Epson Surecolor P800 Printer Review

The epson surecolor p800 is an excellent printer for those who need the extra capabilities of a 17" wide desktop machine for photo and fine art printing. Straddling the line between the sort of expense that most hobbyist photographers can justify and professional capability, this is a solid upgrade over the Stylus Pro 3880-series machines and a worthy competitor for the likes of the Canon Prograf 1000.

The printer comes in a large box, packed well with padding and packing sheets. Everything inside is carefully secured, including the cartridges that ship in a separate container. This ensures the cartridges are protected and can't be accidentally pulled out during shipment.

Like the previous generation printers, the P800 uses Epson's UltraChrome HD ink set. But it is a major improvement over the older models' ink set, with higher maximum saturation for the colors and much better density range in the blacks. This is a big deal, since the lack of good blacks is the biggest flaw in most current consumer inkjet printers.

The P800 prints very well on all the papers we tried, from the glossy luster and metallic gloss that come in the package to the high-quality presentation paper that I use for my own prints. I'm particularly impressed with the luster and metallic papers, which make any image really pop with vibrant color. But even the matte papers produce beautiful prints that are rich in contrast and detail.

epson 3250  that makes the P800 stand out from most other printers in this class is its ability to handle both roll and sheet media. The printer's telescoping paper tray can hold rolls of up to 13 or 17 inches wide and the front fine art and poster media feeder is capable of handling thicker, more difficult-to-handle papers. And you can even print panoramic images on the front-feeder with a special accessory.

Another feature that sets the P800 apart from its competition is its nine-cartridge ink system. It comes with a starter set that includes two of each ink type, with the full replacements holding 80ml of each color. The P800 also includes a dedicated black ink, making it possible to change between matte and photo black without the usual hassle of swapping out cartridges.

Unlike most other Epson inkjets, the P800 doesn't have a port for connecting to a network or other device. But it does have Wi-Fi and Ethernet support for direct connection to a computer or to a local area network. And for those who don't want to be tied down to a wireless connection, it's possible to connect via a standard USB cable.

The printer is compatible with all of Epson's Legacy Papers, which are thick, matte, archival-quality papers that will really make your prints stand out. All of the papers are a joy to work with and feel great in your hands. I'll write a separate review of the Legacy Papers when I get a chance to try them on the P800, but for now it's worth checking out the samples that Epson has available online.