After banging on in this group about my Epson troubles, I ordered a Canon
i9100 and it arrived today.

First print was on Epson paper (Canon don't provide samples, sadly) but is
handy to compare against the same print from the Epson 870, which is a very
good printer in itself, or at least it was while it was still working.

The Default Canon settings look good, but a little undersaturated compared
to the (calibrated) Epson print. I then profiled the Canon, and I have the
two calibrated prints in front of me now. This is a portrait, printed A4
onto the Epson glossy paper.

Colour-wise, the Canon is a little warmer overall. It also has slightly
better contrast. The inks blend better, particularly when black ink starts
to be used - on the Epson, there are slight haloes around darker areas where
the black ink starts firing. But, the Epson colour is slightly more true to
the original. (Remember, both printers have been profiled, but it can't
work miracles.)

The grain is marginally more noticeable on the Canon than on the Epson,
mostly not noticeable until you get close in. The print overall, however,
is slightly sharper, and there is fractionally more detail when you look
closely.

Overall, I prefer the Canon print, by a gnat's whisker, due to the better
contrast and sharpness. Which is lucky as I've just blown nearly four
hundred quid on it.

David.