Digital BW, The Print

Hello,

I've been searching this forum for information about the Epson 1270 
used with the MIS UT FS inks, but have found little. I am quite new to 
BW photography and printing and have been using an Epson C84 with the 
EZW inks with good results. However I really miss the opportunity to 
print on larger media. I was recently on the verge of buying a new 
Epson 2400, but decided against since it is quite expensive and also 
have more expensive inks than the MIS inks. I am now considering 
buying a used 1270 instead and wait for the 2400 to come down in 
price. However, I'd like som input from anyone with experience from 
this printer.

* How is the quality compared to the BW quality one can achieve with 
the 2400?
* I've seen some threads regarding clogging problems when refilling 
cartridges on the 1270. Is this a common problem?
* Will MIS continue producing inks and catridges for this printer for 
the next couple of years at least?
* Will there be a big difference in quality (or any other issues) if I 
should decide to buy a new 1290s instead? (more than twice the price)

I hope you can help me. I've already learned a lot from this forum, 
and the amount of information gathered here is nothing short of 
impressive!

Best Regards
Espen Lodden

Espen,


> I've been searching this forum for information about the Epson 1270
> used with the MIS UT FS inks, ...

See my Readme file at: 

http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/1270-FS-Readme.htm

> 
> * How is the quality compared to the BW quality one can achieve with
> the 2400?

If the 1270 is working perfectly, and the curves fit the printer and inkset
well, the 1270 with FS inks can visually match the 2400.  I'd far rather
have a 2400, however.  It's a question of money.  If a 1270 is given to you
it may be worth trying.


> * I've seen some threads regarding clogging problems when refilling
> cartridges on the 1270. Is this a common problem?

I can't quantify the degree of the problems.

The clear carts seem to be the way to go, but I'm not thrilled with any of
those older carts.  

The individual C86 - 2400 cart design has become a much more reliable
approach, in my view.  Consider, for example, the lack of need for precisely
matching the spacing between the printer inlets and cart outlets.  Those 2
production variables almost guarantee fit problems, including, perhaps,
allowing air to leak into the head, causing almost incurable bubbles that
look like clogs.


> * Will MIS continue producing inks and catridges for this printer for
> the next couple of years at least?

Probably, but I'm not MIS.  I won't spend more time on old printers.

Hope this helps.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "espenlodden"
<espenlodden@y...> wrote:
>
> I am now considering 
> buying a used 1270 instead and wait for the 2400 to come down in 
> price. However, I'd like som input from anyone with experience from 
> this printer.
I got a couple on ebay for very little money (but working and with
EPSON cartridges to allow tests).  This while also using a 1290 and
knowing the many similarities and few differences. 
> 
> * How is the quality compared to the BW quality one can achieve with 
> the 2400?
No idea - probably the difference in speed is larger though. Don't be
in a hurry with 1270s. But I'm patient and never quite felt ready to
buy one or two more expensive printers.  There is always something
else to do, and 3 printers in parallel get through enough paper anyway.

> * Will MIS continue producing inks and catridges for this printer for 
> the next couple of years at least?
Same cartriges as 1290s, inks work for many printers.
> * Will there be a big difference in quality (or any other issues) if I 
> should decide to buy a new 1290s instead? (more than twice the price)
I hope much more than twice the price.  1270 should be very cheap. 

Ken

Thank you very much for the quick reply. 
I saw some prints from the 2400 yesterday, and they were really 
stunning. Sooner or later I will buy a 2400 for color printing, 
however I'm still wondering whether an extra dedicated printer for BW 
printing could be viable in order to cut ink costs. In that case I had 
hoped to save some money by buying an older printer. I can propably 
get a 1270 for about $100-150 here in Norway.

Espen

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
>
> Espen,
> 
> 
> > I've been searching this forum for information about the Epson 
1270
> > used with the MIS UT FS inks, ...
> 
> See my Readme file at: 
> 
> http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/1270-FS-Readme.htm
> 
> > 
> > * How is the quality compared to the BW quality one can achieve 
with
> > the 2400?
> 
> If the 1270 is working perfectly, and the curves fit the printer and 
inkset
> well, the 1270 with FS inks can visually match the 2400.  I'd far 
rather
> have a 2400, however.  It's a question of money.  If a 1270 is given 
to you
> it may be worth trying.
> 
> 
> > * I've seen some threads regarding clogging problems when 
refilling
> > cartridges on the 1270. Is this a common problem?
> 
> I can't quantify the degree of the problems.
> 
> The clear carts seem to be the way to go, but I'm not thrilled with 
any of
> those older carts.  
> 
> The individual C86 - 2400 cart design has become a much more 
reliable
> approach, in my view.  Consider, for example, the lack of need for 
precisely
> matching the spacing between the printer inlets and cart outlets.  
Those 2
> production variables almost guarantee fit problems, including, 
perhaps,
> allowing air to leak into the head, causing almost incurable bubbles 
that
> look like clogs.
> 
> 
> > * Will MIS continue producing inks and catridges for this printer 
for

> > the next couple of years at least?
> 
> Probably, but I'm not MIS.  I won't spend more time on old printers.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>

> I hope much more than twice the price.  1270 should be very cheap. 

Yes, propably the difference is bigger. The problem in Norway is 
actually finding a printer for sale.

Speed is not a big issue for me. Is there any reason to choose a 1290s 
over the 1270? The difference in price is about $200-300

Espen

> Speed is not a big issue for me. Is there any reason to choose a 1290s 
> over the 1270? The difference in price is about $200-300
The driver for the 1270 has 1440 as the highest resolution setting. At
it happens I never use higher on my 1290. However, that there are
several recommendations to use 2880, so there may be some
circumstances where it would be useful to have a 1290.  I just don't
know them.  I'm always a bit sceptical when, in either printers or
scanners, the resolution in one dimension exceeds that in the
orthogonal dimension by more than a factor of two.  I doubt that it is
meaningful to have 2880x720 "resolution".  It probably puts down more
ink than 1440x720.  I've never seen a lack of ink with my 1270s at 1440.
Perhaps the 1270 is disappearing by now.  I see none on UK ebay today,
nor even worldwide, so perhaps my suggestion is not very helpful. 

Ken