How often do you print?

**Eric Auer** · 12-08-2021, 06:38 AM

So, since this is the MF forum and we have lots o large pixels and spiffy large negatives, how often do you guys make prints?

I mean honestly, thats where most of the advantage of MF is.

I make 'bout three dozen a year or so. (have them made rather, my home darkroom is undergoing renovations and I dont have a pro level inkjet/piezo machine).

Lev · 12-08-2021, 06:43 AM

Since 2015 year I have printed only 3 of my photographs! which is terrible! I hate printing services and how they handle it, well, here locally. but at the same time can't afford very expensive maintenances of a good photo printer. So.... I also need some advice what to do.

**Eric Auer** · 12-08-2021, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by Lev

Since 2015 year I have printed only 3 of my photographs! which is terrible! I hate printing services and how they handle it, well, here locally. but at the same time can't afford very expensive maintenances of a good photo printer. So.... I also need some advice what to do.

Only thing I can think of is sending out for it, possibly to a different country.

Also, are there any photography clubs or some such around where you are?
Often they have decent communal gear.

ChristianRock · 12-08-2021, 07:07 AM

We print quite a bit here at home, if it's not me it's my wife. I haven't printed as large as I used to print, but photo books from our trips and events have become quite popular (and my wife always finds great deals, even for free ones!).

**rdenney** · 12-08-2021, 08:30 AM - **1 Like**

I make prints reasonably often, and also photo books. The books don’t need medium format to sustain the illusion of endless detail. But 16x20 prints from 24x36 cameras that really do that require very expensive lenses. I can do it in the 645z with eBay lenses that often cost under a coupla hundred.

Rick “would like to make many more prints” Denney

**ramseybuckeye** · 12-08-2021, 09:51 AM

It’s been two years now. Certainly not enough to own a photo printer.

Lev · 12-08-2021, 09:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Eric Auer

Only thing I can think of is sending out for it, possibly to a different country.

Also, are there any photography clubs or some such around where you are?
Often they have decent communal gear.

Never thought of that, maybe a good idea! I may also need to expand my searching area. But I'm sure it is much better to have an own printer!

**Michail_P** · 12-08-2021, 12:06 PM

Surely more seldom than I should... even our APS sensor is capable of producing enough resolution for a decent, large enough print for hanging on the wall. But the cost is somehow sour.... I print mostly for gifts and little albums, family and friends. I would love to have some shots of mine hanging. Local service sucks. Only via the internet, no personal communication or discussion of the choices whatsoever. It’s very annoying .

**Cerebum** · 12-08-2021, 01:25 PM - **1 Like**

Speaking as an apsc interloper, at least ten times per year, mainly for club competitions, but also for our walls

I also do a review of the year with 100+ images in it. It helps me to see how I have progressed

shyrsio · 12-08-2021, 04:19 PM

Short answer, zero. in relation to the number of pics shot my prints are close to zero. I always tell myself that I will someday prepare a series to print but... lets just say I overthink it.

dlhawes · 12-08-2021, 05:16 PM - **1 Like**

Just got me a big one, so of course the first thing I did was print half a dozen pictures (which I figure cost me about forty bucks, not including amortization of the cost of the printer itself). How much I'll keep that up, I have no idea, but I bought it with the expectation that I will want to do a good bit of printing. And part of the fun of having it is figuring out how to work it and how to get the most out of it.

**kiwi_jono** · 12-08-2021, 07:11 PM

Event with my K-1, I rarely print (keep saying I'm going to though).

**bwgv001** · 12-08-2021, 09:41 PM

I like to print. This gives me a better impression of my pictures then screen.

leekil · 12-08-2021, 10:26 PM

I don't have MF, but I generally print a few times a year if I am showing a photo in a group show, or if I have a show of my own.

I used to print for a photo critique group I am in, but it hasn't met since covid started.

**TDvN57** · 12-08-2021, 10:30 PM

The year before the pandemic I printed quite a lot on assignment. Since then it was only decorating and re-decorating the house, and a couple of large prints for other people.

But in reality since the pandemic my printer has been sitting here in idle mode. I keep it on an auto cleaning mode otherwise the nozzles clog up. Ink is so expensive that to just print for the sake of it is also not an option.

Since I started printing it really changed the way I took pictures. My first couple of prints were a lesson in what not to do when taking a picture. Luckily the 645z allowed me to crop my way out of trouble in most cases. For some pictures I had to go back and re-shoot.

