Epson Stylus Photo R800 Inkjet Printer

Print speeds are as fast as 17 ppm, while a 5-by-7-inch photo can take as little as 45 seconds. (All reported speeds are maximums. Actual speeds will vary.) The R800 can print borderless photos in a number of popular sizes, and accepts a wide variety of plain and photo papers, as well as transparencies and envelopes. The input tray holds up to 100 sheets of regular paper, up to 20 sheets of photo paper, up to 10 envelopes, one transparency, or one printable CD/DVD.

Designed to last, Epson's UltraChrome Hi-Gloss pigment inks deliver photos with an expected life of up to 80 years. The software bundle includes Epson Software Film Factory as well as the PRINT Image Matching II Photoshop plug-in, designed to optimize prints from a wide variety of popular digital cameras.

The R800 connects to your computer via either USB or FireWire and has a 25,000-page monthly duty cycle. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating platforms, the R800 comes backed with a one-year parts and labor warranty.

What's in the Box
Epson Stylus Photo R800 inkjet printer, one cyan ink cartridge (T054220), one magenta ink cartridge (T054320), one yellow ink cartridge (T054420), one photo black ink cartridge (T054120), one matte black ink cartridge (T054820), one red ink cartridge (T054720), one blue ink cartridge (T054920), one gloss optimizer cartridge (T054020), CD print tray and Epson Print CD software, roll paper holder accessory, printer documentation, Premium ICC profiles, CD-ROM containing printer drivers and software (Windows and Macintosh); printer cable not included

I had looked at the high-end consumer printers from Canon and HP, but decided against them due to reported ozone fading problems (Canon) and star-wheel marks on the HP 7960 which I saw myself on the test prints at the local retailer.

I was about to buy a high-end dye sublimation printer when I saw some reviews of the R800. Now that I've owned one, I have to say this is by far the best photo printer I've ever used.

It's FAST - 4x6's print in about 45 seconds
It does TRUE borderless prints (no tear-offs)
The colors are life-life and saturated
Pigment ink promises long life and freedom from ozone fading
And it's unexpectedly QUIET!
I've notice NO banding or digthring at all.
The gloss is excellent and comparable to glossy photo paper
Can print onto CD's (I haven't tried this)

Can take roll paper (but no cutter)

Consumables seem to cost about $40-$50 per 4x6, or $1.50-$1.75 for an 8x10, which is a bit high, but not out of line with competitors.

I HIGHLY recommend this printer. Prints made with the EPSON premium glossy photo paper are out of this world.


Little Hercules   February 27, 2004
E. Kim (Austin, TX USA)
84 out of 86 found this review helpful

This is really an outstanding photo printer. I've been really impressed with the quality of the photos that this guy produces. When I first read that it had a 1.5 picoliter droplet size I was pretty amazed and you can really see the clarity in the prints. I've been a fan of Epson's chrome inks which is used on the 2200 as well. With a matte black and a gloss optimizer inks, this makes the R800 a very versitle printer as well. Too many times have I bought a printer that does exceptional well on one type of paper and sub-par on another. The chrome inks are also rated to last 80 years as well. At first, I didn't care for the abilty to print cd/dvd directly on the printable discs, but after using it, I've really become fond of the option. My only knock on the R800 is that it doesn't do formats larger than your standard 8 1/2 by 11. Though I realize that is what the 2200 is for, I wished the R800 did wider formats are well as I am more impressed by it's print quality. Either way if your looking for a somewhat proffessional printer for photos, I'd really reccommend the R800, you won't be disappointed. The 2200 is also a great printer for wider formats and if you're just interested in the cd/dvd printing capablity, Epson also makes a R300 that does it as well for a much better price


Ink Hog   December 8, 2005
Bruce A. Brightwell (Louisville, Kentucky United States)
61 out of 78 found this review helpful

I bought this printer based on everyone's glowing reviews. However, the one thing most people overlooked is that this is an ink HOG. And, with it using EIGHT different cartridges costing $11.30 apiece, you can easily end up buying this printer 10 times over by buying ink cartridges. After getting tired of spending all that money on Epson ink cartridges, I finally got an HP multifuntion machine. Yeah, its not quite as good a printer, but it doesn't require a home equity line of credit to finance continual ink purchases. And if I really want high quality photos, I just ship them online to ophoto. Maybe if you were a professional photographer, this printer might be justifiable. But for the average person, this thing is a money pit. You can get okay photos with an HP machine that only soaks you $30 or so at a time for ink, instead of $100. And with high quality prints just a mouse click away, I really regret this purchase. I eventually just junked it.

