Roundup: 13 Multifunction Printers : Kodak ESP 3
8. Kodak ESP 3
Scanner and Copier
As a scanner, the ESP-3 is very quick, previewing a page in a speedy 7.5 seconds. Scanning a photo at 300 dpi (the same quality it was printed in) also takes 7.5 seconds, twice as fast as either of the two Canon models we tested at a similar price.
If you're in a rush, you'll appreciate the nifty scans, but the quality is less impressive. Unsurprisingly, this model has inherited many of Kodak's earlier faults, including overly strong yellows and reds and smudged details. In black areas, pixellation is clearly visible.
A color copy is available in just under 40 seconds and it'll take you 30 for the same in black and white. No problems on that score, both are perfectly acceptable speeds for models in this class.
While some multifunction printers are getting ever more complex, Kodak has decided to keep things simple. The ESP-3 is not just easy to use-- it also boasts a neat, sober look.
As with its earlier EasyShare 5300, Kodak is hoping that consumers will be willing to take a gamble on more expensive models whose long-term costs are lower thanks to cheaper cartridges and more efficient ink consumption.
Design
The ESP-3 has a classic, stylish design, and if the lack of an LCD screen is surprising, then you probably won't be as shocked to learn that a screen IS available on the next model up, the ESP-5.
The printer's control panel really goes back to basics, and Kodak has clearly put a lot of thought into what features users really need to avoid the temptation to bundle everything into a crowded set of buttons. It's a bold move, but a definite improvement over some of the confusing interfaces found on Kodak's competitors. In short, you've only got what you need, and nothing more.
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Printing Speeds
As with the ESP-5, Kodak's documentation claims that this printer is capable of 29 pages per minute (ppm) in color and 30 ppm in black and white. Once again, though, printing our test document in draft mode we only managed 23 ppm in black and white. Given that our test pages are very sparsely covered with text, we are led to wonder just what Kodak's own labs were printing to achieve such high speeds in their own tests. The results in standard mode are more impressive, with 7.5 ppm in black and white and 4.5 ppm in color.
A 4 x 6 photo print arrives in around 50 seconds, which isn't really much slower than the speeds offered by Canon and others in their high-end models, which usually bring the time closer to 40 seconds.
Quality
In draft mode, the results are perfect for proofreading a document and text is perfectly legible. The black is not as strong as it might be, but that's okay - the printer is saving ink in draft mode to use for higher quality printing, which is exactly what it's supposed to do. You'll need to switch to standard mode to get high quality printing with deep blacks for documents that you want to distribute, and even here the presence of ink droplets is far from irritating.
Things are a little more tricky with color printing. Graphics and text in color seem to lack brightness, tinted areas are uneven and the colors run in some places. In photo mode, details are sharper but it's harder to miss the very large ink drops. You'll find it very hard to convince people that trading in a regular trip to the photo lab to use an ESP-3 is worth it, especially when offerings from Canon, Epson and HP are all so much more impressive.
Getting even on price
Kodak's cartridges are still single units containing each of the different ink colors. Ecologically, it's great: the print-heads aren't built in, so you aren't throwing away a complex piece of machinery every time you run out of ink.
I've used Epson photo quality printers at home for years and have been very happy with the print quality and costs. My only issue, is that after a few years 3-5 they clog up and print unevenly. The good news is by then, the newer printers have much better quality and cost less.
if you guys at toms still have these machines i would love to find out if they still work after you leave them sitting for a month and a bit.
my biggest issue with all ink jets is they dry up on me.
i have been through both cheap and pricy ones and all die.
i have given up and turned to mono laser and for the rare occasion i need colour i go to the local copy shop.
the only think I can say is I'll NEVER buy an Epson printer. Good quality colors, yes, but SHIT ink design.
I am still using my HP officejet 1170c which must be well over 10 years old now and not a problem yet (touch wood) would never touch a lexmark again last one lasted about a year and went in the bin
here's a tip for dainsane1 - leave the printer on 24/7 to fix drying/clogging print heads
I just bought a MP620 and so far so good, great quality printing, photos are fantastic, but must use Canon paper for this and so much easier to set-up than and Brother MFC machine (what a nightmare!) had Epson before this and it crapped out after 2.5 years. Its so good to have a WIFI machine !!! At least in Auckland its so damp the jets will never dry out!
This is a really poor article,
1/ some list cartrige span, some don't/
2/ prices? where are they?
3/ Is this easy to use as its simply easy on the front panel? or has the reviewer actually used it?
4/ I could go on and on, I can't make much sense out of whihc to go for, no conclusion, limited info, few facts, duplex?
terrible article, read elsewhere....
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP5 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP7 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!