Buy now or wait? New 2025 printers from Epson and Canon. New tilt/shift lenses

[@KeithCooper]

Please just ask if you've any questions? Don't forget the full categorised index of all my videos at www.northlight-images.co.uk/keith-cooper-photography-videos-index/ If you'd like to make a small donation towards my testing, I have a Kofi page: "Buy me a coffee" ko-fi.com/keithcooper See the video notes for article links. Buying stuff? I also have some affiliate links which earn me a small commission if used. US Amazon photo/print gear: amzn.to/3l9vJC6 B&H Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=2008&KBID=2711&DFF=d10-v1-t8-x4 Adorama: www.adorama.com/?

[@rangersmith4652]

One of my new favorite channels. Practical information and advice with a very low extraneous BS level. BRAVO!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@verdedoodleduck]

Happy New Year! Thank you for all the 2024 videos - I've learned a great deal. Looking forward to this year's videos!

[@KeithCooper]

Happy new year! Thanks

[@sebastianreiprich3747]

Happy New Year! And all the best for you and your family!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - and to yours!

[@lschiz-photography1765]

Excellent again The k you Keith. I, and I’m sure so many others, deeply appreciate your vast knowledge insights wisdom and advice shared with us!! Thank you!!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - glad to be of help!

[@JSTMGN]

Happy New Year Keith, to your family and to everyone else.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@mattwhite9887]

Interesting. When the P900 went out of stock at Epson UK before Christmas (temporarily, as it now turns out) I was wondering if a replacement model would show up soon. I'm glad I didn't wait, and instead went for a really good Black Friday deal on the P900 from a different supplier. If it stays in the current catalogue for a while longer that's a bonus, I guess, in terms of future servicing and parts/ink availability.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I think the 900 has a good time to last...

[@Richardincancale]

Hope the year in 2025 is better for you! Your videos helped me to dive off into a new artistic direction - so thank you!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - glad to have helped!

[@anthonygardham4573]

Happy New Year Keith. What another great video. Like you, I didn’t really expect to see any new/updated printers coming out, hence why I jumped in and purchased a new Epson SC P700 six weeks ago. It ticks all my boxes, and as much as I really wanted to push the boat out and get the P900, I think I would have been somewhat deluding myself. The results from the P700 are simply stunning. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to seeing more videos from you soon.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - all the best. Yes, the 700 works very well.

[@AZJack]

Very interesting hearing your take on the coming year, thank you. Happy New Year!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - and to you too

[@jointherevolution5577]

I want to see Epson make an A2 version of the Et 8550, i think they would sell heaps of these!

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, but how would it affect sales of other products in other divisions ;-)

[@hz7984]

Exactly! Let's call it the ET-8580. What I think Epson would need to realize, is that I (as an example of a group/segment) am not going to buy a P900, however, I would shatter the (poor thing) piggy bank for an ET-8580. Quite likely. In the meantime, I couldn't be happier with my 8550, which I've been using for five months now. Cheers!

[@jointherevolution5577]

@@KeithCooper I own a p700 so i wouldnt buy the 8550 but i would buy an A2 version of the 8550! Did the P900 take away sales from the P700? Cheers Kieth

[@jointherevolution5577]

@@KeithCooper Also If the inks from the P700 could be used in the P900 I would consider buying a p900 but i wouldnt want to start again with the ink collection i have. If there was an A2 version of the 8550 it would be an instant buy at US$1000

[@waynej1883]

Keith, I'd like offer my sympathies to both you and Karen. And thank you for all of the work you share here to improve our photography and printing.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks for that. We've finally sorted the last of the paperwork before Christmas... Glad the info here is of interest

[@davidw2454]

Happy New Year Keith

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! - and to you

[@luciengrillet]

Hi Keith, and happy new year! I’ve started printing my photos on the Pro-1000 of my camera club last year, and your channel has been a gold mine to help me improve my results. One problem I still very often struggle with is bronzing. Do you have any tips on how to avoid it? I basically only print on one type of paper, that I really like, Hahnemühle Baryta Satin. Could it be an intrinsic issue to this particular paper?

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, it's the paper - find another one... There is nothing you can do - some papers and some inks work less well together. Occasionally a different setting/profile may help a bit, but mostly, give up the fight and move on. As I've found, liking a paper unfortunately has no bearing on how well it performs on a particular printer I'm afraid...

[@pharmacist5884]

An ecotank version of the P900 (printing up to A2 and maybe with additional roll paper unit) would be nice using pigment in the following configuration: Matte Black, Photo Black, Cyan, Vivid Magenta, Yellow, Gray, Gloss Optimizer and and chromatic Red up to 8 channels and using the same printhead of the ET-16650 precision core print head (400 nozzles per ink channel). This way you get the best of the ET-8550 (including gray ink for neutral black and white printing) and the P400 with pigment ink and gloss optimizer (drastically reducing bronzing/gloss differential) and the additional Red ink for better skin tones and purple/violet rendition.

