DNP - DS820A

Thermal dye sub photo printers are straight up no bull crap, actual photo printers that not only last long but virtually zero maintenance outside of basic stuff and built like rocks with 10 times less moving parts. Limitation is 8" wide, length isn't quite as much of a big deal. Like these: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1315286-REG/dnp_ds820a_set_ds_series_professional_portrait.html Full list: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Photo%20Dye%20Sublimation%20Printer&sts=ma Don't want to deal with an inkjet, these are your answer. Solid prints all the way around. Nice, thick paper too like metallics and all that jazz, glossy or matte. Something you'll want to frame and be proud of. An overall joy and better process to work with. They'll allow you to concentrate on color accuracy and what you want with a quicker output without having to work around/with an inkjet. Less guess work, trial and error. Way better straight out of the gates. With your budget, get a cheap laser for everything else that isn't a photo.

The ds-80 is an older model that is discontinued, media is readily available and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. If you can snag one for cheap it's absolutely the way to go, I recently got one with under 1000 print count for $250. My other ds-80 is shy of 20k and my DS-40 is nearing 80k. Still working like new, have never had an issue with them. I've seen many with hundreds of thousands. I'd recommend you get a ds-820A if you want a new printer. It will remain supported for longer than the ds-80 and has more media options available. Metallic media is really nice on the 820. It can also do 4 different finishes on your prints instead of 2 with the ds80. The media kits for the das-820A are $20 cheaper on average. DS-80 can do matte or gloss on the same media. Ds820A can do fine matte and luster as well. A few cool details about dye subs- there is no ink so you never need to worry about print heads drying out! There is no ink so you can very quickly and easily move them, they can be tossed around in your luggage and will work exactly the same off the flight. The photos are instantly dry out of the printer and fully waterproof, of course dont go scrub em in the sink but if you spill something on one just rinse it and hang it to dry. The best part in my experience is that there's not really any maintenance, just empty the scrap bin when it needs it or when you move it.