid Magenta pigment-based ink with dual black technology produces prints with brilliant color, accuracy, and true archival capability. Line-art precision and overall image quality and color accuracy are further elevated through the advancements of AccuPhoto™ HD screening technology.
The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 are currently available at a suggested retail price of $2,995 and $4,995, respectively.
About Epson America, Inc.
Epson America, Inc. is a leading provider of an extensive range of printers, 3LCD projectors, scanners and point-of-service printers that are renowned for their high quality, functionality, innovation and energy efficiency. Epson America is a U.S. affiliate of Seiko Epson Corporation, which employs more than 70,000 people in 106 companies around the world. Seiko Epson is committed to its ongoing contributions to the global environment and for the second year in a row has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, an indicator for leading companies in economic, environmental and social criteria. For additional information on Epson printers, visit http://www.proimaging.epson.com.

Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6350

Canon has announced three new large format printers called imagePROGRAF iPF6300, imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and imagePROGRAF iPF8300.

Press release:
Canon U.S.A. Introduces Three New imagePROGRAF Large Format Printers

Latest Models Feature New LUCIA EX Ink Set, Improved Quality and Performance

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 22, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and advanced office solutions, today answers the increasing demand for large format prints in the photographic, proofing and graphic arts market with the introduction of three new imagePROGRAF large format models – the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300, 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and the iPF6300. Designed for precise, ultra high-quality print performance and increased productivity, each model features Canon’s new, 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set and advanced printing technologies specifically developed to produce prints with an enhanced color range and improved durability. The new imagePROGRAF models will be unveiled at the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) Convention at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, March 8-11, 2010.

“In just four short years, Canon has introduced more than 20 imagePROGRAF large format printers to the market with each new model raising the bar for outstanding, vibrant image quality and overall versatility,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “Coupled with our new LUCIA EX ink set and advanced media capabilities, the new imagePROGRAF models represent an ideal solution for the graphic, fine art, photography and proofing markets.”

Enhanced Color Spectrum
With increasing consumer demand for professional and high-quality print jobs, high-end graphic and photographic studios continue to seek the capability to accurately produce vivid output of consumers’ most demanding projects. To enhance its available color spectrum, the new imagePROGRAF models feature a revolutionary all-new 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set increasing the achievable color gamut by approximately 20 percent from the previous imagePROGRAF iPFx100 series and enabling over 90 percent coverage of PANTONE ® (*) colors to produce rich expression. Additionally, to better meet the needs of the professional print market, the new models feature a reinforced mechanical structure to enable precise ink placement for improved text and line accuracy, making these new devices a powerful proofing solution.

Exquisite Photographic Output
The introduction of the new LUCIA EX ink provides photographers with the ability to precisely achieve their desired results by producing more expressive and crisp blacks, smooth color gradations, and the capability to reproduce the finest details in the shadow areas of photographs. The new inks are also designed with an innovative polymer structure that results in greater scratch resistance and protection from color fading, while also reducing bronzing and metamerism ensuring durable, stable output.

Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR), the world’s leading independent image permanence testing laboratory, has been evaluating the new Canon LUCIA EX expanded-gamut, 12-color pigment inks. Henry Wilhelm, president of WIR commented, “A review of preliminary data from the still ongoing tests indicates that prints made with LUCIA EX pigment inks and select photo and fine art papers will achieve WIR Display Permanence Ratings in excess of 75 years for color images and well beyond 200 years for black-and-white images. In addition, LUCIA EX pigment inks exhibit excellent short-term color drift (“dry-down”) behavior, which is critically important for color-managed workflows and in proofing applications. The new LUCIA EX inks also achieved WIR’s highest rating for resistance to damage from atmospheric ozone, a particular concern in urban environments in situations where prints might be displayed unframed and exposed to ambient indoor air.”

Simplified Workflows
Recognizing the expanding array of media options for large format printers and to further improve the versatility of these new imagePROGRAF models, Canon has developed a new Media Configuration Tool which allows customers to not only utilize genuine Canon-branded media, but provides the ability to add and make adjustments to paper settings to enhance the precision and quality of output achieved with third-party media. Upon release of the new printer, ICC profiles of popular media types from Intelicoat, Ilford, LexJet and Moab will be available for download on their respective corporate Web sites.

