Epson P5300 printer review [P5370] 17" pigment ink pro level printer, with roll and sheet paper

[@Kai-O-Ken]

I hope Epson and Canon are looking after you as much as you are looking after them! They hit the gold mine with you. Well done mate.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - being able to explore printing in this amount of detail has definitely benefitted all my photography, which is still my 'day job'. Nothing I write or cover in the videos ever has any 'prior approval' which suits me just fine. I'd like to cover HP larger format printers as well, but they don't have any real interest in the art/photo market any more. Similarly with cameras/lenses, most companies now seem happy to lend me kit these days, with the one exception of Sony who I've never had a response from - perhaps because I asked why they had no tilt/shift lenses in their range ;-)

[@alanglassman6473]

Mine arrived last Tuesday. Watching your videos and reading the dimension specifications does not truly prepare you for how massive this printer is. It truly is a beast.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, no casual intruder is going to make off with it...

[@robertjburns9206]

Hi Kieth, nice and informative closing summary of the Epson P5300, and as much as I'm envious of the person who will find this printer a worthwhile and sensible investment, I'm also grateful that for the amount of printing I do, as a retired hobbyist producing no more than 2, occasionally 4, large prints a month, the P900 is the perfect fit for someone like me; just to clarify, when I say 2 to 4 a month, that doesn't include feeding my waste paper bin😢

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - and the thing to appreciate is that those prints of yours would look no better on a P5300 ;-)

[@johnvaleanbaily246]

I hadn't realized that if a printer is not used regularly, a nozzle check is as good as a print job... I had always run a test page through once a week if not regularly using the printer. No longer. Thanks for that Keith.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - it guarantees firing every nozzle. I'd want to do an actual print every so often though, since it moves a bit more ink through the system.

[@iamnebopeklo]

Keith - I love your reviews! My Epson SC-P900 touch screen is unresponsive after only 2 years. Epson have quoted £960 to fix it?! I'm looking to buy a new printer but reluctant to go for another P900. How many prints a month would you say would justify upgrading to the P5300?

[@KeithCooper]

See the actual P5300 [written] review for total print cost estimates compared to the P900 www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p5300-printer-review/

[@ericbrody5025]

I've heard that placing a humidity cartridge (used for musical instruments) can help with the issue of frequency of printing. Do you have an opinion on this? Thanks, Eric Brody

[@KeithCooper]

I've heard of this... Depends very much on the environment the printer is kept in. However I'm in Leicester the UK, so few extremes of humidity or temperature, and I'm not that much above sea-level.

[@marcusslade9804]

Though I’m just a few weeks into my P900, I’ve watched with great interest your deep analysis of this P5300 and the comparisons with its kid brother. That I have the print head of this P5300 makes me feel good (sibling bragging rights?…ha) but as mentioned once before, this behemoth would not work in my limited space, otherwise I may have found a justification to opt for it. I feel very comfortable with a current range of Epson papers which I’ve used for years on my older (still working nicely) P600 but my next challenge is to evaluate a series of papers from each of Hahnemühle, Canson and Moab. I should add that my reason for the paper experimentation is to source one each of both a matte and (likely) a lustre paper in 17” roll format. Though I likely will not buy the P900’s roll adapter, I will be cutting my own sheets with which I can then produce wider panoramic prints. Indeed, it was your work that taught me I could even achieve the wider panoramic results without having to use the roll adapter per se. My continued thanks. Happy Easter.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks for that Don't forget that my P5300 profiles should also work for the P900

[@MiguelAleman-f8k]

The following is a quote from the Epson USA site's FAQ section: “Epson does not recommend using expired ink cartridges in the printer. Do not use an unopened ink cartridge if the date on the package has expired. For best results, use ink cartridges before the expiration date printed on the package (and within six months of installation in the printer). Replace expired cartridges with new ones.” Given that the P5370 carts contains 200 ml of ink, this would imply quite a bit of printing to avoid wasting ink due to the “replace after 6 months of installed” recommendation. Could you please comment on this based on your experience with the P5000 ?

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, Epson would say that... they sell ink ;-) Never bothered to take any notice of it myself for any large format printer I've had - I have a diary reminder set for six months, at which point I'll remove each cart [printer off] and give it a gentle shake for 10 seconds or so, and put it back.