[@KeithCooper]

I'll forward these specs to Santa for next Christmas ;-) I suspect about as much chance of success, as waiting for Epson on this one ;-)

[@johnvaleanbaily4859]

Mac same out in 1984 - now 40 years. I had one of the first in to be sold in Toronto. Still got it... and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - my first was in 1987 ;-) All the best!

[@lastsolfa]

The issue with not providing support for older operating systems is that it deters a lot of institutional buyers from upgrading to the new printer. A lot of universities or other printing facilities open to the public still run on older computers.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - it is a real issue for some.

[@RegrinderAlert]

I think that is for the better. The unsupported OS versions are usually the same ones that no longer receive security updates. Since most such machines are not properly air-gapped I am all for manufacturers indirectly forcing people to update.

[@KeithCooper]

@@RegrinderAlert Easy to say, not so for some people's finances [I note that I only speak in this context as a Mac user]

[@RegrinderAlert]

@ People and institutions who have the funds to upgrade to current printers should he able to upgrade their software once a decade. And that doesn’t always mean having to upgrade their hardware. The risk of causing unrecoverable financial damage is just too big nowadays.

[@macwestcanon]

Peace and Prosperity in 2025 its has to be better then 2024. Thanks for all your great videos. Happy new year .

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! and to you too...

[@kevins8575]

Another great video from you that I shouldn't have watched; now I want a larger format printer than my current letter/A4 inktank model. I don't have any idea where I would display large prints (other than just a few). Happy New Year!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - always happy to help ;-)

[@RichAdamsFineArt]

Always good to hear your thoughts on what might be coming. I ended up picking up a Pro 1000 after their price drop. I am replacing the cursed Epson P700 with the worst paper feed of any printer I've ever owned. Glad to be printing and not throwing away mis-prints for a change. Thanks for your reviews that make informed decisions about these things!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@imagenatura]

The thing about the Canon G550 vs. the Epson 8550 is definitely the A3 options and the use of one pigment ink. But, if you don't print A3 (or you'll quickly run out of wall space), the G550 will suffice and you'll save a pretty penny. If you must have A3, you can use the savings between the two printers to buy pigment-only A3's from a pro service. Anyway, that was my logic on this.

[@KeithCooper]

Quite reasonable, but the lack of working colour management on the G series is, for me a show stopper

[@jameswalker7874]

I looked at the P700 but didn’t like the fact the ink cartridges felt like a con with no reason other than profiteering to block the usage of the larger P900 cartridges. I worked out the cost difference would mean that a P900 paid for itself after a surprisingly small number of replacement cartridge sets but didn’t really want the A2 size because it’s a bit big for an amateur at home and space is always finite. If the P700 could have used the larger cartridges, I think I’d have taken the jump and gone for the P700 over the ET-8550 using man maths to make it count as a long term investment and of course pigment inks. I definitely don’t regret getting the ET-8550 though and will probably ‘run it into the ground’. So while Epson have probably (never say never) missed the boat with me, I’m sure there are plenty of other customers that may be looking to buy and comparing the two printers who may make a different decision if the ink cartridges situation is more playing with a straight bat - that said they won’t be disappointed when they choose an ET-8550 if the current position remains. Part of me thinks if you’re comparing the two printers, you’re probably at a level where the ET-8550 is more than good enough for your needs.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I'd agree there

[@kentboortz8076]

I wish they introduced a ET-8555 that would be a ET-8550 with the addition of a A3+ scanner 😊

[@KeithCooper]

Ah, A3+ scanners... they sell those for much more ;-)

[@paololarocca7684]

I would love to see ts lenses for mft, I think it suits the system, happy new year by the way!

[@KeithCooper]

Laowa 12-24 shift adapted to MFT ?

[@paololarocca7684]

shift-only is ok, but I would like to see lenses specific designed for mft, to take the full advantage of sensor size (reduced wight) and taking into account the field of view due to the crop factor, speaking of laowa for example a shift versions of the 6mm and the 12mm, or even better something designed and manufactured from Om-system or Panasonic...

[@KeithCooper]

Is there a real market for such lenses in MFT? Very few companies have T/S in their range for any sensor size... If Sony can't be bothered to have any, Nikon still rely on F mount lenses and Canon on EF mount - who is going to cover it for MFT?

