Earlier this Spring,
Canon introduced a new photo printer,
the S800. Based on published
tests, it appears to
equal, or possibly exceed, the image quality of the x70/80/90 printers. It also has some features
that we might wish for from Epson: separate ink tanks for each color and user replaceable
heads.
So maybe Canon's got a better solution to our needs than our beloved Epsons? I read a number of posts on various internet forums proclaiming the S800 has "better image quality than Epson with no orange shift." I found these claims a bit amusing, since most of them were posted before the S800 was even available for purchase. More recently, I've seen two reports from S800 owners saying that the Canon inks do orange shift.
So what's the truth? Time to undertake some more tests. After the printer hit the shelves, I posted messages on a few discussion forums asking for volunteers. I also found an S800 connected to a Macintosh at my local Micro Center store, and was able to make a couple of prints myself. So far, I've tested 4 papers with this printer, and just received additional print samples on a 5th. I also printed matching images, using the same papers, on my 1270 for comparison purposes. These samples were all prints of my standard test chart.
I've been testing samples printed on 1st generation PGPP and JetPrint Professional Superior Gloss paper. "Wait a minute!" I hear you shouting, "those aren't Canon papers, so it's not a fair test." Good point. So I also tested Canon Glossy Photo Paper, and Canon Photo Paper Pro. For Epson users, the Glossy Photo is similar to Epson Photo paper, but thinner. The Photo Pro is close to Epson's PGPP. I actually like the Canon paper better than PGPP. It's smoother, and every bit as glossy. Except for the fact that it shifts with Epson inks, it might be my standard paper.
So how's the S800 work? Well, I'm not prepared to compare image quality. I didn't have the opportunity to control the printing process for the prints made by others, and didn't have the time to experiment with different settings for the S800 prints I made myself. On a paper like Canon's Pro and PGPP, it's clearly capable of very good image quality, but that's as far as I'm willing to go. Both it and the Epsons should be capapble of providing true photographic quality on the proper papers.
I can talk about Orange shift. If misery loves company, then we should all feel much better. After 9 days in the ozone test, the output from the Canon and Epson printers look so much alike I'd be hard pressed to tell them apart if they weren't labeled. The S800 inks, in my test environment, look so much like the Epson inks I can't help but wonder if they're from the same supplier!. Do the Canon inks orange shift? You betcha! On the positive side, neither the Epson nor Canon inks have shown any sign of light fade, so far.
See for yourself. Click on the links below to see scans comparisons of 1270 and S800 output on each paper.
Canon Glossy Photo Paper
Canon Photo Paper Pro
Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper (1st gen)
Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper (3rd gen)
JetPrint Professional Superior Gloss Paper
I'm not sure why there's a relationship between good lightfastness and weak "gasfastness" But hopefully someone will solve this problem, soon. There's a big opening for Hewlet-Packard here!
Please read my test methodologies and see my disclaimer page.
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