Colour laser printer advice
 

I am after some general advice on the print quality from colour lasers in general, canonlpb5050 in particular.

I know about the costs of ink/toner, but i have never used a colour laser before.

Can you print photos on glossy photo paper? All the photo paper i have seen says "inkjet use" What is the quality compared to inkjet?

My local IT store has a special on the lpb5050 in particular, any comments welcome.

Thanks in advance

Colour lasers cannot print on inkjet photo glossy paper. Laser printers operate at a high temperature which can cause the glossy layer on the paper to peel off and stick to the rotating drum inside the laser printer resulting in a duff drum.
Although you can buy special laser photo glossy it is very expensive and you will not get the dpi an inkjet is capable of.
If you must print photos on a laser printer then use the very best quality super white paper you can lay your hands on.

Further to Geoff's comments, glossy laser printer paper is sometimes out there at an afforable price. I have an occasional lurk on ebay when my stock is running low. But (certainly with my HP), there's little or no difference in resolution between glossy paper & good quality laser paper. Even with the compatible toner I get a pleasant shiny print.

An inkjet photo printer is useful to have for real quality stuff, and it does notice - but mine sits on the shelf ignored for weeks... and sometimes I have to do a tedious jet-clean sequence when it dries up:(

Got an OKI 5250 colour laser - using high quality glossy laser paper produces good results for photos on posters etc...

Cost per photo--and how does it compare with high-street photo shop prices?

OKI lasers superb
 

Hi, I may be a bit late with this two-pence worth.
OKI printer the bees knees.
I've had two. First, OKI 5750, I found the toner cartridge life a bit short. I should point out that I produce a monthly, 52-page, A5 size magazine, with colour throughout 400+ copies)! With the duplex unit and collating facility, it's a doddle. (But not everyone needs this capacity.)
After a few months I sold the 5750 and bought the 5950. A bit better on toner, but branded cartridge still very expensive. But such a reliable machine. Had this machine almost a year and it's done 250,000 pages! Really good as at certain page counts you need to renew image drums (x4), fuser unit and belt. OK the're not cheap, but it keeps the quality 100%. I now found work-arounds the replacement units, and the toner, so the costs are tumbling.
Photo quality, I use a 230gsm high white coated cartridge paper, which as the 5950 is adjustable to use 60gsm paper to an ultraheavy board is fine.
The machines are a bit more expensive than some others - but so easy to use and reliable.
You need to shop around.
I've really got to grips with this machine so if you still have some queries, send me pm, and I'll willingly help all I can.
Happy Christmas!!

Thanks for the specs pend - this is not an OKI promo (honest) but I got mine free(!) with 5000 copies only, and empty toners - then the generous donor found the new cartridges..:)
Very reliable machine, also worked out how to stagger the drum/belt/fuser stuff.
A lot classier than the usual suspects one used to use at the uni...