Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)
More than a month ago I sent an email to Bob Headrick, well known at this
newsgroup, asking for his personal opinion on print quality differences
between the 7960 and the 8450, left alone the fade resistance issue, and on
the infamous star wheel marks made by the 7960. I also wanted to know if it
is possible to obtain such high gloss on HP papers as on Epson Premium
Glossy paper. To my suprise, Bob offered to print a few samples on both
printers using different papers. Also my serious consideration was whether
to upgrade from my HP 940c. I have to add that I had already narrowed down
my choice to those two HP printers because of their neutral b&w printing and
lack of the clogging nozzles issues.
So I emailed Bob a file to print and yesterday I received the samples. I
thought I might share my opinions with the newsgroup because someone may
look for such information. But remember, these are only my subjective
impressions.
- I hadn't expected to notice any difference between the 7960 and 8450 but
there are differences! The 8450 has more contrast, which makes sharpness
seem also better. At the same time it prints more detail in the shadows and
gray has more half tones in the midtone range. The highlights are brighter
than the highlights in the 7960 sample. The 8450 has more vibrant blues and
yellow. Greens, browns and greys seem the same. I can't say about other
colours as they aren't in my photo. Of the two, the 8450 is much better!
- I loved the HP Premium Glossy Film for its gloss, of course. It is much
better than other HP papers, but Bob tells me that it is not so fade
resistant as the Premium Plus Photo or Premium Photo papers. I'm going to
check this in the net and if its fade resistance is not shorter than 10
years, it'll be the glossy paper for me!
- I can't see any star wheel marks on samples printed either on the 7960 or
the 8450 on HP Premium Plus or HP Premium paper! Bob also sent me a sample
form the HP Officejet 7410 printer in which I could finally see those marks
with my own eyes. Much smaller and more difficult to notice than I had
imagined! But I wouldn't buy a printer producing them!
- If we consider only colour printing, I can't see justification to upgrade
from my old HP 940c to the 8450! The 940c produces really good prints with
HP inks on HP Premium Plus and Premium paper. The differences are not worth
the money. The answer is completely different, however, if we want to print
b&w!
To sum up, looking at the samples explained much more to me than reading
hundreds of reviews. Did it help me make a decission? It sure did! What's my
decision? To buy an HP 8750!
I hadn't considered an A3 printer before, mainly because of the high price
and the necessity of buying an Epson 2100, which I heard prints b&w not so
well as the HP 8450. So, not long ago, I asked Bob if there were any A3
printers to be released by HP soon, having heard that Epson has just
introduced its R1800. And he told me about the 8750. The samples were
already on the way from the US to Poland, where I live, and Bob regretted he
would have included one or two printed on the 8750. But having read reviews
of the 8750 and looking at the excellent samples from the 8450, I know now I
can expect even better results from the 8750. But the most decisive factor
to buy the 8750 is for me the ability to print neutral b&w prints with a
full range of tonality in the A3 format from my digital camera, without
having to fall back on b&w film whenever I thought I might shoot something
worth showing to the public. As you can see, my plans changed in the
meantime but my decision wouldn't be so obvious without Bob's kind help.
Greetings from Poland,
Ted Galkowski
More than a month ago I sent an email to Bob Headrick, well known at this
newsgroup, asking for his personal opinion on print quality differences
between the 7960 and the 8450, left alone the fade resistance issue, and on
the infamous star wheel marks made by the 7960. I also wanted to know if it
is possible to obtain such high gloss on HP papers as on Epson Premium
Glossy paper. To my suprise, Bob offered to print a few samples on both
printers using different papers. Also my serious consideration was whether
to upgrade from my HP 940c. I have to add that I had already narrowed down
my choice to those two HP printers because of their neutral b&w printing and
lack of the clogging nozzles issues.
So I emailed Bob a file to print and yesterday I received the samples. I
thought I might share my opinions with the newsgroup because someone may
look for such information. But remember, these are only my subjective
impressions.
- I hadn't expected to notice any difference between the 7960 and 8450 but
there are differences! The 8450 has more contrast, which makes sharpness
seem also better. At the same time it prints more detail in the shadows and
gray has more half tones in the midtone range. The highlights are brighter
than the highlights in the 7960 sample. The 8450 has more vibrant blues and
yellow. Greens, browns and greys seem the same. I can't say about other
colours as they aren't in my photo. Of the two, the 8450 is much better!
- I loved the HP Premium Glossy Film for its gloss, of course. It is much
better than other HP papers, but Bob tells me that it is not so fade
resistant as the Premium Plus Photo or Premium Photo papers. I'm going to
check this in the net and if its fade resistance is not shorter than 10
years, it'll be the glossy paper for me!
- I can't see any star wheel marks on samples printed either on the 7960 or
the 8450 on HP Premium Plus or HP Premium paper! Bob also sent me a sample
form the HP Officejet 7410 printer in which I could finally see those marks
with my own eyes. Much smaller and more difficult to notice than I had
imagined! But I wouldn't buy a printer producing them!
- If we consider only colour printing, I can't see justification to upgrade
from my old HP 940c to the 8450! The 940c produces really good prints with
HP inks on HP Premium Plus and Premium paper. The differences are not worth
the money. The answer is completely different, however, if we want to print
b&w!
To sum up, looking at the samples explained much more to me than reading
hundreds of reviews. Did it help me make a decission? It sure did! What's my
decision? To buy an HP 8750!
I hadn't considered an A3 printer before, mainly because of the high price
and the necessity of buying an Epson 2100, which I heard prints b&w not so
well as the HP 8450. So, not long ago, I asked Bob if there were any A3
printers to be released by HP soon, having heard that Epson has just
introduced its R1800. And he told me about the 8750. The samples were
already on the way from the US to Poland, where I live, and Bob regretted he
would have included one or two printed on the 8750. But having read reviews
of the 8750 and looking at the excellent samples from the 8450, I know now I
can expect even better results from the 8750. But the most decisive factor
to buy the 8750 is for me the ability to print neutral b&w prints with a
full range of tonality in the A3 format from my digital camera, without
having to fall back on b&w film whenever I thought I might shoot something
worth showing to the public. As you can see, my plans changed in the
meantime but my decision wouldn't be so obvious without Bob's kind help.
Greetings from Poland,
Ted Galkowski
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