Difference Between Durst Lamda and Lightjet Printers?

I am hoping that someone can help me to understand the difference

between the Durst Lambda and Lightjet printers. I live in

Washington, DC and the NG makes digital prints with the Durst

Lambda. Service bureaus on the West Coast (e.g., ColorFolio and West

Coast Imaging) use a Lightjet and claim it is better. They also

charge more than the NG lab. Do the two printers work differently

and more importantly do they produce images that look different?

 

Thank you for your help.

does the Lightjet make as large a print as the Lambda? When I've had

lambda prints made they have always been fairly large, like 20" x 24" and

larger.<P>Don't forget that there is still a large degree of operator skill

involved; even with digital printing technology a good lab people make all the

difference.

My understanding is that they are pretty similar. Both are intended for large output. I know lightjets print at least up to 50x50 inches. I've never had a Lamda print done, but I've had Lightjet prints done and they look great.

Do they both use RA-4 to develop the paper. Like the Frontier???

The newer Lambdas are in strong competition with the LightJet, although both yield results that are tough to tell apart upon close inspection. The quality of calibration and source material is by far the biggest factor in terms of out-put. Both can print mural sized images bigger than you have wall space for. The last bunch of LightJet prints I made from my own Photoshop work on Fujiflex made the original analog prints look downright amatuerish. I like to brag about my custom printing skills, but I'm no match for a LightJet.

 

If you are submitting your own files rather than have the lab do the scan and print for you I'd suggest doing some shopping around for better prices. I saw a link on photo.net a few days ago for a lab giving the best LightJet prices I've seen and not charging the typical California exchange rate. Perhaps somebody could re-post it.

Both printers use lasers to expose the paper. However, they differ in their

architecture.

The Lambda runs paper from roll to roll with the lasers exposing the image as

the paper passes by.

The Lightjet resembles an imagesetter (from which it was derived) whereby

the paper is advanced inside a drum and kept in position by a vacuum. The

image is then written with the lasers. This method limited print size to 50x50

inches in early models as the paper was held in a fixed position. Because of

Lambda competition, Lightjet engineers developed a method of making the

initial exposure, advancing the paper, and making a second exposure. This

allowed a total length of 90 inches.

Both machines are capable of producing stunning results. If you need prints

longer than 90 inches the Lambda is your only choice.

The results you get will depend on two main factors.

1. Your scan quality. (who did it and does he/she know what they are doing?)

2. Your lab. Just because they can afford 400-500K for a machine doesn't

mean they are doing a job that will make you happy.

 

As to price, what is happening in the custom and commercial lab market is

that competition is getting brutal. Many labs went whole hog investing in

digital equipment just as their prime targets ( Pros who shoot lots of film) were

going digital. These pros cut their lab usage tremendously. This placed and

continues to place these labs in a severe cash flow crunch. Several labs in

the L.A. area have gone broke and I have seen near hysteria in bidding for

jobs to get a deal in the door.

What this means is that you can find agressive pricing if you look around.

What it means for the future is that the large labs will be fewer and further

between. And their prices will be higher as the pool of available competitors

continues to shrink.

 

Although I seem to be drifting off topic here, I would also point out that zillions

of smaller labs are cutting into this business by offering large format inkjet

prints.

www.pictopia.com

I really appreciate the very helpful responses. I live in the Washington, DC area and like to have a lab make quality prints from slides. Cibas are hit or miss. The National Geographic has a lab that is open to the public. I had them make an 11x14 Lambda print for me. They did the scan and gave me a CD. The print looks just like the slide and there is a nice look to the print. The cost was $40, including the scan, which I think is reasonable. The folks at the counter are helpful and I am sure they would redo it if I were not happy with the result. What I gather is that if I am happy with this I am unlikely to get a better result with a Lightjet, where I would need to Fedex my work. It is nice being able to speak to the people who do the work. So I reckon I will stay with the NG lab. Thank you for your help.

David.....the price for scan/print and service you describe is very reasonable and I'd stay with that lab.

 

If you do your own scanning you can get a better price, but considering the effort this lab is doing to give you a nice print you are getting your money's worth.

A LightJet 5000 Printer can produce a print up to 48"/50" X 120" (4 feet by ten feet). On top of that, they can incorporate "tiling" into the scenario, effecting an enormous print.