[@paololarocca7684]

I don't know but I think it would be worth giving it a try, perhaps people will discover that mft has some advantages for architectural photography, the 4:3 aspect ratio which in my opinion suit this genre (and many others), the deeper depth of field, mft lenses also tend to have less vignetting while keeping their size manageable, which, correct me if I am wrong, may help in using these lenses for panoramic images, the color rendition of om-system cameras, and don't forget the hi-res modes which work well in both om-system and Panasonic and are easy to use.....

[@KeithCooper]

My own feeling is that as an architectural photographer [by interest and profession] MFT cameras don't even register on the dial of interest ;-) Now that's just me, but I suspect more than a few people at the camera/lens companies will have similar opinions.

[@johnsmith1474]

I believe I noticed the Fuji TS has a mount point located at the entrance pupil, so that back movement can be used without a Rogeti TS frame, a big plus. Printer manufacturers are actually expendable materials manufacturers, they would nearly .

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - the frame is purely a TS-E17/24/50 add-on for parallax and use with shift. The TS30 has the foot as a design feature for use with tilt and shift.

[@michaellong9526]

I moved to canon from Epson when I realized their carts for the 700 vs 900 were the same size but the bladder used for the 700 was 1/2 the size. It was probably cheaper to produce the same cart for both models but they actually went out of their way to cripple the ink supply amount on the 700 😱😩

[@KeithCooper]

True but not necessarily a reason I'd pick for a move... but YMMV :-)

[@saigonzu9658]

Dear Mr Cooper. The Epson 8550 qualify to print the photos. How compare the Epson 8550 vs Canon Pro 300. Thanks and Happy New Year.

[@KeithCooper]

Read my 8550 and 300 [written] reviews? Two very different printers, so there is no simple answer ;-) All the best for the new year.

[@phildarcy7647]

Wishing you and your followers Love, Peace and Prosperity in 2025.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - and to you

[@ianmarlow6350]

such a nice guy

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@befo1968]

Wish you a happy New Year. I enjoy your video's. Send you a cup of coffee to keep you warm ;-).

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - very kind

[@oneeyedphotographer]

If you go hi res and then crop, that gives much the same results as narrower lenses. I don't know the practicalities of larger tanks, I need to see for myself, but a CISS could work. I envisage designs for each ink see (I don't see need for different designs except when printers use different numbers of inks, and even then I'd be happy to leave a position or two vacant). with adaptors for different printers. Some clients would like a service contract for someone come and check all the printers, perform any necessary maintenance and repairs including topping up the tanks. Potentially, individual printers could be using pigment inks, others of the same model dye inks.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - lots of options

[@pongokamerat8601]

Get completely rid of the ink cartridge. Refill bottles are way more practical, and cheaper.

[@KeithCooper]

Something I'm often asked for... don't hold your breath for that in the better pigment ink printers though.

[@pongokamerat8601]

@@KeithCooper I wonder why this is so difficult to achieve. Or is it perhaps that the manufacturers of the printers simply do not want this solution, for some undisclosed reason.

[@KeithCooper]

Nothing suspicious - simple product differentiation, design and profitability I'd suggest. Priorities change and the product design process is not a rapid one. Take, for example, the pressurised ink flow system found in the P700 and higher end pigment printers - converting that to a reliable ink tank system is not a simple matter. Not saying it couldn't be done, just it needs to fit with product development plans...

[@pongokamerat8601]

@@KeithCooper I suspect that Epson and Canon, which are the two high-end printer manufacturers, do this on on purpose, mostly for profit. Making a cartridge-free printer cost more money. When a printer is discontinued, it becomes difficult to even find cartridges for that printer after a few years, even if the printer is in good health. So, you have to buy a new one, even if you do not want to.

[@TheGoodContent37]

But pygment prints can last for hundreds of years and ink ones can't.

[@KeithCooper]

Indeed, I intend to check what my prints look like in 120 years. Oh, looks like I won't... :-)

[@RogierYou]

Unless you Mac is very old you should be able to upgrade to the most recent macOS !!!

[@KeithCooper]

Well, no... older Macs are still widely used, which won't go past 10.15 An 'old' Mac here... is a PPC one... 'very old' has a 68k processor ;-) Epson drivers work with a wider range older systems. I mention it because I do still use some older stuff and know many others who do... that and I had a call from someone thanking for me for pointing out the pro-1100 issue, and saving them some cash.

[@RogierYou]

@ oh wow yes an PPC that’s really old. I do independent Mac support for a living and help people think problems like this trough before upgrading or changing a system. Btw HP is really bad with driver support for older operating systems :-(

[@KeithCooper]

Most of my older systems are now virtual ones, but I've far too much older Mac Kit [PPC and Intel] in my store room. Time for a huge clear-out. I'll do a quick video when it's all sorted, to see if it's any use for anyone [UK, Leicester - free to a good home ;-) Oh, and HP don't call me any more to test stuff, so no recent experience there