Epson 4800: a 4000 firmware upgrade? (plus ink(s))
I came across an earlier thread on Photo.net suggesting the 4800 is only a firmware/driver upgrade to the 4000 (with ink changes/additions), no hardware changes. I only bring this topic up as I feel for my buddies who haven't had a 4000 for that long.
The two printers clearly share a LOT of hardware, you only need to look at them to see that - the only easy way to tell them apart at a glance is the placement of the model/k3 ink badges. But you'd hope ('hope is the quintessential human delusion', love the Matrix!) if it was only a firmware upgrade plus inks/driver, wouldn't Epson offer an upgrade path on the 4000, and have allowed for that in the 4000's design? There isn't an upgrade path, according to the Epson guys I've spoken to.
The 4800 uses the same matte black as the 4000. Maybe all the 'K3' inks aren't new, maybe only the key inks are, maybe it's mainly the addition of light light black and new firmware and driver, and new trademark or two to describe all that?
Does it matter really? not to me.. For my part I'm only thinking aloud and watching the coconuts fall. What is important are the prints, and the 4800 prints are on the money. I haven't upgraded from a 2100 though, not a 4000.
It would be interesting though to see a list showing the differences between the two printers, and to see if anyone so inclined and able could retrofit a 4000 up to 4800 specs.
Not very enlightening, more for convenience, here's a pic showing the generic Epson info the two printers side by side, aside from the completely useless information, not a lot of stated differences.
> view 4000-vs-4800-specs
I'm more than happy with the 4800 prints, and it that was achieved by evolutionary improvements to firmware and an ink or two rather than hardware so be it. But if I recently purchased a 4000 I'd be a lot more interested in knowing exactly what is what, and why I can't have me some of that good lovin' K3 thang.
ps. Add the 400 series (4400/7400/9400) in, apart from the ink setup, firmware (and driver?) not looking much different to their 800 buddies.
pps. The firmware update capability in Epson's LFP Remote panel, good move.
ppps. sorry I've had to edit this a few times after the original post to clarify my point - it's close to 3.00am and I'm still messing around with prints!
posted by Pete Walsh @ 10:42 PM 10 comments
At 1:39 AM, David Ramsey said...
Stacking the specs of the 4000 side by side with the 4800 really tells us nothing. The mere volume of specs dealing with meaningless details like voltage, paper size, etc., etc., could make the competing HP or Canon printer model look similar when it's not. The critical aspect is the very few details that really make a differnece. Evolution rather than revolution? Certainly. Objectively better prints? Yes, and that's all that really makes a difference.
At 1:42 AM, Pete Walsh said...
Yes I agree that the Epson specs side by side don't mean much, and said as much :)
Clearly evolution, and definitely agree - it's all about the prints at the end of the day.
I only mention this whole topic because I know people who own the 4000 and sympathize with their situation.
At 4:11 AM, Anonymous said...
One major difference is that the 4800 includes Black (Photo or Matte), Light Black, and Light Light Black. The 4000 does not have Light Light Black, which is supposed to have a major impact on the tonal qualities of shadows and B&W prints.
At 4:32 AM, Anonymous said...
Epson Engineers worked closely with photographer Greg Gorman to get the B&W printing perfected.
Gorman says he thinks they got it right.
At 1:27 PM, Pete Walsh said...
I agree they got it right re B&W prints.
Yes the 4800 has light light black which the 4000 doesn't, and you can see the benefits. But that's 'only' swapping one ink out for another.
At 3:49 PM, Anonymous said...
Great blog, btw. This is the most information anywhere on the Internet regarding the 4800. Kepp up the good work. Now onto my quesiton...
It was my understanding that the 4000 knew how to use 8 inks (Cc-Mm-Yy-(Km/Kp), but could only use 7 simulataneously and that the 4800 knew how to use 9 inks (Cc-Mm-Yy-Kl-Kll-(Km/Kp), but only use 8 simultaneously.
I'm confused about what yuo mean by "But thats 'only' swapping one ink out for another". Do you mean that the 4000 and the 4800 both use only 7 inks at the same time?
At 3:59 PM, Pete Walsh said...
Hi, sorry if I wasn't clear.
The 4000 ink situation, I've just edited a paste from Epson:
7-Color Pigmented Inking System with Built-in Matte Black
* Our latest Epson UltraChrome Ink uses Cyan, Light Cyan, Magenta, Light Magenta, Yellow, Light Black, along with Photo Black or Matte Black.
* Printer automatically switches between Photo Black and Matte Black ink modes to optimize black ink density on any media type
The 4800 ink situation.
Photo black and matte black now require a swap i.e. both can't be in the printer at the same time. The resulting empty ink bay being filled by the new Light Light Black.
That's what I meant by an ink has been 'swapped' so to speak - I should've been clearer, sorry!
That's what I meant. Hope that helps.
At 4:04 PM, Pete Walsh said...
That's what I meant, but the underlying point I was trying to get across was to me the changes in the ink setup between the 4000 and 4800 doesn't consitute a hardware change. e.g. if you could update the firmware in a 4000 and re-arrange the ink setup, how far off a 4800 would you be?
Like I said though in the blog - I'm happy! I'm not to sure all 4000 users are though.
At 4:22 PM, Anonymous said...
Thanks for the incredibly quick response!
At 11:03 PM, Pete Walsh said...
You're welcome, thanks for cruising by.
It's been fun posting stuff as it happens, has helped me clarify my own thoughts a little.
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