HP debuts next-generation 4800dpi printers | ||||||
By Ian Burley | ||||||
UPDATE 2: Pricing - HP in the UK has now released guide pricing, including VAT, for the four new printers and the approximate figures in pounds previously calculated below using simple currency conversion have been substituted. Most of our calculated prices (without VAT) looked close to the mark but the given €uro price for the DJ5550 seems a lot less than the price in pounds and we have queried this with HP. Hewlett-Packard today reveals its next generation 4800dpi DeskJet ink-jet printing technology and printers. HP is also introducing new photo print media additions to its range today. We’ve seen and used the new printers and can report that they are a significant improvement over current DeskJet and PhotoSmart models in terms of photo print quality. Four new models have been announced, including the sleek new €179 ( UK£149 DeskJet 5550 that we exclusively revealed last month (click here). The Photosmart 7350 is priced €249 (UK£189) and its cheaper sibling, the 7150 is priced €199 (UK£159). At the budget end of the range is the DeskJet 3820, priced €129 (UK£99). Photo inks at last, plus 4800dpi
Like Lexmark, HP has upped its maximum printing resolution to 1200x4800dpi. The new PhotoRet V system photo print mode is claimed to produced 350 times as many variations in colour compared with the Old Photoret III system. However, our guess that HP might move from print heads being built into the ink cartridge to separate permanent print heads has proved to be inaccurate. Instead, HP has developed new low profile ink cartridges with integrated print heads that HP says will last longer than their predecessors. HP adopts discarded Lexmark ink arrangementIntriguingly, HP has adopted precisely the same unusual photo ink cartridge arrangement that used to be unique to Lexmark. This is the optional substitution of the standard pigment black-only ink cartridge by a single photo cartridge containing light cyan and light magenta plus dye-based black. Lexmark pioneered this photo cartridge arrangement with the 570xx, Z4x and Z51/52/53. However, this year’s new Lexmarks all lack a photo cartridge option. Both Epson and Canon either keep all colour inks in one cartridge and black inks in a separate cartridge or offer individual tanks containing just one ink colour. The one obvious disadvantage of the new HP ink choices is that if you want print mono text while the photo cartridge is installed, you will need to replace it with a black-ony cartridge, Unique combination of photo inks and highest dpiSo in theory, HP has jumped from being an also-ran with its 1200x2400dpi and Photoret III system struggling to make do with just three colours when printing photos. Photoret 4 now combines 5 colours plus dye-based true (as opposed to colour mixed) black and 4800dpi. This makes HP equal top with Lexmark in terms of dots per square inch (5.8 million), but HP has photo inks to hide the dots better and improve tonal range. Meanwhile, Canon makes do with 1200x2400dpi (2.9 million dots per square inch) and Epson between 720x2880dpi (2.1 million dots per square inch) and 1440x2880dpi (4.1 million dots per square inch). It’s not just about dotsBut dots aren’t everything. As we have found with Lexmark’s 4800dpi results, more dots, even very small 3 picolitre (pl) ones, without the assistance of intermediate density ‘photo’ inks has limited benefit. The results remain grainy and lacking in dynamic range, with little sign of solid tone. HP’s new printers lay down relatively large ink droplets of 4 or 5pl. Epson, for example, can now produce dots as tiny as 2pl. Over Lexmark, HP has the advantage of photo inks, as an optional extra at least and our initial opinion is that HP’s new models can produce noticeably better photos than the new Lexmarks. Photoret IV vs 4800 optimised dpiA little confusingly, HP differentiates its Photoret IV mode from 4800 optimised dpi mode. In 4800 mode, HP suggests that detail from source images of up to 1200ppi can be handled. Typically we would advise an optimal printed resolution of 300ppi. In Photoret mode, HP doesn’t refer to dpi, preferring to describe dots being built up from up to 32 individual droplets. This mode should be better for lower resolution source images. Still some catching up to doHas HP leap-frogged back to the top? We will reserve judgment until we have tested the new models. However, there are some general observations that show HP still has a little catching up to do still. Borderless printing is only possible using 6x4 media. HP has chosen not to follow the recent trend towards single ink tanks. Print speed is not particularly fast and certainly nothing to keep Canon people awake at night. Photo prints on HP glossy media still emerge from the printer very damp. New HP media has a special undercoating to minimise the risk of two pages sticking to each other when stacked while still damp. We still noticed that areas of the surface of a glossy print where most ink has been laid down loses its gloss. The print surface has an etched look about it where image detail causes a noticeable relief in the surface of the paper. HP has retained its unusual 180 degree turn paper path, which keeps dimensions compact, but causes problems with stiffer or thicker papers. For all you large format fans, HP has nothing to offer in this segment of its range. And what about photo quality?There is no doubt about it; photo print quality has been substantially improved with the introduction of the photo ink option. But while it easily surpasses the new Lexmarks in photo quality, our initial experience with pre-production printers is that Epson and Canon will continue to emerge from detailed print quality analysis slightly in front of the new HPs. But until our full tests have been completed, this will have to be a preliminary conclusion only. Truly great all-rounders?In the past we have recommended models from the current DeskJet and Photosmart range where the requirement went beyond absolute photo quality printing. HP’s black text quality on plain paper, through the use of pigment black ink, continues to be highly impressive. Text printing is also fast and fantastically quiet. But now, while maybe not critically matching Epson and Canon photo print quality, the margin of difference has been narrowed considerably. All this adds up to an overall package that is very attractive in all-round terms. HP is the number one ink-jet printer manufacturer world-wide and these new models will certainly strengthen HP’s grip on the market. Photo purists will not, on the whole, be swayed from Epson and Canon photo printer solutions by the new HPs, while Lexmark retains its low initial purchase price advantage that will be attractive for some. Later this week, we’ll have some exclusive preliminary print quality analysis – watch this space!
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Much to our relief, we welcome the news that HP has at last introduced a photo ink option. In recent months, HP has steadily fallen behind its photo ink-jet competitors with its out-dated three colour only system. Now you can opt for photo printing with light cyan and light magenta plus standard cyan, magenta and yellow. A dye-based black ink for photo printing is now provided. Previously, three colour combination black was relied upon. Mono text printing is, as before, accomplished using a pigment based black in.
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