Editor's Summary

The Epson L805 is a printer that requires a lot of effort to achieve high-quality prints. While it has excellent printing quality, it is not suitable for home users due to its complex maintenance requirements and limited color gamut.

Introduction

When Epson launched their printing factories, the first printers with a built-in continuous ink supply system (CISS) were released. My husband was one of the first to tell me about them. The benefits are numerous:

Extremely low cost per print.Low ink consumption.High-quality printing.We purchased the Epson L805 in January 2017 for 17,000 rubles. Interestingly, the prices have remained the same, despite the model range being updated and newer generations being released.

Package Contents

The box includes the printer, a starter ink set, and a special container for the ink:

Epson L805 inkThe process is straightforward, but be careful not to spill the ink, as it is quite viscous.

Design and Build

The printer has a sturdy design and a compact footprint. It lacks a display screen and a USB cable for connecting to a computer:

Epson L805The ink reservoir is located on the right side, and the paper tray has adjustable limits for different paper sizes:

Epson L805 paper trayThe printer's control panel features intuitive buttons for easy operation:

Epson L805 control panel

Maintenance

The printer's maintenance is a nightmare, especially for home users. The main rule is not to let the ink dry in the print head. This can lead to clogged nozzles, which require frequent cleaning:

However, even after cleaning the nozzles, the print quality remains poor. The only solution is to replace the print head, which costs around 10,000 rubles.

I had to perform the following steps to restore the printer's functionality:

Clean the nozzles using the Epson utility software.Use the printer's control panel to clean the nozzles.Use the printer's service menu to clean the nozzles.After cleaning the nozzles, I had to replace the ink in the print head. This process is time-consuming and requires a lot of ink:

However, even after replacing the ink, the print quality remained poor. The only solution was to replace the print head.

Printing Quality

The printing quality is excellent, but it requires a lot of effort to achieve. The printer has a few quirks that make it difficult to print high-quality images:

The printer requires a specific ink viscosity, which is not easy to achieve.The printer has a limited color gamut, which can lead to color shifting.The printer's print head is prone to clogging, which can lead to poor print quality.To achieve high-quality prints, I had to use the Epson Easy Photo Print software, which allows me to adjust the print settings and ensure that the printer is calibrated correctly:

However, even with the Epson Easy Photo Print software, I encountered issues with color shifting and print quality. The only solution was to replace the print head.

Conclusion

The Epson L805 is a printer that requires a lot of effort to achieve high-quality prints. While it has excellent printing quality, it is not suitable for home users due to its complex maintenance requirements and limited color gamut.

I would not recommend this printer to anyone who is not a professional or a serious hobbyist. The printer's quirks and maintenance requirements make it a nightmare to use, and the limited color gamut and print head clogging issues make it difficult to achieve high-quality prints.

Featured FAQ

What is the Epson L805?The Epson L805 is a printer that uses a continuous ink supply system (CISS) to print high-quality images.

What are the benefits of the Epson L805?The Epson L805 has several benefits, including extremely low cost per print, low ink consumption, and high-quality printing.

What are the drawbacks of the Epson L805?The Epson L805 has several drawbacks, including complex maintenance requirements, limited color gamut, and print head clogging issues.

Can I use the Epson L805 for home use?No, I would not recommend the Epson L805 for home use due to its complex maintenance requirements and limited color gamut.

What is the recommended usage for the Epson L805?The Epson L805 is recommended for professional or serious hobbyist use, where high-quality prints are required.