Tuesday, April 14, 2015

PRESS RELEASE: Epson P800 Replaces the 3880


Epson SureColor P800 17-inch Wide Professional Printer

Printing enthusiasts rejoice as your dreams have finally been answered – the all-new Epson SureColor P800 is the official replacement for the aging 3880! In addition to an improved ink set it offers an optional roll feeder (not the toy kind found on consumer printers) which is a must if you plan to print canvas.

Epson's P Series display had a wrapped printer with prints on display by Greg Gorman and Steve McCurry - they were some of the prints I've ever seen!
The Epson P800 hiding at WPPI in Las Vegas this year

I had the pleasure of seeing the P800 in action and reviewing the prints at WPPI in Las Vegas this past March and I’m quite pleased to say that to my eyes they are a nice improvement over the 3880. I was also very pleased to learn that it has the same head design that kept the 3880 from getting clogged heads (unlike my 4900 which was clogged nearly every time I used it after about the first year I had it).

Epson Unveils New SureColor P800 17-Inch Wide Professional Printer

Epson SureColor P800 Features Unique Imaging Technology for
Producing Professional Color and Black-and-White Photographic Prints

LONG BEACH, Calif. – April 14, 2015 – Epson today announced the highly anticipated SureColor® P800 printer, representing a new benchmark in photographic print quality. Designed for professional use, the SureColor P800 is a full 17-inch wide borderless printer with unique Epson® MicroPiezo® AMC™ printhead technology. Leveraging an all-new Epson UltraChrome® HD eight-color pigment ink set, the SureColor P800 is capable of producing the next generation of color and black-and-white prints that will inspire us all.

“We understand how important it is for our printers to produce exceptional output that not only accurately conveys a photographer’s vision, but also delivers on the promise of longevity,” said Larry Kaufman, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America. “The SureColor P800 redefines the 17-inch photographic printing market, providing robust photo, fine art and canvas media handling capabilities, all focused on delivering stunning exhibition-quality prints that stand the test of time.”

The SureColor P800 features advanced media handling, including a sheet feeder for photo or matte media, and a front-in and front-out paper path for printing on thicker fine art papers and poster board. An optional 17-inch wide roll paper adapter is ideal for canvas and longer print lengths of up to 10 feet for creating breathtaking panoramas. Along with individual 80 ml high-capacity ink cartridges, the SureColor P800 is designed for serious professional use at home or in the studio.

More About the SureColor P800

The versatile SureColor P800 offers a range of new features:

  • UltraChrome HD Ink: Industry-leading pigment ink technology delivers outstanding color with improved black density and print permanence
  • Professional Features: Advanced Black-and-White print mode for professional-level neutral or toned black-and-white prints
  • True Productivity with High-Capacity Ink Cartridges: Nine 80 ml ink cartridges with Auto-switching Photo and Matte Black Ink
  • Advanced Media Handling up to 17-Inches Wide: Easily print on fine art and roll papers and create panoramas over 10 feet long; front-in and front-out paper path for media and poster board up to 1.5 mm thick and optional rear-mounted 2 or 3-inch core roll feeders
  • Modern Case Design: Professional look and feel; compact printer design optimized for desktop placement
  • Complete Connectivity: USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wireless n1, Wi-Fi Direct®, Apple® AirPrint™, and Google Cloud Print™ support
Pricing, Support and Availability

The SureColor P800 will be available for purchase in June 2015 through authorized resellers; pricing follows:

Epson SureColor P800 - $1,295.00 MSRP (or less at B&H)

Optional Roll Paper Adapter - $199.95 MSRP

UltraChrome HD 80 ml Ink Cartridge - $59.95 MSRP

The printer is supported by a one-year, whole-unit-exchange, limited warranty plan, and specialized technical support staff. For more information on the SureColor P800, visit www.epson.com/P800.

About Epson

Epson is a global innovation leader dedicated to exceeding expectations with solutions for markets as diverse as the office, home, commerce, and industry. Epson's lineup ranges from inkjet printers, printing systems and 3LCD projectors to industrial robots, smart glasses and sensing systems and is based on original compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies.

Conclusion

This is a significant announcement as the 3880 is an excellent printing machine, but it had become a technology dinosaur compared to other manufacturer printers which supported wireless printing. However, the cool features mean nothing if you don’t have an improvement in prints, and I felt that was present in the prints I observed at WPPI.

If you are wondering how it compares to a P600, you aren’t alone. I asked Epson this question and was told that the P800 is identical to the P600 in every way except for the improved advanced media handling, better roll support and other minor improvements. Rejoyce about this as it means it is likely to be free of head clogging issues that have plagued the 4900 (assuming you print at least one age per month).

The size of this printer is similar to the 3880 so it makes a great replacement for users who have one of those printers already.

More to come later this year when I get mine for review.

Where to order

Click here to learn more or order on the B&H web site. They aren’t expected to be ready to ship until June 2015.

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