Cheap? If you already own this printer and paid over $200 sorry. Not sure why but I think Canon offered a huge discount on this printer to customers who bought one of their high end digital cameras in the $3K to $5K range. Many bought this printer and decided to sell on Ebay without even opening their boxes. Tracked a few and paid $157 delivered. Postage was $50 so paid $107. Will be using Canon Classic II gloss paper. When ink gets low I will refill for a fraction of Canon ink. There are high end ink suppliers on the web with instructions.
Been using Elements 7. Bought a new computer and decided to try Google Picasa3 which is free. So far I like it better than Elements 7 on last computer. May not download to new computer Picasa3 is so simple to use. Easy editing and printing to the 9000MkII. Want to mention I bought the Iomega 1TB portable HD which I used to transfer thousands of pics from old to new computer. New computer has Windows 7. Like it generally. Easier with digital pics for me than Windows XP.
Need to mention cameras because they effect print quality. Lots of my files have pics from my Canon SX10 IS. A year ago I bought the Canon 40D and five lens mostly on Ebay. Three of the lens are "L" type which are among the best IMHO. Two are one step down but still excellent the 50MM 1.4 and 10 to 22mm 3.5 both by Canon. Also read some popular books on photography by Peterson and Scott Kelby. Among the helpful ideas they taught me was the use of a tripod or monopod for ALL pics if possible. Canon Pro9000MkII prints are much better from 40D pics even through each original pics has close to same megapixals, 8mp verses 10.
Cameras share some attributes with astro telescopes. In fact digital photos started with telescopes. Telescopes have a much harder time getting good pictures due to low light, extreme distance, and earth rotation, etc. To overcome these difficulties "good" telescope pictures require STEADY MOUNTS (i.e. tripod) and good glass (like Legacy).
Everyday digital camera pics can be hand held without a tripod and one unchangeable fixed or zoom lens. BUT if you want to go to the NEXT LEVEL. Get a good tripod with a good ballhead and put a good camera on it that uses superior glass. Superior glass starts around $500 (prime lens) and for the zooms about $1000 and go higher. One of them most popular Canon L glass zooms is $1600. With the Canon 40D or current 50D at around $1200. This next level is expensive.
Taken pictures all my life and studied the technicals about exposures etc. Higher end digital cameras like the changeable lens Canons and Nikons cost upwards of $750 with QUALITY lens have many features that are not easy to use without some serious effort to learn how. Perhaps many just use the "AUTO" settings. Fine for them. If your do your homework, I needed a couple supplimental instructions manuals for my Canon 40D, you can begin taking pics that allow cropping and large prints with amazing clarity. Often one manual unclear but with the second manual comparisons learned about hundreds of options that can be programmed into camera for specific types of photography, ref: mirror lockup, white balance, full program, live view, etc. Different lens allow specific pics advantages. Peterson's books excellent on this.
Photo editors like Picasa3 make it pretty easy to take medium quality pics and crop to gems within. Try all the tools back and forth to see what looks more pleasing. Perhaps ONE PERCENT of original pics are perfect as taken. The other ninety nine percent can be improved with editing, IMHO. All the equipment described above will give you original pics of such high quality there is plenty of room for editing. Proof me for is the difference between pics from the Canon SX10 IS and the Canon 40D with the Legacy lens and this Canon Pixma Pro9000Mk II.
Every time you move a digital pic in your computer you will loose some detail. When you take the pic and store it on you computer you already have lost quite a bit unless you use RAW format. All those megs used for each pics which the cameras advertise can be misleading if you fail to realize how reduced the pics are when you transfer off the original camera storage card and then move to digital processors and CROP and edit etc. Pro9000MkII prints with such sharpness that you need all the quality in the original you can manage.
If you take quality pics and edit well the Pro9000MkII will give you some prints that made me appreciate why taking the pics about half the process of creating beautiful pictures. The other half is making large beautiful prints you hang on your walls for years of enjoyment. My friends have been "WOW'd" by the prints from this Pro9000MkII. I have been offered hundreds to take some pet pictures for friends and print them based on some pics of our Golden Retriever "ARROW".
Take good pictures and this Canon Pixma Pro9000MkII will bring back the moments they were taken plus some WOW!
(48 customers reviews)Customers Rating=4.5 / 5.0
More Detail For
Canon Pixma PRO9000MkII Inkjet Photo Printer 3295B002 - Maximum 4800x2400 dpi FINE printhead technology
- Photo Lab quality 11-inchx14-inch color photo in approximately 1 minute 23 seconds
- Support for fine art paper up to 13"x19" with two separate paper paths, including front feeder for heavy-weight paper types
- Professional printer features using Easy-PhotoPrint Pro plug-in software
- Ambient Light Correction feature; optimizes color output to match the specified lighting condition
