Comparison of 13" Wide Epson Printers

• Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• Epson Stylus Color 1160
• Epson Stylus 1520 -- Technically, this is also a 13" wide printer (in printable width), even though this printer will take a 17" wide sheet. However, I've decided to eliminate this printer from the comparison, for sake of simplicity. It's a great old 4-color printer (very solidly built), but the age of this printer puts the technology and the image quality of the 1160 at a much superior advantage. The 1160 has variable ink droplet sizing technology (producing cleaner and more "separated" highlights) and the 1520 does not. The 1160 has a 4 picoliters minimum ink droplet size, vs. the 1520's fixed droplet size of 20 picoliters.

Image Output Quality
Judge for yourself, with side-by-side
output comparisons from these 4 printers

Our Recommendations (which printer to buy)

This comparison will not just be a comparison of the technical specifications of these four printers, but more importantly, a comparison of their versatility (or lack of), and of how the printers work with the media they print on. See our Other comparison chart (which compares the Epson Stylus Color 3000, 1520, 800, 850, 600, 900, 700, Photo EX, 750 and 1200 printers).

Availability
At the time of this writing (October 2000), all of the above printers are currently in production, except the 1200. However, it is still readily available through Epson and other outlets (i.e. Electrified.com) as a refurbished printer.

Price (MSRP)

• $899.00 - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• $499.00 - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• $390.00 - Epson Stylus Photo 1200 (typical refurbished price, not MSRP)
• $449.00 - Epson Stylus Color 1160 (recently reduced to $299.00)

Printable Width

• 13" (edge to edge) - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• 12.76" - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• 12.76" - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• 12.76" - Epson Stylus Color 1160

Printing Speed (Epson specs for an 8" x 10" photo print)

• 3:40 minutes for matte papers, 5:20 minutes for glossy media* - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• 1:50 minutes - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• 2:00 minutes - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• 1:43 minutes - Epson Stylus Color 1160
  
  *The 2000P prints in a standard bi-directional mode when in the "matte" mode. It prints in a one-direction mode (allowing the ink to dry between passes), when it is set to a "Semi-gloss" or "glossy" mode. Our own tests on a 4.5" x 7" color print revealed a print speed of about 8 minutes with glossy media mode, using the "Quality" setting, and 4 minutes when using the "Speed" setting (there was not a great deal of improvement in image quality when going from "Speed" to "Quality", unless one looked very closely). 3 minutes were required when using the matte papers mode, using the "Quality" setting. From these inhouse tests, it's quite evident that Epson's printing speed ratings for the 2000P are based on the "Speed" setting, and not the "Quality" setting, however, as I've mentioned, the quality difference is small. Where most people noticed a difference was in non-detailed areas like skies, where the "Quality" setting did produce better smoothness.

Ink Droplet Technology (All four printers have 1440 x 720 dpi print resolution)

• 7 picoliter Variable droplet - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P (picoliter size is according to the German Epson Web site - Epson USA only says, "Variable MicroDroplet, 0.1 Micron pigment particle")
• 4 picoliter Variable droplet - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• 6 picoliter Variable droplet - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• 4 picoliter Variable droplet - Epson Stylus 1160
• 20 picoliter Non-variable droplet - Epson Stylus 1520 (given for comparison only)

Ink Color Palette (Number of ink colors)

• 6 (Black cartridge, 5-Color cartridge) - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• 6 (Black cartridge, 5-Color cartridge) - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• 6 (Black cartridge, 5-Color cartridge) - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• 4 (Black cartridge, 3-Color cartridge) - Epson Stylus Color 1160

Ink Cartridge Cost

• Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
  • $32.95 for black #T015201
  • $37.95 for color #T016201
• Epson Stylus Photo 1270
  • $24.95 for black #T007201
  • $29.95 for color #T009201
• Epson Stylus Photo 1200
  • $24.95 for black #S020187
  • $29.95 for color #T001011
• Epson Stylus Color 1160
  • $29.95 for black #S020189
  • $29.95 for color #S020191

