CLC 5000 vs. 3900 vs. 3100

[redrob]

How does a CLC 5000 compare with a CLC 3900 and with a CLC 3100? Looking at used CLCs.

 

[Xirc]

CLC 5000 and 3900 are basically the same machine with the 3900 detuned to run at a slower speed for a different selling price.

The CLC3100 is a generation older machine, a transition between the older CLC1000/CLC2400 and the newer CLC5000/3900. The 3100 shares more in common with the older 1000/2400's though.

Go with a CLC 5000 or 3900 if you can afford to. Noticably nicer print quality and more of them for parts availability.

 

[toner-guru]

When these were the new models in 2001, the CLC 5000 retailed for 89,500 as a high-end color machine and the CLC 3100 retailed for $63,100 aimed at 'entry-level production environments'

The CLC 5000 and 3900 feature 800 x 400 enhanced resolution, while the CLC 3100 prints at only 400 x 400. A lot of the enhanced resolutions are difficult to notice, but this step was quite visible in the output quality to discerning eyes.

 

[indolering]

The CLC 5000 and 3900 feature 800 x 400 enhanced resolution, while the CLC 3100 prints at only 400 x 400. A lot of the enhanced resolutions are difficult to notice, but this step was quite visible in the output quality to discerning eyes.

The 3100 is total ****. I have one, it breaks, constantly. Even after we fully serviced it and got new parts for it. It is just a 2400 with a change in color, literally, the fusers are interchangeable. Forget duplexing- it will duplex one side of an entire document, store it in a tray, then print on the backside. Paper cools down causing jamming, and if there is a problem with the output, you won't know until after 1/2 of the first copy is printed.

 

[indolering]

Oh, and the reason I quoted you was the quality is pretty horrible on the 3100. It lacks punch, its gradients are bad, and the toner oil streaking on solids is very bad.

I don't know about the 5K, but the 3100 is not a machine you want if you are after reliability or quality. If it is on a service contract it might work as a small office copier that gets no more than a light usage with few pages per document.

 

[redrob]

Thanks indolering - I much appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with your 3100. I guess that's why they go so cheaply on ebay now. It's amazing how fast printing technology has come in the last few years. I remember when a CLC 1000 was top of the line and a machine I really envied a nearby shop for having -- a local artist actually used a CLC 1000 to run hundreds of limited edition prints for sale that I thought looked good at the time. And I thought the 3100 was an upgrade of the 1000 (though I'm not sure of this as I haven't heard much about the 3100 at all.) Now I have to go back and see if I can find some prints from a CLC 1000 to look at with 2007-perspective eyes and compare with today's print quality.