[@MiguelAleman-f8k]

Thanks for your quick and pointed reply ! How about expired ink cartridges that are still in their original sealed packaging ? How long before it would be too risky to put them to use? Or is it always a matter of shaking them to ensure any settled pigment particles go back to solution? Are there other mechanisms, in addition to settlement, that could cause havoc over time? For example, loosing components of the ink mixture due to slow evaporation of the more volatile ones thru microgaps on the sealed cartridge ?

[@KeithCooper]

If someone gave me an unused sealed cart, I'd shake it for a while and likely use it. The metal foil bags inside the carts look pretty robust... Are 'microgaps' a real thing :-)

[@bartjeej]

Nice wrap-up of your very extensive review, thanks! Much as I admire the engineering, I'm sure this would be overkill for me. The P900 looks like a better fit. You mentioned in some of your paper reviews that your measurements for the papers you tested would be in the written review. Did I miss that section while skimming the text or have they not (yet) made it to the written review?

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks. The written review got a bit too long for tables of data and I decided they contributed little of value - the problem is that such data, without lots of explanation and exposition, is pretty meaningless to most people and very liable to mis and over interpretation. It's why I rarely quote things like Dmax values. It's also why the .mxf and B&W ABW measurement files are available for those who want to look further.

[@MiguelAleman-f8k]

Epson P5000 Discontinued in the USA but not in the UK ? Hello Keith I just chatted with an “Epson Pre-Sales Team” representative (via Epson USA Website) who stated that the P5000 printer (both Standard and Commercial versions) are discontinued and replaced by the P5370 (P5300 in the UK). The same is stated on their webpage. In the other hand, the Epson UK website does not state the same for the P5300. Is it a matter of time until UK’s stocks are depleted?

[@KeithCooper]

I don't know for sure - the P5000 was to be available for the proofing market. However, I have a preference for not dealing with people via web sites - phone a larger Epson reseller ;-)

[@MiguelAleman-f8k]

@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith. For what is worth, BHPhoto in the USA also states the P5000 as discontinued.

[@mikeabc5355]

Keith, based on your experience would you consider Epson P5370 to be the most effective all-around 17" printer? My primary use would be landscape (some of panoramas) and wildlife with a tiny bit of everything else.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, as long as you don't want borderless on sheet paper ;-) Please check the actual [written] review for a lot more if you've not seen it? www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p5300-printer-review/

[@ahmedfaraz8278]

Great information is it good for printing customized clock dials? 15x15 inches? for commercial use! Thank you!!

[@KeithCooper]

Depends entirely on what media you are printing. Not a use I'm familiar with.

[@scottcampbell9008]

Back in the day, I had a 4900. One of the challenges I had was figuring out what to put it on. I eventually settled on a Uline warehouse cart. It looks like you have your P5300 on a table? Are you able to pull it out from the wall to access the rear or can you just leave it there against the wall?

[@KeithCooper]

yes, this one was on wheels - I've a video printing on board where I move it away from the wall. Other times it's where you see it. my P5000 is on a normal desk, since I don't ever use it with board

[@liythalhamzah8289]

Hi I read that this printer can print on 1.5 mm paper. For paper that is at or just below this thickness, do you know the print speed for an A4 sheet with approximately 30 percent CMYK (I do not know how a 10 color printer compares to this)? An example would be an A4 with impositioned business cards. Thanks

[@KeithCooper]

No idea about the speed - the same as ordinary paper IIRC It's just not something I measure See the specs and info about board in the actual review [i.e. the written one] www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p5300-printer-review/

[@liythalhamzah8289]

@@KeithCooper Thanks

[@andreigheorghe2709]

I have a question. I know I most likely am unable to use a board like that on my Canon pro 1000, but I was wondering where can one get such boards to print on, I am unable to find any on internet. Could you please give me a name or a link to such products? Honestly, I would buy an Epson 5300 just for the huge ink carts which allow for many prints before running out of any ink, and the roll paper capabilities and built-in cutter, which make it really easy to work with roll papers.

[@KeithCooper]

That board is Epson matte poster board - from Epson UK

[@andreigheorghe2709]

@@KeithCooper thank you so much!

[@KeithCooper]

It's Epson matte poster board - from Epson UK - no idea in other regions I'm afraid.

[@andreigheorghe2709]

@@KeithCooper I did find something from Epson here where I live. This has been most helpful, thank you

[@ItsAidann]

I have just bought the Epson P5300, when I try to print it is trying to print from the roll paper even though I have set everything up correctly in the Paper cassette. There is no settings pointing towards the roll paper but the printer keeps saying there is no paper in the roll paper. Is this something you have came across before?

