Original Ink Cartridges better than 3rd party ink?

I was wondering if you folks buy original Epson/HP/Canon ink, or also ink from 3rd party (like Pelikan or refill options). And if so: do you experience less quality?

I have a Canon i550, so I have one black cartridge and 3 seperate colour cartridges. One 13 ml cartridge costs about 12 euro from Canon and 8 euro from Pelikan (3rd party). I have the feeling that 3rd party ink isn't quite the same quality when you're printing HQ pictures (like covers).

And are you also using the advised paper (so Canon paper for a Canon printer, HP paper for a HP printer, etc.)? Or do you use 3rd party photopaper when you're printing in High Quality?

Just a quick heads up & word of caution to all....

If your planning on buying a new printer, do your homework!

Lots of the manufacturers are now placing chips on there ink cartridges, that let the printer know it's from the same company as the printer. Any third party cartridge is rejected. Also designed to to stopping working if they are removed from printer & put back in, stopping any idea of refilling the original cartridge. :angry:

Jeff

I used to buy 3rd party cardridges but ruined the head of at least 2 printers so I only buy the original ones these days. Further I almost always use original paper, in my case Canon. In the past I had the canon s-800, and it printed almost perfect on any high resolution paper, then I bought the s-820 which gave very bad prints on all high resolution paper except Canon HR paper.

Even the paper you use can be of influence , they calculated what the paper of there make absorts to get the best results So you need to figure out what paper to use for th best results from various makes

TCB Ray