In-depth review
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Review (2027)
In-depth review of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550: six-ink quality, A3-plus printing, black-and-white output and ink economics.
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
A 13-inch EcoTank photo printer with six inks and bottle-cheap colour.
Our verdict
The ET-8550 changed the home-printing equation by removing ink fear. Six colours including a photo grey produce A3-plus prints with smooth gradients and genuinely good black-and-white, and refill bottles make a test print cost pennies in ink. If you print photographs at size every week, no cartridge printer can argue with its running costs - or its output.
What we like
- Six-colour Claria ET Premium ink with a grey for superior black-and-white
- Prints borderless up to 13 x 19 in plus scanning and copying
- Refill bottles deliver thousands of 4x6-equivalent pages per set
- Multiple paper paths handle fine-art and thick media
What to watch out for
- Large, premium-priced machine that needs desk space and regular use
- Dye-based photo inks trail pigment for ultimate archival ratings
- Like all inkjets, long idle periods invite head maintenance cycles
What owners report: Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Bottle refills remove the hesitation to print large test versions and full size finals
- The grey ink helps black and white prints avoid the colour casts owners dread
- Multiple paper paths and a scanner turn one machine into a small studio hub
Common complaints
- It demands a permanent, generous desk spot and regular printing to stay in good shape
- Idle inkjet heads still call for maintenance cycles that surprise owners coming from dye sub
- Dye photo inks are not the choice for owners chasing the longest possible archival life
Who it is for
Serious photographers, camera clubs and small studios printing up to 13 x 19 at home regularly, including monochrome work.
Print quality
The Claria ET Premium six-ink set adds a grey that smooths black-and-white tonal steps where four-colour printers band and tint. Colour prints up to 13 x 19 borderless show fine detail at 5760 x 1440 optimised resolution, and separate paper paths - front fine-art feed, rear tray, cassette - handle media from 4x6 gloss to thick matte boards without gymnastics.
Ink economics
Bottle yields are quoted in the thousands of 4x6-equivalents per ink set, and refill sets cost a fraction of six pro cartridges. The honest total still includes paper - fine-art paper is its own budget line - but the ink line shrinks to near-irrelevance, which psychologically transforms printing from rationing to experimenting.
Living with it
It is a full all-in-one: scanner, copier, touchscreen, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Size and setup are office-class, and like every inkjet it rewards regular use with trouble-free heads. Photographers who print monthly rather than weekly should weigh a dye-sub plus lab orders for the big pieces instead.
Key specifications
- Technology
- 6-colour inkjet, Micro Piezo, 5760 x 1440 dpi optimised
- Max print size
- 13 x 19 in borderless (A3-plus)
- Ink system
- EcoTank refill bottles, Claria ET Premium
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Epson Smart Panel
- Functions
- Print, scan, copy with 4.3-inch colour touchscreen
Also consider
Canon PIXMA PRO-200
An 8-colour A3-plus dye inkjet for vibrant gallery and illustration prints.
Why consider it: Eight-colour dye vibrancy for glossy colour specialists who print less monochrome.
- Technology: 8-colour dye inkjet, FINE head, 4800 x 2400 dpi
- Max print size: 13 x 19 in (A3-plus), custom to 13 x 39 in
Canon SELPHY CP1500
The dye-sub benchmark: borderless 4x6 lab prints with a protective coat.
Why consider it: If 95 percent of your prints are really 4x6, the SELPHY is simpler, smaller and maintenance-free.
- Technology: Dye-sublimation thermal transfer, 300 x 300 dpi, 256 levels per colour
- Max print size: Postcard 100 x 148 mm (4x6), plus card and sticker sizes
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Is EcoTank ink as good as cartridge photo ink?
Claria ET Premium is a purpose-built photo dye set, not office ink: with the grey included, output quality rivals cartridge photo printers. Ultimate archival ratings still favour pigment systems on fine-art papers.
How many 4x6 prints does one ink set make?
Epson rates bottle sets in the thousands of 4x6-equivalent photos, varying by image coverage. Heavy dark prints consume more; the per-print ink cost remains the lowest in this guide regardless.
Can it print on fine-art and canvas media?
Yes via the rear manual feed for thick media within its specified range. Load its paper profiles or the paper maker's profile for accurate colour on matte stocks.