Plus, when I first got the printer I had an issue with print quality, and customer service had me go through several cleaning cycles which used up all my ink the first time around, and then said that was too bad, but I had to replace all my ink cartridges. So I had to drop over $100 on ink cartridges just to get my first pictures out of this thing.

So, unless you REALLY have a burning need to print high quality photos at home, there are a lot more economical options.


Pricey, but WELL worth it   March 27, 2004
Kurt Gish (Piedmont, California USA)
42 out of 42 found this review helpful

I previously owned a Canon S800 photo printer with six dye-based inks, and have been quite pleased with it. However, all of the fade-resistant claims are based on keeping the print behind glass or plastic; if you do, the claims are true, and I have 3-year old photos that still look perfect. HOWEVER, tape them onto the refrigerator or on your office wall, and they'll be visible faded in <1 year.

Enter the pigment-based UltraChrome inks. I've only had my printer for 1 month, so I can't really say how long they'll last when "naked", but so far they look absolutely fantastic. I agree with the other reviewers, so I won't bother to re-iterate what they've written, except to rave about the quality, smudge-resistance, saturation of colors (and blacks!), and the glossy-optimizer. I rub my fingers/thumb over a printout versus a traditional 4x6 photo and can't tell the difference at all. Wipe a wet finger over it, and NO SMEAR at all.

These inks are pricey (the old razor blade business model), and per print are probably more expensive than traditional photographic prints (4X6's). But, if you want to print your own, especially enlargements, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this printer.


R800 is unreliable, too expensive & variable quality   March 23, 2005
Daniel A. Koblosh (Redondo Beach, CA USA)
35 out of 46 found this review helpful

This is my second--and last--Epson printer. I've had this junk since July, 2004.

I would have bought a Canon or an HP this time around but bought the R800 Epson (the stinkin' four HUNDRED dollar Epson) for one reason: it prints directly onto DVDs. The tipping point to decide on the $400 model? It has pigment inks that will last longer...IF THE INK EVER DECIDED TO COME OUT AND ONTO THE PAPER. But I'm yelling.

Because I have had so many failed prints, I lost interest in printing and the printer sits idle and unused most of the time. Thus the print heads dry and clog up. I can't tell you how much ink (at $95 per complete cartridge set replacement cost) I have wasted in bad prints because the printer heads malfunctioned or the color came out wrong.

At first the print quality was stunning. Then it simply started printing too red. I contacted Epson "support" (what a joke) who eventually said they were having problems with the SP2 XP upgrade messing with the Epson driver. I downloaded the new driver. Still way too red. Flesh tone came out bright red and over saturated. It was so frustrating I simply quit printing and decided to take my Nikon D70's files to a photo finisher. Faster, cheaper and more reliable.

Believe me, don't bother with a printer if you think 1) it's cheaper or 2) faster. It's neither. And it's not even better in quality depending on how good your photo finisher is. A good color photo will last longer than any inkjet print. More durable and water resistant, too.

But I bought the R800 so I could print onto DVDs.

So tonight, knowing I had not used it in weeks, I wisely ran the Print Head Utility and verified that the heads were cleaned and unclogged (wasting yet more precious ink in the process). I then printed out a passably good DVD. Don't think it's anything to write home about: the print quality on a printable CD or DVD is not anywhere near glossy photo paper. Photo printing onto a DVD is dull and flat...not very exciting at all. But at least it's not on peel-and-stick label paper.

I printed a second DVD right away. True to form, even after the head cleaning routine, the black head cloged half way through printing and the lower half of the DVD is shot. Thanks again Epson. Even after the head cleaning routine (that takes about five minutes) it fails again and ruins a $1.50 printable 8x DVD. It's done this to many pieces of high quality glossy photo paper, too, wasting ink, paper, money and time. What a piece of garbage.

And it happens again and again. I just want to scream. And Epson support is nowhere to be found.

And just try figuring out all the color settings. Good luck. Let's see, under Color Management in print setup, should I use Color Controls, PhotoEnhance or ICM mode? If I use the ICC/ICM profile, should I select "off" or "applied by Printer Software"? What's the difference and when does one use which setting? Who knows? I dare you to find the documentation that even explains the sttings, much less actually helps you make a good print the first time.

Now, if you don't mind printing three or four to get one, go for it. And keep your wallet out. Those massive .5cc "tanks" (that should more accurately be called thimbles) empty faster than you can say "Replace Ink Tanks for $95." I love the way Epson puts a sales web link right in the print window titled "Buy Ink" so you can go straight to the Epson site and plunk down full price plus shipping for more ink that will clog and be blown out the head cleaning utility, and then clog anyway.

If you have to buy an Epson, don't waste your money on the R800. Get the $100 model R200. That way when you throw it away it won't hurt so bad.

Never Epson again.