Try Print Pal, I've used others and have been happy with cartridges. But I save the most by buying "bulk ink" and refilling cartridges two or three times before replacing. If you're doing only photo, you can do the self service at places like Walmart for under 30 cents each, don't remember the exact number. Your numbers about say 35 Cents just for ink with the Vivera set, maybe more with the Canon. To this you have to add the cost of the paper, what another 50 cents per picture? Of course you save on the gas if printing your own actually saves a trip. My Lexmark X8300 series AIO printer has smaller, lower cost cartridges than most other Lexmarks, I like that because the print head is in the cartridge and when it wears out (from refills) it cost less to get a new set of print heads.

If you print colour so rarely then seriously consider the laser printer. You can get photos printed in many box stores these days for less than the price of paper and ink. You can even send them from the comfort of your computer chair. The lasers have come down considerably too. Last year one company (Dell?) had a special on for under $100 (OK so it was $99.95) The other downside to printing rarely with ink jets is the chance the nozzles will dry out on you through lack of ink passing through You will probably not find anything as sturdy as that old Epson C60, mine lasted forever and I just kept refilling the cartridges all the time, an amazing printer. Replaced it with the C82 and it went to the dump after only one black cartridge being used casting huge doubts about Epson.

A lot depends upon the cartridge. Some are easy to refill, some are difficult and some are downright impossible to refill. I would try buying a small refill kit specifically for your cartridge, if one is available, so that you will have instructions as to how to go about refilling them and the syringes. Or you could dismantle one to see whether or not there is a bag inside. I refill my cartridges often and it is quite easy if done correctly. You may or may not be able to refill your black cartridge by drilling a hole in the top. That should work okay provided that there is not a bag inside. As for bulk ink I use re-inks.com. Their inks are very good, low priced($30 for a liter of black ink and $40 for a liter of color)and the service is exceptional. Smaller and larger quantities of ink are available. Good luck.

I have the same model Brother laser that asolo has and love it. A toner cartridge for it costs about half the cost of an hp black ink cartridge at Amazon.com and lasts a LOT longer. Mikie reminds me that I paid $79 for my wife's Canon inkjet and a full set of replacement ink cartridges costs $81. I use her printer for photos and mine is wireless so she can print on it from her computer if she has a lot of black and white printing to do.