Digital BW, The Print

R2400 v R1800

The R2400 and R1800 are from the same mould, i.e. they look the same.  The 
R1800 targets the consumer market, whereas the R2400 is for the professional 
market.  The R1800 uses a gloss optimizer to add the extra gloss to glossy 
media.  The R2400 uses high gloss UltraChrome K3 inks to add a glossy look.  
This works up to a point nevertheless the gloss optimizer produces better 
results.  Colour wise both printers are producing near identical results, 
there is not much in it.  When it comes to monochrome (greyscale, b/w) then 
the R2400 is in a class of its own.  The b/w prints from the R2400 are 
simply stunning.  The only printer that can match this b/w quality is the HP 
8750/8450 printers with their dedicated Photo black cartridge.  The R2400 
has better yellows, but at the expense of the blues whereas the R1800 has 
better red and orange, but the green is less pronounced.

Both printers offer good value for money, the R2400 is more expensive, but 
has the K3 inks.  The R1800 has CD/DVD printing - which feature do you value 
the most?

"The EPSON Stylus Photo R2400 doesn't compete with traditional wet chemistry 
photographs - it doesn't need to as it is streets ahead of anything I have 
seen produced in a darkroom".  In print quality terms, the R2400 has 
produced the best prints I have seen from any inkjet printer.  The colours 
are vibrant and jump off the page.  At twice the cost of R1800, here in the 
UK, that the kind of result I would expect for the money.

For a full comprehensive review of the R2400 go to 
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%20R2400/page-1.htm