Epson’s new R3000 printer is an enhanced version of it R2880. It has got a new cartridge arrangement that makes handling more convenient. It has got some added features over its contemporaries.
Features of the printer
The R3000 uses papers of sizes A3+, 12”X12”, A3, B4, USB, B5, A5, A4, Legal Letter, Half Letter, 3.5”X5”, Postcard Size, A6, 11”X14”, 8”X10”, 10”X12”, 5”X8”, 5”X7”, 4”X6”, 4”X7.11”. Paper thicknesses accepted by the printer are 0.7mm- 1.3mm, 0.3mm- 0.7mm and 1.08mm- 0.3mm. The maximum print resolution of R3000 goes to 5760x1440 dpi. Droplet size is variable with 2pl as the minimum.
The inkset of the printer is by Epson’s UltraChrome K3 ink. The ink pallete has eight ink channels. They include colours like Photo Black, Light Black, Matter Black, Light light black, Cyan, Photo Yellow, Vivid Magenta, Light Cyan and Vivid Light Magenta. It has got both wireless and wired connectivity options with 802.11n, USB and Ethernet 10/100 Base-TX connectivity interfaces.
The printer has got 120 sheet input tray and can print on CDs and DVDs too. When connected to a PC, system requirements are MS XP Windows Professional x64 Edition, MS Windows XP, MS Windows Vista (32/64 bits) MS Windows 7, Apple Mac X10.5.x- 10.6.x. The dimensions of the printer while being used is 616mm x 814mm x 424mm and in the storage mode are 616mm x 369mm x 228mm.
Performance of the printer
The Epson’s R3000 has got the same 8 ink channels as the R2880 but there is a difference in the cartridge usage. Each cartridge has got 25.9ml ink. One unit costs £ 24.35. This implies that one millilitre of ink would cost 94 pence. This is 3 pence lower to the 97 pence cost incurred by the R2880. One of the best features of this printer is its ability to print on both CDs and DVDs.
The prints have more enhanced tonal control too especially if we talk about the monochrome prints. R3000 has got Wi-fi connectivity too along with the high speed USB 2.0 connectivity. The rear automatic sheet feeder lets you load paper easily along with the convenience of front thick paper path and front fine art paper path. Another interesting feature of this printer is its 2.5 inch colour LCD screen that displays instructions of its usage and ink level information.
Connecting the printer with your computer and loading its software too is a quick task. With a minimum of 2pl droplet size, the prints might take a little longer in processing if the highest quality mode has been selected. On selecting the ‘Quality’ mode gives out prints in 3.15 minutes. While the printer is operating it is almost completely silent.
The photo prints are almost the same as you view them on your computer screen. With its clean, vivid and sharp prints you wouldn’t have to complain a bit.
Conclusion
Epson’s Stylus Photo R3000 is every photographer’s dream printer and if you are on the lookout of a printer, buy this one for sure !