To expand print options and improve proofing capabilities, the iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 come bundled with a new Print Plug-In for Photoshop®, Digital Photo Professional and support for Adobe Color Management Module, enabling features such as Black Point Compensation. Through the Photoshop Plug-In, each new model allows 16-bit RGB images edited in Photoshop to be sent directly to the imagePROGRAF printers, preserving smooth and high gradation.

Brian Hampton, an award-winning nature photographer printing with a Canon imagePROGRAF for the first time stated, “The quality of the print is amazing. I was particularly impressed by the iPF8300’s ability to reproduce shadow details in a way that exceeds anything I’ve seen previously on the market. It’s quite a step above the competition.” Hampton also noted the built-in workflow solutions and commented, “The ability to export out of Photoshop via the plug-in is outstanding. Many of its capabilities perform as well as an RIP program without the additional cost.”

Maximize Productivity
In order to support high-volume printing and streamline workflows the Canon iPF8300 and iPF6350 come equipped with an 80 GB high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) that allows for faster spooling of large files as well as the ability to reprint jobs directly from the printer. To ensure the highest level of productivity and reduce overall print time, all new models are also equipped with a standard gigabit Ethernet network interface and an automatic dual-blade cutter.

In those environments that utilize a complete workflow solution in conjunction with CGS, EFI, Ergosoft, GMG, ONYX and other leading RIP manufacturers, updated drivers will be available for download upon the release of the printers from their respective Web sites.

Precision Technology
To fully capitalize on the dynamic color range of the new LUCIA EX ink set, each new imagePROGRAF model employs two advanced one-inch print heads, each featuring 2,560 nozzles per color and outputting a super fine four picoliter (pl) droplet at a full 2400×1200 dots-per-inch resolution (dpi) to reproduce details with extraordinary accuracy and clarity. Paired with enhanced plug-ins and new, High Precision Printing Modes, these new imagePROGRAF models provide an extremely high level of photographic and proofing quality prints.

The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 are compliant with U.S. ENERGY STAR energy-saving standards and RoHS compliance standards. The new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 large format printers will be on display at WPPI booth 401 in Las Vegas, NV from March 8-10, 2010. The imagePROGRAF iPF8300/6350/6300 will start shipping in March for a manufacturers suggested retail price of $5,995, $3,995 and $3,695, respectively.

Canon PIXMA iP2702

Trusted Reviews has tested the Canon PIXMA iP2702 inkjet photo printer. This Canon printer is able to make a 4” x 6” photo in about 55 seconds or so Canon claim. Let us hear what the reviewer got to say about this photo printer.

Some key features for the Canon PIXMA iP2702:
-Print photos up to 8.5” x 11”
-Print 4” x 6” photos in about 55 seconds
-Resolution up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi
-USB 2 connectivity

Trusted Reviews ends up giving the Canon PIXMA iP2702 an overall score of 7 out of 10 points. The printer scores highest on print quality a bit lower on print speed and value while scoring lowest on features. The iP2702 is a good budget photo printer, but it has a few shortcomings like being very loud when printing, the prints are a bit expensive and you do not get that many features like more expensive printers.
Read the full review of the Canon PIXMA iP2702 inkjet photo printer here.

Brother DCP-365CN

Trusted Reviews has tested a multifunction inkjet printer from Brother. The printer is called Brother DCP-365CN and is able to print, scan and copy.

Some key features for the Brother DCP-365CN:
-Prints speeds up to 33ppm in black and 27ppm in color
-Resolution up to 6000×1200 dpi
-Able to print, scan and copy
-Tray with room for 100 sheets
-Memory card slots

Trusted Reviews ends up giving the Brother DCP-365CN an overall score of 7 out of 10 points. The Brother printer scores highest on features, print quality and value while scoring a little lower on print speed. The printer is pretty good for the very low price, but do not expect too much from a budget printer. The print speeds can be a bit long and the costs per printed page is a bit high.
Read the full review of the Brother DCP-365CN multifunction inkjet printer here.