Konica c6501 vs Xerox docucolor 260

[JLSquared]

The C6501 is the replacement for the C6500. Stay clear of the embedded Fiery if you plan on doing any type of VDP other than FreeForm, because it does not have the power needed, and will lock up. The Xerox DC700 was designed to compete with the C6500/6501. The DC260 can't handle the heavy gloss stocks that the C6501 can. By the way, if your not in a hurry you may want to check out the soon to be released Ricoh Pro C900.

[random]

Hard to say since we are so new. We got the KM6500 mid july and we are at 174000.
Of course we were not really doing much real work in july and early aug.

We are new to digital "printers", are there supposed to be so many tech visits? We've had eight so far this month.

You are not really doing enough volume for a happy machine. But in saying that 8 a month is a bit over board. If you could be more specific with what your problems have been I may be able to help you.

[Craig]

That's good Craig - I don't have anything personal against Fiery, our experience has just been that we have not been able to do good color work with it. We are very meticulous about calibrating every morning also. Glad your 8000 is working well. Do you have any commercial accounts that you print for that complain about the sheen from the Xerox? That was the main reason we bought the 650 for our second color machine.

None what so ever, as a matter of fact we sell to one of the other printers in town that prints 4 color on Heidelberg's and they find it hard to believe how well it prints. In All Weights Node there is very little sheen, but I do have a few customers request the sheen look .

[Craig]

Sounds like a printer driver issue and/or a RIP issue. I would not think this would pertain to In Design.

Could be spot color transparencies as well.

[SnappySteve]

... but I do have a few customers request the sheen look .

That is why we have not ditched the 6060. We have a couple clients that absolutely will not do without that baked on pile.

[Craig]

We are new to digital "printers", are there supposed to be so many tech visits? We've had eight so far this month.

WOW.... brings back bad memories with Canon.

[ginfay]

Does anyone else have any input regarding the Spectrophotometer? I'm thinking about adding this option to the 6501 (Fiery). Is it really essential and what does it do?

[random]

Well, really - it's a bit of a necessity if you want to be accurate with your colors. If you don't have one then you would be calibrating using the scanner which could alter in time depending on how clean the tech keeps the optics.

If you deal a bit with spot colors then I wouldn't think twice about getting one. Your client could bring in there corporate colours (which may not be a pantone (it happens)) and all you would need to do is sample the color with the spectro and it is in the rip.

But if near enough is good enough and spots aren't your thing then you could give it a miss. These are just a couple of things you could do depending on the software you get with it.

[SnappySteve]

Does anyone else have any input regarding the Spectrophotometer?

Unless you plan to use it as a copier, you will need the device to keep color calibrated. If you try from the glass, not only are you at the mercy of your tech's cleanliness, but you are relying on the "copier" technology of the machine to control color for your print engine.

[graphic914]

I was looking into the 260, what should I expect to pay monthly on a lease? Probably need the fiery and pro finisher by the way.