4800 & 3rd party ink

[KeithR]

After using my 1280 & 1200 for the past 3 plus years I have upgraded to the 4800. I have used 3rd party inks(MIS) via a CIS in both and have been pleased with the results. My question is if anyone has used the MIS K3 equivalent ink set in the 4800, utilizing the funnel fill carts. Also, I've read some of the pasts comments on the Phatte Black option, and am interested to see if there have been any newer developments. I have yet to set the 4800 up yet, (having just gotten it a couple of days ago) preferring to read through the manual first, and redesign the area that it will take over!

[Peter McLennan]

My question is if anyone has used the MIS K3 equivalent ink set in the 4800, utilizing the funnel fill carts.  I have yet to set the 4800 up yet, (having just gotten it a couple of days ago) preferring to read through the manual first, and redesign the area that it will take over!
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See the Yahoo Wide Format and Epson 4000 lists for user reports on the funnel fill solution.  Most reports I've seen have been positive.  The 4800 has a voracious appetite for ink (you'll want to make LARGE prints) I intend to go this route once I've used my first batch of 220 ml carts.  See MarkDS' forensic ink cost/use reports for the 4800 in this forum.

Be sure to allow access to the rear of the printer in your install.  You need to get to the back to clean the paper path.  It's also much easier to insert roll paper from the rear.

Happy printing.  It's a great tool.

Peter

[KeithR]

See the Yahoo Wide Format and Epson 4000 lists for user reports on the funnel fill solution.  Most reports I've seen have been positive.  The 4800 has a voracious appetite for ink (you'll want to make LARGE prints) I intend to go this route once I've used my first batch of 220 ml carts.  See MarkDS' forensic ink cost/use reports for the 4800 in this forum.

Be sure to allow access to the rear of the printer in your install.  You need to get to the back to clean the paper path.  It's also much easier to insert roll paper from the rear.

Happy printing.  It's a great tool.

Peter
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Peter,

Thanks for the reply! I did a quick search on the forums mentioned, and found a lot of info pertaining to 76/78/96/98 printers and very little involving the refilable carts and the 4800. You mention "reports I've seen have been positive". Could you point me to the posts mentioned. I'm just eager to learn about any potential problems I might encounter taking the route I'm considering ie MIS funnel fil carts, MIS k4 inkset, and possibly the Phatte Black via ImagePrint.

[Schewe]

Boy, I would just _NOT_ do down the route...

First off, the K3 inks are a major step forward, regardless of what some people may say, so I seriously doubt that any 3rd party ink will touch them for gamut, total volume of color nor Dmax.

Second, the K3 ink printers nozzles are smaller than previous printers so I would be seriously concerned about clogging.

Thirdly, the 4800 printers will accept 220 ML carts which is the cheapest Epson ink you can get-I seriously wonder if you would save in the long run with CIS...considering what it would do to your warrantee...

The phrase "penny wise and pound foolish" comes to mind.

[Peter McLennan]

I searched the Yahoo Epson4000 group using "MIS AND funnel" and got lots of hits on this topic. Some happy campers, some not so happy.  Most of the complaints seem to derive from leaky carts, which MIS claims to have fixed.  Colour issues seem moot, however we have no way of validating the authors' claims to "good colour".

Shewe's warnings are undoubtedly valid.  He surely knows more about the 4800 and colour inkjet printing than I.  You will be an early adopter.  

On the other hand, there is the "fear, uncertainty and doubt" factor.  Epson wants us to believe that their inks are magic.  Based on some prints I see, they may well be right, but there's no doubt where Epson (printer division) make their money.  And there's no doubt that ink jet ink, even in 220 ml carts, is one of the most costly liquids on the planet.  HP uses the same business model.  They state that their "imaging" ( ie consumables) division is their most profitable.

I believe that warantee issues will apply only if Epson can prove that the clone inks caused the damage in question.  I'm Canadian.  US laws may differ.  You might want to wait until your warantee expires, as I intend to do.

However, according to MIS, with their "funnel fill" system, ink costs will drop by a factor of AT LEAST two, probably much more.  The more you print, the more you save.  If you're selling your prints, ink costs are irrelevant.  If you're paying, they can be significant.  Although they may not be solely in the fine art photography business, many service bureaus use bulk ink systems to avoid excessive ink costs.

My experiences with two Epson 1160s and an Epson 880 with MediaStreet clone (4 colour) inks and CISs over five years is nothing but positive in all respects.  I have dozens of check-marks on my wall, each one signifying a near-zero-cost-to-me $85 cart change for my 1160s.  I intend to experiment with clone inks in my 4800 so that I can use my printer guilt-free for what it was intended. Printing!

Peter