I purchased the Epson 785EPX two weeks ago after some research into ink jet photo printers. I recommend the printer to anyone wanting high quality prints who doesn't mind a moderately steep learning curve.

Specs
The 785EPX uses a 6-color ink system, instead of the usual four. Five different resolutions are available from 120 x 120 dpi to 2880 x 720 dpi. Ink droplet size is rated at 4 picoliters. Inside the box Epson includes both black and color ink cartridges, a CompactFlash PC Card adapter, 2 roll paper holders and a software CD. Like most printers a cable to connect to the PC is not included. Epson shed the parallel port making this a USB-only printer. The printer takes up an average amount of desk real estate for an inkjet, and is not overly heavy. The paper tray will hold 100 sheets of regular paper, but thicker photo paper should be fed in one sheet at a time.

Practice Makes Perfect
My developing digital photography skills have made me somewhat of an overly critical evaluator of image quality both on the computer screen and the printed page. While the 785EPX can print with stunning quality, it does take some experimenting and ink/paper wasting to grasp the printers controls. The printer driver provides for exacting control over a wide range of variables. Epson includes several different types of color matching and management, all of which seem to have a 'photo' mode. I like printing high resolution 8" x 10" photos, and without the proper color matching a lot of ink can get wasted. After some experimenting and comparing I feel I have a handle on the different settings, but the buyer should be aware that some tinkering with settings will almost certainly be necessary for the highest quality print.

Image Quality
The 785EPX's image quality is nothing short of amazing. The crispness and clarity of the prints is truly astounding. The quality is hard to distinguish from that of true film photos when using high gloss photo inkjet paper. One slight exception to this is the color matching of skin tones, which, although more than adequate, I feel I haven't seen reproduced accurately enough (this may be a limitation of my camera.) The printer also does well printing text and graphics, but cheaper ink jets are available if that will be your primary use of the printer.

A Complaint
To my frustration the printer is only shipped with a CompactFlash PC Card adapter. My camera uses Smart Media cards so I have been unable to test printing straight from the memory card. Epson includes an offers a replacement Smart Media or Memory Stick adapter in exchange for the CompactFlash adapter, but states it takes 6-8 weeks to receive.

Overall
Overall the Epson 785EPX is an excellent photo printer, spending a little time paper and ink on learning its nuances will result in prints that just might put your local photo lab out of business.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 249.95
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh