Home > Consumer Reviews > Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Printer Standard Model Photo Printer

I am very pleased with the images from the 3800. The only problem I had was the cd that came with the printer was warped but I downloaded the drivers from the website.

Printer looks pretty good on my desk thanks to my wife who gave it to me as an early Christmas gift today.... Smiles. But who cares, right? What about the printer? Well, superb prints right out the box. I've been printing with the Canon I9900 and thought nothing compared with it for color and detail.... I was wrong.

Thank you all for your thoughtful and honest reviews.

Product reviews by actual customers are the first thing I read before buying anything, especially in my recent purchase of this printer.

I've had my doubts but ordered anyway because I've wanted to buy a printer that I can "grow" into as I get more and more serious into Photography.

This is my first photo printer so I don't have much to comapre but I must say that this printer is easier to set up then an Apple computer out of the box. I bought 8.5x11 photo paper in advance of receiving for testing and etc and to my surprise the printer came with a packet of Luster Photo Papers(8.5x11).

Working with PS CS3 for borderless printing took a while to figure out but I'm a printing fool now. I can't wait to try out the 11x17 and 16x20!

I highly recommend this printer any serious novis like myself.

I've had this since March 2008. I like the large capacity ink cartridges which last a long time. I print mainly on Red River Paper using the RR profiles and have no complaints about print quality at all. I've printed hundreds of prints from 4x6 to 17x25 and have only had to clean the print heads (using the printer utility) a couple times. I've replaced the maintenance cartridge once. I print almost exclusively on glossy paper, though. If I switched back and forth from glossy to matt, I think I'd go through more ink and more maintenance cartridges also. One minor point...you've got to use this printer regularly. If it's been a week since you printed something, then at least go print a nozzle check. An acquaintance left his 3800 for almost a month. Getting it working again was expensive.

It does make typical pigment ink prints, so they initially don't look as good as dye prints, especially if your subjects have a lot of white and therefore get no ink in those areas. On occasion, I also see the famous tracks in the ink, but not very often. I can't really figure out the combination of circumstances that causes the tracks, though, and that can be an expensive matter with 17x25 prints!

My only serious complaint is that this big, big printer is really flimsy. Even though it is fairly expensive, I don't see this as a professional or commercial grade printer by any strech of the imagination. I'm sure that in a working shop, this plastic wonder would last about three days! When you move it, that becomes obvious, as it creaks and squeaks from lack of rigidity in the case. So far the latch that holds the output tray in its closed position has broken. Also, the plastic guides that hold the input trays in their extended position partly broke. In both cases, I was able to continue using the printer after judicious use of Velcro(r) and Superglue(r). Anyone who is "rough" with their equipment may have to change their ways when working with this.

All that said, if you treat this printer as though the case is made of eggshells and don't switch back and forth from glossy to mat and back, you should be very happy with the 3800.

Printer arrived less than two weeks ago, and a magnet that holds the "front door" closed came unglued, causing it to drop open and stay open. I called Epson service and was told to take it to the service dealer (150 miles away) or ship it back for a serviced unit. You'd think Epson could send a new part, some glue, or some solution that would save money at a time when everyone is looking to cut costs. Boxing, shipping and waiting were not pleasant solutions. No, said the "service" person, "this is simply procedure. There's nothing else we can do." I asked to speak to his supervisor and was told that would not be possible. I thought Epson corporate leadership might like to know their system is broken, but they force all contact back through the product groups and ultimately one of these unhelpful service people. BEWARE. It's a great printer, but if you have the slightest thing wrong, the support is AWFUL and OBSTINATE. They will not budge.