Epson Stylus Photo 1280

Rschedko

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.17 of 5,
6 votes

Price Paid:  $399.00 from Comp USA

Summary:
This printer produces superb photos. It is very hard to tell the difference between a photo from this printer an a lab print. Sometimes you can't. This printer is a little slow,large, and if it is not used a least once a week the heads clog. This can be fixed by running the head cleaning utility. Even with these problems I find this printer to be a great printer and I am very happy this purchase. If someone wants a printer that does lab quality you would love this printer, you just need a little patience.

Strengths:
Lab quality

Weaknesses:
Slow Heads clog if not used. Large, has a large foot print and needs alot of desk space.

Similar Products Used:
Stylus photo 925

Customer Service:
Have not had a need for it.

gcookie

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
2-5 years

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Frys

Summary:
This is my second review of this printer. I have use the printer for several years and highly recomend it. I was disappointed in the Epson drivers and have since gone to Print Fix software to build my own drivers.

Strengths:
Epson papers are great. I have gone to a bulk ink system and with print fix, print what I see. Matt is your best choice for a longer shelve life and I've printed hundreds of A3 sheets

Weaknesses:
Never could get the Epson drivers to work properly.

Dave Perkes

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
2-5 years

Price Paid:  $340.00 from Novatech Portsmouth

Summary:
I bought a Epson 1290 (UK version of 1280) in early 2001 to produce exhibition quality prints at A3 or larger. It has lived up to its reputation as the best photo printer then and compares well to the best available today.The quality of the prints still impresses me even now in 2004. Time after time, customers who see the prints produced on this machine are surprised they are inkjet prints. As many people in this forum have observed; the quality at 1440dpi for colour is all that’s wanted. However I do use 2880 dpi for monochrome. Having spent a long time tearing my hair out and failing to get neutral blacks using full colour mode; I find the only way to get decent black and white images is to use the single black cartridge. By the careful use of Photoshop I have been able to get some surprisingly good results. They do not match high class conventional printing using medium format cameras; but can look effective none the less. Having moved to Cambodia in SE Asia in early 2003 I was very relieved to find that ink cartridges are readily available in the country. Some other brands and decent quality paper (Epson) is impossible to get. The tropical humidity has not affected even some quite old prints on Epson and Jessops paper; though HP and Kodak paper fades rapidly to a greenish hue. I have found that IJ graphics paper (bought from Thailand) has proved excellent with a lustrous finish with colour saturation far better than any Epson paper. It is standing up to tropical conditions well Overall this printer has surpassed my best expectations and as a very critical user I have been very impressed. The quality of results makes up for the poor software.

Strengths:
• Fabulous print quality on photo paper • Longevity using quality photo paper and Epson Inks • Ability to use roll paper. • Can get borderless prints using Photoshop. • Cartridges are widely available • By current standards it is not too costly to run • Good service backup (in UK)

Weaknesses:
• Epson software unreliable and buggy and not very user friendly. • I cannot get neutral blacks for monochrome using full colour mode • Quality not great on normal paper • A bit slow (but the quality makes up for it) • Very difficult to set up using Windows XP • Roll paper handling is poor (no cutter) • Photo Quicker is dreadful; even the upgrade has serious shortcomings. • Cannot use 3rd party inks or refills reliably (don’t even think about it!)

Similar Products Used:
Canon BC85 Epson 600 (1996)

Customer Service:
• One replacement unit after some very frustrating unreliability problems within the first year of use. Epson UK were good and replaced without quibble.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5,
9 votes

Price Paid:  $379.00 from CompUSA

Summary:
Choices..Choices...What to buy? Basically, I compared this printer to the Canon i9100 (4800x1200) DPI; after seeing printed results, I bought the 1280 (2880X720). The Canon had vertical lines in the print whereas, the 1280 was as smooth as a print from your local photo lab. Yes, the Canon has 6 individual ink cartridges. The 1280 has 1 5 Color and 1 black making a total of 6 colors. On the down side it may coast more in ink for the 1280. However, you may not find all of the separate ink cartridges at the same store i.e., i9100, Epson 2200 etc.. The store may carry cyan ink but not the light cyan or magenta. Anyway, the photos that I printed so far are UNBELIEVABLE. I dont even use the 2880 setting. Mostly, I print at 1440 and sometimes 720. Paper is also an important factor not just DPI settings. Also, I purchased the extended warranty plan at CompUSA which is a great 2yr plan at $40.

Strengths:
Sharp and colorful prints. Much sharper than my HP color printer.

Weaknesses:
None, so far. This printer is very SOLID in construction.

Similar Products Used:
HP 5500 if that counts as similar.

Customer Service:
GREAT. However you have to pay for the long distance phone call. After the first year, you have to pay a service charge and the phone call. Oh well.....

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.25 of 5,
8 votes

Price Paid:  $299.00

Summary:
I have used several output devices but none previously have had the quality at such a low price-point. The versatility of roll, borderless and large format are major selling points.

Strengths:
Quality, quality, quality and quiet, quiet, quiet. You have to see the output to believe it. CompUSA had it on sale (though I doubt this was intended) and I was able to get a new one sealed for $299 (before rebate).

Weaknesses:
Behemoth size leaves no room for other devices such as scanner or old printer on same surface. No roll cutter option. No USB cable (which is the standard now). No large format paper included (a single sheet would have been nice).