Ink Cartridge Capacity (Epson Specs)

• Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
  • Not available, but appears to be similar to 1270 and 1200
• Epson Stylus Photo 1270
  • Black ink life: 540 pages (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)
  • Color ink life: 330 pages* (@ 15% coverage at 360 dpi)
• Epson Stylus Photo 1200
  • Black ink life: 540 pages (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)
  • Color ink life: 330 pages* (@ 15% coverage at 360 dpi)
• Epson Stylus Color 1160
  • Black ink life: 900 pages** text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)
  • Color ink life: 300 pages* (@ 15% coverage at 360 dpi)
  
  *When printing photographic images on "Photo" papers, using the highest quality settings, most users are reporting a capacity of 20 to 30 prints (8"x10" image area) before one of the color cells runs dry.
  
  **The black cartridge on the 1160 evidently has a higher capacity than all the other printers in this comparison. That's because it was designed as a wide "business" printer. It prints text about twice as fast as the other printers, which were designed as "photo" printers. All of the other printers in this comparison have 48-nozzle black print heads. The 1160 sports a 144-nozzle black print head (all of the printers in this group have color print heads with 48 nozzles per color). At 144-nozzles, the 1160 prints a very wide pattern with each pass, which is one of the reasons it is so speedy when printing in the "black ink" only mode. This printer is a favorite choice for many who wish to do "quad black" printing (using 3 shades of gray in the color cartridge); however, for those who want to do true monochrome printing (black ink only), this printer will really "kick butt"! And with its very fine, 4-picoliter variable ink droplet size, the quality of these prints is fairly good, even when compared to quad black prints.

Ink Cartridge Adaptability (are 3rd party inks available for this printer?)

• No - only Epson inks can be used, due to "Intellidge" (microchip) cartridge technology -- Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• No* - only Epson inks can be used, due to "Intellidge" (microchip) cartridge technology -- Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• Yes** -- Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• Yes*** -- Epson Stylus Color 1160
  
  *InkJetArt Solutions (an extremely economical Epson compatible ink) plans to have cartridges with "Intellidge"-like microchips available by March 2001. This compatible ink is comparable to Epson's "graphic" type inks, and is not a "lightfast" formula. The ink is meant for economy in printing, i.e. for office and promotional mailings, where improved longevity is not a priority.
  
  **The Epson Stylus Photo 1200 was the last of the 6-color printers made that does not incorporate the "Intellidge" (microchip) cartridge technology. For this reason, the 1200 can use a wide variety of 3rd party, Epson compatible inks (i.e. the extremely economical InkJetArt Solutions) and "archival" color inks (i.e. Lysonic, Fotonic, Lumijet Platinum, Lumijet Silver, MIS Archival, Generations, and Xtreme Gamut). Archival monochrome ink cartridges are also available for it: Lyson, Luminos Lumijet and MIS Quadtone). It is also capable of being adapted for a no-more-cartridges, Continuous inking System.
  
  ***The Epson Stylus Color 1160 does not incorporate the "Intellidge" (microchip) cartridge technology. For this reason, the 1160 can use a wide variety of 3rd party, Epson compatible inks (i.e. the extremely economical InkJetArt Solutions) and "archival" color inks (i.e. Lysonic, Fotonic, Lumijet Platinum, Lumijet Silver, MIS Archival, Generations, and Xtreme Gamut). Because the 1160 is a 4-ink printer, it's inks have a much greater lightfastness than the 1200's 6-ink system -- often lasting twice as long before fading, when using dye-based archival inks (although the 6-color pigmented inks, like MIS Archival and Generations, are not quite as susceptible to fading). Archival monochrome ink cartridges are also available for it: Lyson, Luminos Lumijet, MIS Quadtone and the ConeTech PiezographyBW. It is also capable of being adapted for a no-more-cartridges, Continuous inking System.