[@KeithCooper]

Take care that the media size selected is one for roll paper. If I remember right it's possible to specify several versions of paper sizes.

[@peterbunyan3924]

A question for you Keith,new to printing, do you connect your laptop with wire to printer or print wireless to printer?

[@KeithCooper]

In the P5300 videos, they are both on the same wireless network. I do sometimes connect printer to the main Ethernet network, but that laptop is almost always wireless

[@peterbunyan3924]

@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith.

[@glenngoldstein1656]

Thanks!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@Gary_Hun]

6:39 - Is that the reason why print consumables shops swear by double sided roll papers simply not existing in the world... even though i found some in the end after ludicrous amounts of looking?

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I've never seen a printer of this sort capable of using double sided. It's obviously available for books and the like, but that is a very different area of print.

[@jefffenske1958]

I would think being able to use roll paper is almost mandatory for a 17" printer, for the many who print in the 3:2 aspect ratio (standard for 35mm and crop sensors), since many key paper companies do not make 17x25" papers, just 17x22" (4:3 ratio), which makes no sense. So roll paper capability seems essential. I would greatly miss the *green and orange kicker inks* that the 24" and 44" 12-ink printers have, which help make gorgeous green forest and vivid fall foliage colors! Also, if it had the same 12-inkset that the 24" and 44" printers have, then if we wanted a lab to print a larger print with those printers, we could use the file that we easily fine tuned by printing on this, being able to do test prints at home.

[@KeithCooper]

Ah... You might think you would miss Or/Grn inks... I have a P5000 here - I tried several images on the P5300 - precious little real difference, that sort of answers the question for me. If I could show an obvious example of the difference in the review, I would have done. Yes, I'd prefer a P7500/9500, and differences do exist, but it's highly unlikely I'd re-edit or adjust an image which printed well on a P5300.

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper Have you tried your orange fall tree image from Colorado, saturated strongly, or deep green colored foliage? I loved the oranges and greens I got with the Epson 7900's orange and green inks, and wouldn't want to take a step backwards. But I do landscape, and love to print bold and vivid colors. And I preferred Velvia over Kodachrome (which most landscape photographers did); though, didn't like the red emphasis of that film. Dan Wells mentions the difference these two kicker colors make in some of his Luminous Landscape articles. He's the person who calls them the "kicker colors."

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - they were some of the images - yes, I could see a slight difference in some areas - minuscule, and because I was looking for them. YMMV, obviously, but I will not call the orange/green loss a 'step backwards' since I don't believe it is. Velvia looked horrid every time I tried it - Kodachrome was just 'different' - all that aspect of things does is remind me how much I appreciate digital - once again YMMV, but I never liked Velvia...

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper Could it be a cultural difference between the US and UK? You say Kodachrome looked “different,” but that was standard for almost all Americans’ family and vacation photos that they would shoot on their Kodak Instamatics especially, starting in the ’60s. Probably the majority of older Americans still have some in a box somewhere. Kodachrome boosted colors, but not nearly as much as Velvia, and made sure that skin tones were accurate, unlike with Velvia. In the US, Velvia became the standard among nature landscape photographers. Gaylon Rowell was one of many who made it famous. When Velvia 100 came out in 2005, I had just gotten back into photography, and used it instead, because it didn’t emphasize the reds over the other colors. Is the personality difference between Americans and Brits a factor, if your films weren’t as saturated? Brits have a reputation in America for being understated. And maybe you Brits think we’re the opposite? Brits drink tea; Americans drink coffee. The truth is that a lot of your viewers are Americans, and a lot of us like the richer colors. Probably some Brits do too. So we’re interested in what these printers can do for what we like, and what sells too. There is another possible factor affecting mainly men. A significant number of men have less than perfect color vision, especially as we age. There are free tests online to check our vision. I’ve taken two to make sure mine is still 100%. One of the causes is pharmaceutical drugs which can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I remember the color gamut charts showing a major increase in color gamut in the orange and green areas with the advent of the Ultrachrome HD inkset, which first added those two colors. Dan Wells (Luminous Landscape) said that Canon’s 11 inks that included blue still had the advantage in blues and purples until Epson added the purple in their latest inkset. He says that with the purple ink, now Epson’s blues are comparable to Canon’s. And they beat Canon’s orange and green colors because of the kicker orange and blue inks that the bigger Epson printers have. Canon just reformulated their inks in their just-released large format printers, so maybe that will help their color gamut, but they didn’t add any more inks, still don’t have orange or green inks. Some of us REALLY CARE about this stuff!