12-08-2021, 06:38 AM	#1
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	How often do you print? So, since this is the MF forum and we have lots o large pixels and spiffy large negatives, how often do you guys make prints? I mean honestly, thats where most of the advantage of MF is. I make 'bout three dozen a year or so. (have them made rather, my home darkroom is undergoing renovations and I dont have a pro level inkjet/piezo machine).

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12-08-2021, 06:43 AM	#2
Lev Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia Posts: 1,197	Since 2015 year I have printed only 3 of my photographs! which is terrible! I hate printing services and how they handle it, well, here locally. but at the same time can't afford very expensive maintenances of a good photo printer. So.... I also need some advice what to do.

12-08-2021, 07:02 AM	#3
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lev Since 2015 year I have printed only 3 of my photographs! which is terrible! I hate printing services and how they handle it, well, here locally. but at the same time can't afford very expensive maintenances of a good photo printer. So.... I also need some advice what to do. Only thing I can think of is sending out for it, possibly to a different country. Also, are there any photography clubs or some such around where you are? Often they have decent communal gear.

12-08-2021, 07:07 AM	#4
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	We print quite a bit here at home, if it's not me it's my wife. I haven't printed as large as I used to print, but photo books from our trips and events have become quite popular (and my wife always finds great deals, even for free ones!).

12-08-2021, 08:30 AM - 1 Like	#5
rdenney Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NoVA Posts: 635	I make prints reasonably often, and also photo books. The books don’t need medium format to sustain the illusion of endless detail. But 16x20 prints from 24x36 cameras that really do that require very expensive lenses. I can do it in the 645z with eBay lenses that often cost under a coupla hundred. Rick “would like to make many more prints” Denney

12-08-2021, 09:51 AM	#6
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	It’s been two years now. Certainly not enough to own a photo printer.

12-08-2021, 09:53 AM - 1 Like	#7
Lev Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia Posts: 1,197	Originally posted by Eric Auer Only thing I can think of is sending out for it, possibly to a different country. Also, are there any photography clubs or some such around where you are? Often they have decent communal gear. Never thought of that, maybe a good idea! I may also need to expand my searching area. But I'm sure it is much better to have an own printer!

12-08-2021, 12:06 PM	#8
Michail_P Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kalymnos Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,006	Surely more seldom than I should... even our APS sensor is capable of producing enough resolution for a decent, large enough print for hanging on the wall. But the cost is somehow sour.... I print mostly for gifts and little albums, family and friends. I would love to have some shots of mine hanging. Local service sucks. Only via the internet, no personal communication or discussion of the choices whatsoever. It’s very annoying .

12-08-2021, 01:25 PM - 1 Like	#9
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,829	Speaking as an apsc interloper, at least ten times per year, mainly for club competitions, but also for our walls I also do a review of the year with 100+ images in it. It helps me to see how I have progressed

12-08-2021, 04:19 PM	#10
shyrsio Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Tirana Posts: 780	Short answer, zero. in relation to the number of pics shot my prints are close to zero. I always tell myself that I will someday prepare a series to print but... lets just say I overthink it.

12-08-2021, 05:16 PM - 1 Like	#11
dlhawes Guest	Just got me a big one, so of course the first thing I did was print half a dozen pictures (which I figure cost me about forty bucks, not including amortization of the cost of the printer itself). How much I'll keep that up, I have no idea, but I bought it with the expectation that I will want to do a good bit of printing. And part of the fun of having it is figuring out how to work it and how to get the most out of it.

12-08-2021, 07:11 PM	#12
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Event with my K-1, I rarely print (keep saying I'm going to though).

12-08-2021, 09:41 PM	#13
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 698	I like to print. This gives me a better impression of my pictures then screen.

12-08-2021, 10:26 PM	#14
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I don't have MF, but I generally print a few times a year if I am showing a photo in a group show, or if I have a show of my own. I used to print for a photo critique group I am in, but it hasn't met since covid started.

12-08-2021, 10:30 PM	#15
TDvN57 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Berlin Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,150	The year before the pandemic I printed quite a lot on assignment. Since then it was only decorating and re-decorating the house, and a couple of large prints for other people. But in reality since the pandemic my printer has been sitting here in idle mode. I keep it on an auto cleaning mode otherwise the nozzles clog up. Ink is so expensive that to just print for the sake of it is also not an option. Since I started printing it really changed the way I took pictures. My first couple of prints were a lesson in what not to do when taking a picture. Luckily the 645z allowed me to crop my way out of trouble in most cases. For some pictures I had to go back and re-shoot.