Scaling up from several D1070

[FrancisK]

I currently own several Epson D1070. For our retail operations and on-demand printing requirements on location, we have been very happy with them.

However our photography studio is now doing high-volume school contracts and we'll be printing around 50 000 prints next year (about 35 000 5x7 and 15 000 8x10). 

I have just handled a single 3000 prints school order with our fleet of D1070 and it wasn't a pleasant experience. The results are great, but the low capacity output tray, and the lack of backside printing (to help with photo identification or order reconciliation) are big deterrents. 

I'm in Canada where Epson has a strong presence so the Epson SL-D3000 would have been a great option but it appears discontinued now.

Noritsu support in Canada is supposedly hard to find and expensive, so I'm looking into a Frontier DL650.

Is that the recommended move for my 50k prints per year requirement?

[Minilab service]

You can buy Fujifilm DL650. Fujifilm DL650 is green painted Epson SL-D3000 DR ( dual roll model ) with sorter. DL650 is made by Epson. Fuji just sold it. If to load Epson firmware and software you have green painted Epson printer ( SL-D3000 DR ) . After that on DL650 need to use cartridges from Epson.

Fujifilm DL650 is discontinued also. Can buy only used printers. DL650 parts can buy from Fuji ( need to use DL650 part list ) , or from Epson ( need to use SL-D3000 part list ) . Fujifilm DL650 ( Epson SL-D3000 DR ) print head has 6 double elements ( 12 heads ) . If head element is faulty then can replace it. Do not need to buy print head unit. Print head elements are sold not officially. They are cheap and can buy them from China. Fujifilm and Epson sell only heads ( assembled units with 6 elements ) and they are very expensive.

[FrancisK]

Thanks for the response. I always appreciate reading your posts on this forum, been a lurker for a while, you clearly have lots of experience.

Can I use Epson SureLab paper rolls in a Fuji DL650 without flashing a special firmware?

I can get a used Fujifilm DL650 in working condition for 15K CAD in Canada.  Aside printhead elements, should I expect to change the pump and cap assembly? What other parts will I have to inevitably service ?

[Minilab service]

Paper rols doesn't have any chips. Printer knows only paper width. All other information you have enter youself.

If paper can be used on SL-D3000 DL then you can use it on DL-650. Both printers are the same. You need to find profile, which is good for your paper, or have create it yourself.

When on printer is Fujifilm DL650 firmware then software and cartrigdes should be Fujifilm. If to change firmware then software and cartridges should be from Epson.

Colors on DL650 are slightly different :
DL650 Sky blue , Pink, Magenta, Cyan, Yellow , Black
SL-D3000 Light cyan, Light magenta, Magenta, Cyan, Yellow , Black

Fuji also has DL600 printer. Here the same printer. Just removed one color ( has 5 colors ) .

Edited November 3, 2025 by Minilab service