Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
On 5/24/05 10:35 PM, in article
m8Uke.1351$rY6.789@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com, "measekite"
<measekite@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Sarah Feliz wrote:
>
>>
>> On 5/24/05 5:09 PM, in article
>> OmPke.1252$rY6.836@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com, "measekite"
>> <measekite@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> Sarah Feliz wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Okay, so I've actually lined up the 2 side by side and compared a bunch of
>>>> photos and graphic files generated by the 2 printers. Here's my take:
>>>> contrary to what's been said here, the IP4000 is *not* a better photo
>>>> printer. It's in fact the same quality as the IP5000. What's different is
>>>> the color calibration, and both printers tend to oversaturate. IP4000 tends
>>>> to print way darker and towards magenta; IP5000 also prints dark but tends
>>>> toward the yellow. In both cases, adjustments are necessary -- fortunately,
>>>> the (identical) drivers provide quick and easy ways of adjusting color
>>>> output and intensity. Once these elements are dealt with, it's hard to tell
>>>> which photo came from which printer.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> And that is probably why the eyes at PC MAG felt that the IP4000 was
>>> marginally better for photos; a subjective judgement call on their part
>>> and also why I did not exchange mine for an IP5000. I thought
>>> "marginally" was too close to call.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> You say "that is why" PC Mag decided the IP4000 was better. "That" being
>> what exactly? You're misrepresenting what I've said (unintentionally, I'm
>> sure).
>>
>
> What I meant is even though the results are to close to call someone at
> PDC Mag felt that was some however small and however maginal diference.
> That is what I meant and based on that and the fact that I use my HP
> more for business I kept my IP4000 and am happy with it.
>
>> I didn't point to any attribute that would make the IP4000 better in
>> the photo dept. What I said was that *both* printers require adjustments,
>> albeit different adjustments. In other words, they're pretty much the same
>> in quality.
>>
>
> I would imagine so. I have not seen the same photo printed side by side.
>
>>
>>
>> If pushed, however, I would say that it's the IP5000 that's marginally
>> better in photo output. I found that it has a clarity of detail that's a
>> smidgeon better than the IP4000. Can it be that it has a different
>> sharpening algorithm? I don't know. I just see what I see. I chose not to go
>> into this in my earlier posting because this kind of marginal, really
>> marginal difference, just drives me crazy. It's so marginal that I kept
>> asking myself: do I see it or don't I?
>>
>
> Maybe that is what the reviewer at PC Mag felt but he just made a call.
>
>> But picture after picture I kept
>> asking myself the same question.
>>
>> Let me also say that I checked on my printouts with a loop, and again, the
>> difference is marginal. Output is very much affected by the black color
>> slider. Ideally one shouldn't have to fiddle with that, but with both
>> printers you do
>>
>
> I do not fiddle with those controls. Using OEM ink I am happy with my
> results.
Because you haven't done comparison printing, you may not realize that the
Canons print too dark and oversaturated. But they do. And yes, they do so
with OEM inks (what else would I be using on a printer I'm testing and
planning to return if not the inks that come in the box with the printer?).
It's not a matter of "fiddling with the controls" as if this were an option
one can take or leave. Without the possibility of making these adjustments,
these Canon printers (any printer, actually) would be worthless. Only rarely
do they produce photos that do not require toning down the black, reducing
the yellows and magentas. This is something that various photo professional
reviews point out. Once these adjustments are made, you have the potential
for a great photo. But not before.
>
>> (as opposed to the HP8450, for ex, which requires no such
>> adjustments). If your pictures come out too dark, too magenta, too yellow,
>> go into the color controls in the driver and adjust upwards or downwards on
>> each color until you get the result you want. I choose to do this here
>> rather than in Photoshop because I don't want the picture on the screen to
>> become skewed. I'm just compensating for the fact that the printer prints
>> darker and off-color from what I see on the screen. Once you learn the
>> printer's quirks (maybe you can always leave the setting to minus-x black,
>> minus-x yellow, plus-x magenta), your pictures will improve a great deal.
>>
>> On this note: I wonder whether there are profiles for this printer? Anyone?
>>
>>
>> To conclude: With the IP5000's clearly superior graphic output added to the
>> equation, the answer for me was: this is the one.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>> I imagine that few people have actually
>>>> had the opportunity to examine both printers at the same time and have no
>>>> way of knowing this. If anyone else has had a chance to compare these 2,
>>>> I'd
>>>> love to hear your thoughts.
>>>>
>>>> On the graphic side, the IP5000 is clearly superior.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> And again that is what PC MAG claimed. And that is what I attempted to
>>> convey to the readers except that the members of the AfterMarket Club
>>> like to disagree with me. They do not like nor do they foster
>>> independent thought unless it happens to fall within their gospel as
>>> diectated by the Reverend, his holiness Burt.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> It lays the ink down
>>>> beautifully. So, after much agonizing, I've chosen to stay with the IP5000.
>>>>
>>>> But if all you're going to print are photos with occasional text, then the
>>>> IP4000 is the better deal. Best Buys is selling them for $149 with a $20
>>>> rebate plus a $20 gift card.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Frys had them on sale with a $30 instant rebate and a $20.00 Canon
>>> rebate. One reader claimed that Frys had a sale on them for $79.95 but
>>> I think he/she meant the IP3000.
>>>
>>>
>>> What was said here is what I have been saying for a long time.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On a side note: for strictly photos, the HP8450 out performs both Canon
>>>> printers; it produces the best photos of all (almost no need to adjust
>>>> black
>>>> or saturation levels). But the paper tray is fiddly and unyielding, if
>>>> you're using odd sizes, and the graphic output, although okay, isn't as
>>>> clean or nuanced as the IP5000.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>