Lightfast Rating (indoor display with Epson inks)

• 140 to 200+ years - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
• 10 year on RC glossy, 25 years on matte - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
• 1-2 years on Epson Photo Paper w/Epson standard inks - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
• 3 years on Epson Photo Paper w/Epson standard inks - Epson Stylus Color 1160

Monochrome Printing Capability (the higher the number, the greater the capability and variety of monochrome choices)

1 - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
2 - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
3 - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
4 - Epson Stylus Color 1160


1 - This printer can only do monochrome printing using the black ink, although the output quality is quite good and very archival. It can simulate monochrome printing using all 6 colors, but the output suffers from cross-over color shifts and metamerism due to its pigmented ink.

2 - This printer can only do monochrome printing using the black ink, although the output quality is quite good and fairly archival. It can simulate monochrome printing using all 6 colors, but the output suffers from cross-over color shifts (although less than the 2000P).

3 - This printer can do both black-ink-only monochrome printing and true monochrome printing, using a black cartridge and a "color" cartridge that has 5 shades of grey ink - producing deep blacks and a very smooth "B/W" print with excellent tonal rendition. The disadvantage of this printer is that 6 inks are a little bit of an overkill -- 4 ink printers like the 1160 can produce true monochrome printing much easier (easier to profile) and more economically. At the moment (October 2000) the MIS Quadtone is the only monochrome ink available for this printer. We expect the other manufactures to make inks available in the near future.

4 - This printer can do both black-ink-only monochrome printing and true monochrome printing, using a black cartridge and a "color" cartridge that has 4 shades of grey ink - producing deep blacks and a very smooth "B/W" print with excellent tonal rendition - and it does it more economically than the 1200 because its 3-chamber "color" cartridge has a slightly higher capacity per chamber than the 1200 cartridge, and it has . This printer is supported by all the current 3rd party ink companies (Lyson, Luminos Lumijet, MIS Quadtone and PiezographyBW), including Lyson's new Small Gamut monochrome inkset that has just enough color dye in the color cartridge to allow for small tonal and hue changes.

Media Choices Available (the higher the number, the greater the number of compatible media choices that are available for the printer)

1 - Epson Stylus Photo 2000P
2 - Epson Stylus Photo 1270
2 - Epson Stylus Photo 1200
3 - Epson Stylus Color 1160


1 - Pigmented ink printers like the 2000P are very media dependent -- that means that the media choice play a very significant role in order for the ink to look and work good. When using a pigmented ink (which is the only ink available for this printer), your choices for compatible media are reduced by about 1/2. Users on this printer must either rely on the limited choices provided by Epson, or test compatibility of other manufacturer's media very carefully.

2 - Using the standard Epson inks or 3rd party dye-based inks, these printers have a wide variety of media choices available to them. However, there are a few papers that will not work as well on 6-ink printers because of the higher ink-laydown that comes from 6-ink printers (this is rare, though). When using a pigment-based ink, i.e. MIS Archival or Generations, your media choices will be virtually identical to the 2000P.

3 - Using the standard Epson inks or 3rd party dye-based inks, the 1160 has available to it the greatest choice of compatible media. When using a pigment-based ink, i.e. MIS Archival or Generations, your media choices will be virtually identical to the 2000P.

Image Output Quality
Judge for yourself, with side-by-side
output comparisons from these 4 printers


Custom Test Prints
They say that "a picture is worth a thousand words". If our online tests still haven't answered your questions, then maybe an actual print made from the printer of your choice will be the solution to your performance questions! Click here to learn more about this service.

 

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All longevity estimates should be treated as such, Inkjet Art Solutions is not liable for pre-mature fading of prints or damage to printers through use of our products. Be sure to properly research your purchase and follow the directions given. If you need help, please contact us. For more information regarding our policies, including our return policy, please visit our Policies Page