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For the price, the Epson Stylus Photo RX580 features the highest print image quality and extremely fast print speeds, plus the ability to print directly on CDs and DVDs. But its smaller LCD monitor, single paper path, and lack of film scanning capabilities might lead others to either the Canon or HP models.
Canon's Pixma MP810 offers a lot of bang for the buck in terms of print quality, film and slide scanning, and overall speed and versatility (but not the super long display life of the Epson and HP.) Even though priced higher, the HP should appeal to anyone with a wireless home office or multiple computers in an office environment. Its fax and advanced scanning capabilities, plus dual paper paths make it the premium choice as multi-device replacement and worth the extra bucks.
As for the Kodak? This model may appeal to budget minded consumers who will accept draft quality color prints in order to achieve a 10-12 cent price per 4x6-inch print. But anyone who's serious about print quality will have to load it with at least 4 star Premium Photo Paper and that triples the price per 4x6 print and brings consumable costs more in line with the other three printers. Considering the $199 price tag, the Kodak is therefore overpriced for what it offers and outclassed by the prints and versatility of the less expensive Epson. Finally, some bugs in the PC scan driver needs to be fixed in order for this scanner to achieve its optimal performance.
Kodak's lower price-per-print campaign has helped raised the awareness of the high price of ink jet supplies, however, both Epson and HP sell reduced-price ink and paper kits on their web sites to help bring down costs without sacrificing quality. HP sells an ink/paper pack with 150 sheets of Advanced Photo Paper that it says produces 24 cent 4x6 prints, while Epson sells $19.99 cartridges that it says can produce 50% more prints than the standard $14.24 ink cartridges*. Let's hope this trend continues not only for AIO devices, but for photoquality ink jet printers across the board.
Tested papers
Canon Photo Paper Plus 120 sheet package (9 mil thickness): $20.99 (17.5 cents per sheet)
Epson Premium Glossy Photo 100 sheet package (9 mil thickness): $19.99 (20 cents per sheet)
Kodak 4 star Premium Photo Paper Glossy 100 pack (9 mil thickness): $13.99 (14 cents per sheet)
Kodak 5 star Ultra Premium Semigloss Paper 100 pack (10.5 mil thickness): $20.99 (21 cents per sheet)
HP Advanced Photo Paper 100 pack (9 mil thickness): $11.99 (12 cents per sheet)
HP Everyday Photo Paper 100 pack (6 mil thickness): $9.99 (10 cents per sheet)
More Printers
For a comparison of three top pro-level printers, see Michael J. McNamara's Super Printer Shootout from January, or check out our Printers Page for more information. Click here for a gallery of images of the printers featured in our All-in-One Printer Shootout.
AIO Shootout Overview
AIO Name
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Printer Image Quality/Speed
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Scanner Image Quality/Speed
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Additional Features
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Canon
Pixma MP810
$275 street
canon.com
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Image quality:
Extremely High
Color Accuracy:
Excellent
(7.85 avg Delta E)
Photo Paper Plus
Print Speed:
Extremely Fast
8.5x11 borderless: 1m 37s
8x10 bordered: 1m 15s
4x6 borderless: 32s
|
Image quality:
Excellent
Color Accuracy:
Excellent
(7.2 Avg delta E)
Scan Speed:
Extremely Fast
8x10 (600 dpi): 35s
4x6 (600 dpi): 17s
|
Dual paper path with 50 sheet cassette. 35mm film and slide scan holders with computer-less scan to print. Duplex printing and Direct Print compatibility with Canon cameras. PictBridge. Bluetooth Optional.
|
Epson
Stylus Photo RX580
$150 street
epson.com
|
Image quality:
Excellent
Color Accuracy:
Excellent
(3.1 avg delta E)
Prem. Glossy Photo
Print Speed:
Very Fast
8.5x11 borderless: 1m 55s
8x10 bordered:1m 50s
4x6 borderless: 31s
|
Image quality:
Excellent
Color Accuracy:
Excellent
(6.8 Avg delta E)
Scan Speed:
Moderately Fast.
8x10 (600 dpi): 2m 10s
4x6 (600 dpi): 30s
|
Can print color photos and labels on coated CD and DVD discs. Scanner restores color to old prints up to 5x7 inches. Can auto fix and reduce red eye on memory card images. PictBridge. Bluetooth Optional.
|
HP
Photosmart C7180
$379 street
HP.com
|
Image quality:
Extremely High
Color Accuracy:
Extremely High
(9.1 avg delta E)
Premium Plus Glossy
Print Speed:
Moderately Slow
8.5x11 borderless: 4m 40s
8x10 bordered: 4m 25s
4x6 borderless: 1m 2s
|
Image quality:
High
Color Accuracy:
High
(11.2 Avg delta E)
Scan Speed:
Fast
8x10 (600 dpi): 1m 25s
4x6 (600 dpi): 40s
|
Has separate tray for 4x6 prints. Prints ups to 8X24 inch borderless prints, and includes backlight and holder for 35mm negatives and slides scans. Built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connections. Fax Modem with phone monitoring. PictBridge
|
Kodak
EasyShare 5300
$199 street
kodak.com
|
Image quality:
Extremely High
Color Accuracy:
Extremely High **
(8.7 avg delta E)
Premium Photo (4 star)
Print Speed:
Moderately Fast
8.5x11 borderless: 2m 15s
8x10 bordered: 2m 1s
4x6 borderless: 54 s
|
Image quality:
Acceptable
Color Accuracy:
Acceptable
(14.1 Avg delta E)
Scan Speed:
Moderately Fast
8x10 (600 dpi): 1m 50s
4x6 (600 dpi): 55s
|
Separate paper tray for up to twenty 4x6-inch prints. Scanner driver includes red eye correction and color restoration for prints plus Kodak Perfect Touch auto correction. PictBridge. Bluetooth Optional.
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* Kodak also plans to sell a Premium Photo Value pack (135 4x6-inch sheets and a color ink cartridge) for $19.99 that should bring the cost of 4 Star prints to about 25 cents (based on our 80-print yield results).
** Originally posted as "High (11.4 Delta E)" based on color accuracy readings from 3 star paper.
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