Epson SureColor P800 - large-format printer - color - ink-jet

I am on my second p800 printer, and the prints are great. However, I recommend that if you print fine art don't use the front manual feed tray. You have to disable the sensing of paper type to do it but use the sheet feeding tray. It works on even 17" wide paper. Also, I still can't get the driver to save user-defined sizes. I can access the file to another computer on the network and it works fine. If I use my Windows 10 computer it defaults to letter-size. I have not figured out any other way to get around that problem.

The P800 replaced a 3880 (when the print head failed) which replaced a 3800. Compared to the two prior wide format printers, this one is disappointing. Within the first 30 days, the first P800 had to be replaced, since that one jammed and then stopped feeding paper altogether. (Epson did handle the replacement promptly and courteously.) The fine art load feeder on the replacement P800 works extremely poorly; it has a strong tendency to skew and damage expensive paper. Printing rag paper through the rear feed on the both the 3800 and 3880 worked substantially better and never damaged the paper. Fortunately, I realized I can print my Moab Entrada Rag using the sheet feeder. Also, it appears that setting print size and type on the print dialogue is insufficient and need also to be set on the front panel, an irritating inconvenience. Prints frequently have print wheel marks, something the 3880 did not do. On the 3880 platen gap could be adjusted on the front panel — simple and fast. On the P800, in contrast, the adjustment is buried in the print dialogue. Finally, the print quality is equal to, but not better than, the 3880. Overall, this printer is a serious step backward; in hindsight, I should have had the print head on the 3880 replaced rather than purchasing the new printer.

Updated from 3880. Quality and features are equal or better. Print quality is excellent. Epson support page needs to update software download for Mac Sierra. Would not install on imac; took service rep 45 minutes to solve problem; which involved connecting computer to printer and finding updated software

I have been holding off buying a photograph printer due to costs, ink plugging ruining print heads; and, most of all, I didn't think the quality could compare to a light-jet print nor to a darkroom silver gelatin print. When the surecolor ink based printers came out promising less clogging problems and I saw the quality of some of the prints, I decided to take a chance and haven't been disappointed. On color photos, I believe the visual quality meets or exceeds prints from a light-jet printer, in fact, I recently sold a print that I had previously had printed many times before and it was the most attractive print I have ever made or have had made of that image. Black and white printing comes close to a darkroom print visually and of course, digital manipulation is a lot easier than analog printing. I'm not giving up my darkroom yet, but the Epson monochrome prints are visually appealing. Obviously, the jury is still out on print head plugging as I've only been using the p800 a month, but so far, so good

I upgraded to the P-800 and find that my bird prints, mostly 17x22, of the same photo, have better resolution and depth. This is from a side by side comparison of the same photo with no change of input from Lightroom or the printer. My previous 3880 was an excellent printer but so far I am getting more pleasing prints from the P-800.