Epson Expression Photo XP-8500
A PREMIUM PRINTER.
WHILE FOCUSED ON high-quality photos and colour prints, the Epson XP-8500 is also a multifunction printer that suits home and small offices. It’s quite compact, but has a scanner built in for digitising documents and making copies. It can print up to A4 size pages on both sides, with a 100-sheet capacity. The XP-8500 also has the usual USB, Wi-Fi, flash drive and SD card connectivity, and uses a 2.7-inch touchscreen for control.
But where the printer really stands out is the use of Epson Claria Photo HD inks. Rather than the usual three ink colours, the printer uses five (plus black) for a wider colour gamut and more accurate photos. It’s worth noting the extra colours are Light Cyan and Light Magenta, so those looking for a focus on black and white photos need to look for printers that include a photo black, and grey ink. It’s especially noticeable with subtle skin tone variances and produces professional level results. While it might be overkill for those making a photo montage of 6 x 4-inch holiday snaps, the difference is very noticeable at larger print sizes. The printer is easy to get up and running (but there is a bit of calibration) and the built-in auto photo correct can improve you images and remove red-eye. You can also print from a smartphone, or connect via Google Cloud print.
Six-ink printers make it hard to judge a per-photo cost, but an entire set of high-capacity ink cartridges costs around $190 and will handle hundreds of photos.