[@KeithCooper]

I think the films were the same over here, that said, the numbers of people who could accurately recount slide film characteristics is a small and dwindling number. I have dozens of rotary magazines of slides to go through from my Father's house at some point - I do not expect the process to make me pine for the days of film one iota... I'll have to take some of my more strongly coloured images along with me when I get to test a Canon PROx600. Unfortunately, the P7500 print head could not be fitted into the space of the P5000 chassis

[@jefffenske1958]

I hope it's okay to ask one more question. I just recently found out that the major paper companies don't offer 17" paper in 3:2 aspect ratio, 17x25". They only offer 17x22". So it seems that being able to use roll paper is important for 17" printers for those who shoot at least sometimes in 3:2. Do you know why Hahnemühle and many other paper manufacturers do not supply paper in 17x25"? They offer 3:2 aspect ratio sizes for smaller printers.

[@KeithCooper]

Lack of demand Read into that what you like, but it's the answer I've had from many suppliers when I enquired.

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper Thanks for asking them. That makes no sense, because the vast majority of serious photographers shoot 3:2 ratio cameras, except for portrait photographers and now some of us who shoot the GFX. Not being able to get 3:2 paper except from lesser known sources makes the 17" somewhat useless for them unless it has roll paper. How can suppliers say there is no market? Even Epson appears to only sell 17x22" sheets. I wonder how many photographers bought 17" sheet-feed-only printers to only find out later they couldn't get 3:2 paper for them.

[@KeithCooper]

Sorry - it makes a lot of sense from the business POV of a paper supplier ;-) Seriously, I have discussed this many times [we'll ignore the fact that I'm in the UK and only the US still uses inches for sheet paper sizes... ;-) ] I can get 'Northlight Brand' 17x25 in a variety of fine art media if I order [and pay for] enough boxes of it. Not going to happen though...

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper Yes, being from the US, I'm just now learning what the A4-A2 sizes are, plus A3+. But the printers are still designated in inches even in the UK, such as this being a 17"? Please inform your viewers of this no-3:2-papers problem when reviewing 17" printers. Maybe most of your viewers don't know o this problem, just like I didn't until a few weeks ago. Having a roll feeder for 17" printers seems like a necessity, unless one is okay with printing only on lesser known companies' papers, or is willing to hand cut 17x25" (maybe A2+, if there is such a thing) sheets from rolls.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes bigger printers are still designated in inches, even if a growing chunk of the population here, and certainly in Europe couldn't tell you what that means. No 17x25 is not a problem here - if it were, people would sell 17 x 25 paper

[@jefffenske1958]

I'm curious why this printer needs less tender loving care and cleaning cycles compared to it's bigger brothers using the same UltraChrome PRO12 inks, minus 2 inks, so they're called UltraChrome PRO10 instead. Are the printheads different somehow, so they need less cleaning and TLC? Why wouldn't Epson use this same technology in their big boy printers, so they could be more user friendly too?

[@KeithCooper]

Different head technology not the inks. The bigger heads have a higher capacity and speed [P5000 vs P5300 for example]. They tend to have more complex (read expensive and bigger) capping stations, and for one like the P20k and 7900, specific cleaning access to the heads The smaller ones for consumer level swap aspects of performance for resistance to lack of use. It's a trade-off - the big ones are expected to be used a lot more. Different markets, different business areas, different users, different expectations

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper I had no idea until now that the printheads are different. Thanks for pointing that out. When you said this printer is easier to maintain that the bigger ones, that's the first I've heard that. It would be nice if they offered these easier to maintain heads in consumer grade larger printers for those who don't print as regularly as the commercial printers.

[@KeithCooper]

That really isn't going to happen - different market entirely. You want a truck - buy a truck ;-)

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper From your description of the printheads for this 17” printer, it sounds like these printheads won’t put out as much ink as the beefier ones do. So to speed up printing for the larger ones that have a larger surface to cover, they need the beefier printheads. No doubt, speed is important for commercial use, but for hobbyists who don’t run their printers everyday, ease of maintenance could be even more important. And wouldn’t hobbyists be the largest consumers of the 24” printers? I’ve never heard of or seen a 24” printer in a commercial operation. At minimum, they would have a 40” printer, and most often have 60”.

[@KeithCooper]

Hobbyists are a very tiny part of the 24" printer business. I really can't see Epson putting a P900 head in a P7000 or P9000 chassis... Bigger printers are much more about performance @@jefffenske1958