Epson Stylus Pro 3800
Whether you're a professional in search of quality prints or an amateur requiring small time production, Epson, the leader in photographic-quality inkjet printers has released yet another one of its best. The Epson Stylus Pro 3800 printer is designed around the Ultrachrome K3 ink technology, which has produced some of the world's greatest images. This latest release is said to have blurred the line between Epson's enthusiasts and prosumer-level printers.

Compared to its contemporaries like the Canon EOS 30D digital SLR, the rather cheap Epson 3800 printer also boasts of the same print engine and ink set as that of the Stylus Pro 4800. So why pick the less costly model? It's because just like the $2000 Pro 4800, the Epson 3800 printer can also accept 17 inches wide paper. Their only difference is the latter's lack of roll-feed option.

The 3800 printer from Epson also makes up for the flaw of the other "8" series. Users of said printers can attest to the fact that it's quite a burden to swap cartridges when switching to a different type of paper. The Epson Stylus Pro 3800 already has nine ink cartridges installed that switch black inks automatically, which is prompted by the users choice of paper in the printer driver.

Though not a lot of information is provided with regard to Epson 3800 camera accessories, it has USB and Ethernet ports that are compatible with most, if not all, of the existing digital cameras. Photography enthusiasts and those seeking the best print quality can rely on the manual or the HTML step by step guide provided in Epson's website.

The Epson 3800 though may be a disappointment to some Apple users because it doesn't have a Firewire connection. However, there's no need to fret because the printer comes with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 jack and what one will need is a compatible port on the computer.

Among the Epson Pro Stylus series, the Epson 3800 is probably one of the snuggly designed, making it ideal for home offices. It cuts across the stylish and the blocky. Also, the fine points don't make the Epson 3800 cheap in terms of design.

Performance wise, the 3800 is one of the best in the inkjet type printer that costs less than $ 1,300. When compared to the 4800, there is almost no visible difference in the resolution though when Photoshopped, the former has more saturated reds and blues while the yellows are a lot better than the latter.