Re: Cannon Imagepress C7000VP
Great Product.
Pros - Quality, Speed and Price based on configuration. In a blind test I picked the Indigo quality over C7000VP, The 7K over the igen3, and Nexpress. Laminating hides a lot of streaks. All of these devices streak but the maintenance is much less on the Canon products and their service training is respected by techs. Customer replaceable parts program is above the regular PMs which is for Commercial Production environments. The money is well spent considering the profits in bookletmaking and less prep times than conventional prepress due to excellent color profiles, doc merge, and imposition tools on the Fiery front end. This is from an experienced Scitex prepress operator, journeyman scanner operator and CTP consultant. A matchprint proof matched the default output of the same file in a blind test 90 percent. Customer had me print out the file with SWOP settings and then pulled out the proof. Speed wise it handles heavy stocks at same speed as bond. Mixed media was an issue until a fix was implemented. Some printers offer this as an upgrade cost. Speed over Image Priority. That means sacrificing quality for speed. This Digital Printer (7K) runs solid. Even without the tab kit, misfeeds were far and few between and the multi sheet detector on the optional paper POD cleared the misfeed and warned the operator to check the tab tray. The value comes from the toner transfer to paper via improved roller systems, blelts and dual fuser which allow for textured and coated stocks which look and feel like offset. I was fooled into thinking I could tell the difference. Its all about the paper which has settings to commonly used stocks in commercial print.
I agree, for the money there are no additional costs for conditioning, cleaning or servicing the7K.
I like the spectorphotometer which I use to quality control color, calibration is easy and takes minutes, the interface and bundled software like Pitstop to troubleshoot bad files with the Preflight check for last minute fixes, the previewer which shows screening, GCR, Gradation changes, sharpness, smoothing for low res, exporting PDF to vector for low res logos fixed via Illustrator. when native file isn't available. Remote Interface and drivers to print from anywhere as long as paper is loaded.
Cons - "Line" screen (default) on graphics shifts color, ex: Logos I fix this by choosing different screen system.
limited fold options(letter, Z, scoring, the FACI kit pricey, Monitor, mouse and keyboard. (optional for Fiery controler).
Didn't punch tabbed document. Inserting unit limitations. But workarounds like prepunched paper and preprinted inserts to resolve issues. Haven't tested large batches fo VDP files and recovery process when paper misfeeds or files hang, if any.
If you have any VDP issues please reply.
I like this printer, very versatile and it looks like offset.