Claim Check: Cheaper color photo printing?

There's some good news--and some not-so-good news--in Consumer Reports' latest printer Ratings report, which includes our performance tests of color inkjets, snapshot printers, and all-in-one models that can also scan and fax documents. (You must be a subscriber, to access the links to our printer Ratings on ConsumerReports.org.)

The good news: Today's printers can produce color photos in half the time compared to models of just two years ago. Our tests show, on average, you can expect a printer to spit out a 4x6 print in about a minute or two.

The not-so-good news? If you print a lot of photos, doing it yourself could cost you quite a few greenbacks. Home-made 4x6 prints from some models can cost up to 50 cents apiece--twice what you would pay at a photo lab. And for 8x10 photos, ink and photo paper costs could be as high as $1.45 per print.

But one of the printers in our latest Ratings, the all-in-one Kodak EasyShare 5300 (seen above), claims you don't have to bleed green to print color. On Kodak's ink cartridges packaging (see left), the company says you can "save up to 50% on everything you print." (Click on the image for a closer view.) Using Kodak's "Photo Value Pack," which comes with ink and 180 sheets of 4x6 photo paper, the company claims the 5300 can produce 4x6 photos for "10 cents per print."

Does the EasyShare 5300 live up to its promises? Watch our video (requires Macromedia Flash), to see the interesting results of our "Claim Check" tests.

For other helpful printer shopping tips, check out our free printer buying guide information online.

-- Paul Eng

Comments

[pamelarose]

Posted by: Dave Pesonal | Jun 8, 2007 6:13:36 PM

Good news for home office users. Speaking of home offices, it would be great if CR reviewed paper shredders, which everybody needs (home office or not).

I agree. I bought one a few years ago and its about to do a Chernobyl. Wish you would do a new report I am sure a lot has changed in 5+ years.

[Rich]

I own the 5300 and found the review comments regarding the 10 cents per print pack (180 print pack) to be consistent with my test results. The quality was lacking compared to other printers, but the cost was indeed as advertised.

However, when using the new 15 cents per print pack (130 print pack), I have found the print quality to be as good as most on-line print services and the cost was lower than 15 cents per print. I find this to be an acceptable alternative.

[Fred]

Hmm. I found the video delivery to be unreliable. The video kept jumping back to the beginning, and despite the ffwd control, I was unable to watch it to the very end. What I did gather was that you could make prints for 10 cents a copy, but they weren't very good, and if you used premium paper for good results, costs jumped up to 35 cents -- on par with other printers.

[Joann McBee]

I just subscribed to this web site and, like Dave, I am disappointed that I am unable to view the video with my slow dialup. The Kodak printer is one that I have been interested in. Thanks, Joann

[Dave Pesonal]

Good news for home office users. Speaking of home offices, it would be great if CR reviewed paper shredders, which everybody needs (home office or not).

[Dave]

Please don't put important information and test results available only in a video. My bandwidth won't support it. I'd like to see the results of your Kodak test.