A2 photo printers are best for those looking for a decent-sized print output, while not compromising on the image quality and longevity of the print. Hence, if you’re considering buying an A2 printer, you should know which printers out there give you the best bang for your buck, yet provide excellent print quality in tandem to lower costs.
Today, after a thorough investigation into the world of photo printers, we present to you two of the very best in the business: Epson’s SURECOLOR P800 and Canon’s imagePROGRAF Pro 1000 printers. Both of them look very similar on paper: high-quality multiple ink systems, the ability to deal with roll or cut media, and feature the best connectivity features on offer today.
However, both of them have some very crucial differences, which we will reveal when we start with our product reviews. To help you make the choice, we then present general guidelines on how to go about getting a large printer for art prints or photos such as the two presented below. Without further ado, let’s begin with the product reviews!
Epson P800 vs Canon Pro 1000 | Best Two A2 Printers
Epson P800 vs Canon Pro 1000: Let’s see who will come out on top!
1. Epson SURECOLOR P800 – Best for Large Prints
This printer is one of the best on the market today, and this statement is further buttressed by the sheer amount of firepower it brings to the table. The eight-ink UltraChrome HD system gives you superior color accuracy and print speeds, the resolution goes up to a cool 2880×1440 dpi, and the droplet sizes can have three options even during a single print!
Experience
The SURECOLOR series has been known for its speed, accuracy, and precision with which it reproduces photos on paper. You can print in a large variety of sizes with full borderless options. This printer also brings the option of having roll papers with a maximum width of 17” and a 2”/3” core, for all those large panoramic prints if you also do large prints.
The eight-ink system is equipped with photo black/matte black ink switching capabilities, with some loss of ink within the operation. You also get, as options, a roll media adapter as well as a replacement ink maintenance tank. A spectrophotometer is notable for its absence, both from the standard kit as well as the options list. Otherwise, the printer comes pretty well stocked.
Epson promises a time of 200 years for colored prints and 400 years for black and white prints, which is mighty impressive by any measure. The connectivity options include WiFi, WiFi Direct, Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, and Epson’s own app. It doesn’t feature any specialized software to touch up your photos before printing, however. All in all, a solid photo printer.
What We Like
- Comes with a whole host of features which make your printing experience more intuitive
- 3.5 picolitre droplets give you unbelievable print quality, much better than most competition
- Inks are all pigment-based, and color reproduction is top-notch
What We Don’t Like
2. CANON imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 – Best for Camera Pairing
This printer is all about making your print experience more intuitive and is focused on making sure your photos come out top-notch. The specialized software, the 11 ink plus Chroma Optimiser ink system, and the widest color gamut of any printer on the market make the PRO-1000 much more desirable and interesting than most other photo printers out there.
Experience
While Epson is all about making sure your printing experience is intuitive and easy, Canon is focused on making sure you get the most out of your photos. This starts with the direct pairing of your camera to the printer (if you do own a Canon branded camera), which in most cases eliminates the need for a computer at all!
However, that’s just the beginning. Canon also throws in a set of wonderful tools which allow you to track expenses per print including paper and ink costs, a final touch-up software that works almost like Photoshop, and a whole host of printing options that the Epson doesn’t feature. The print quality is slightly better on the Epson, however, all things considered.
The Canon also gives you a number of features such as no switching between photo black and matte black inks, an air feeder system that makes sure no page gets skewed during printing, and the LCOA Pro engine which handles complex printing tasks with ease. It can process multitudes of complex high-quality images with ease. This printer won’t disappoint!
What We Like
- Delivers stunning blacks, the Chroma Optimiser works to ensure solid color accuracy
- Widest color gamut helps you get high quality images
- Software tools with and on the printer make your life much easier
What We Don’t Like
Epson P800 vs Canon Pro 1000 Comparison Table
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Wireless | Connectivity | Printing Technology | Printer Output | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson P800 | 26.9 x 21.7 x 21.7 inches | 43 pounds | Yes | USB 2.0, 10/100 Wired Ethernet, Wireless (802.11n) | Inkjet | Color, monochrome | 3 years |
| CANON Pro 1000 | 17 x 28.5 x 11.2 inches | 70.5 pounds | Yes | USB, 802.11bgn | Inkjet | Color | 1 year |
Now that you know which printers are best on the market today, a little walk-through through the factors we used to filter through the crowd and select these two printers. The factors which we used to determine which printers were the best are:
Cost
You should definitely have this in mind. These printers are expensive, but their per-print costs aren’t exorbitant and give you superior print quality. If you can compromise on quality, you should go in for a cheaper printer. The same goes for the feature set.
Overall, the Canon is a bit more expensive to print on but the output is superior as well, considering that the Canon is a tad cheaper upfront, in time, this evens out.
Ink system
Both of these printers feature multiple ink systems fitted with pigment-based inks. Pigment-based inks are much better than your all-in-one office inkjet, simply because they’re much more accurate and last exponentially longer than regular inks.
This completes our list of the most important factors to be on the lookout for when it comes to photo printers. You’re now ready to go out there and get the printer of your choice.
Have fun shopping!
Just kidding, you want to hear the winner right?
Dual Winner | Epson P800 vs Canon Pro 1000
I would like to start by stating that there is no loser in this game, these are two brilliant printers infamous for their extraordinary capabilities, regardless of what you choose, you’ve chosen right.
The choice is far more about what you are going to use the printer for than it is about anything else in all honesty as both are capable to do what they’re meant to brilliantly.
If we were to choose just one, it would be the Canon Pro 1000.
Why?
Overall we consider it a better printer, we simply see better prints out of it, better colors, and the blacks are splendid, shattering beautiful.
We also took into consideration that the paper feeding of the Epson is troublesome, not only on this printer but in general Epson printers, in our tests the Pro 1000 never skew or jammed paper in over 300 prints, the same cannot be said about the Epson.
Yes, we will miss the Panorama feature on the Epson and yes, the Canon is a bit more expensive to use over time but the replacements part for the Canon are easier to find as well.
It was a hard decision to make, and once more, we cannot emphasize how good these printers are, whatever you choose, you are right; for us, it has been the Canon.
If you are still uncertain these are the gods you would like on your side, more printers for architects can be found on Architecture Lab you can find the best A3 photo printers, best A1 plotters, best laser and inkjet printers for envelope, best 11×17 printers for architects, best printer for heat transfers, best printers for art prints, 4×6 printers, best archival and giclee printers and the best large format printer for photographers.
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