Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "cjpaschke" 
<cjpaschke@...> wrote:
>
> I've done traditional film printing, but I would like to get into 
> Digital B&W.  I'm starting from scratch and have a few questions:
> 1)It looks like I can get a reconditioned Epson R800 or 1280 for 
> ~$200.  I don't want to spend more than $300.  Are these the best 
> options in that range?  I would have thought the smaller droplet size 
> of the R800 would be a plus, but I'm not seeing a ton of positive 
user 
> reviews of this printer (for B&W workflow).  I don't need 
> a "workhorse" printer, but I am very quality conscience.  I will 
> probably use MIS or piezotone inks along with a QTR(if I ever figure 
> out what that is).

If 8.5x11 is sufficient for size you can't beat the Epson R220, 
available anywhere for under a hundred US and for as little as 50 if 
you shop around.  The MIS UT-R2 inksets work extremely well and there 
are various systems for tonal variety.  See Paul Roark's website as 
well as Clayton Jones's.  Profiles exist for the UT-R2 inkset for a 
sufficient variety of papers.  For more advanced work you can use the 
MIS UT-3D inkset but it will be more demanding of you.  The UT-R2 can 
have you printing very fine work within hours.  With the ability to 
profile in house or by purchasing profiles the R220 will do very good 
color work with MIS MISPRO pigment inks as well.  A lot to offer for 
under a hundred bucks.