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Likes
· Lower cost per print than competing models.
· Intuitive control panel.
· Faster photo printing speeds.
· Good direct print format compatibility.
Dislikes
· Top-heavy construction.
· Poor color reproduction.
· No photo print quality settings.
· Slow document printing speeds.
· Failure to scan at high resolution.
Conclusion
Initially, we had high hopes for the Kodak EasyShare 5300, with its highly touted, inexpensive ink and potentially better quality scans due to the addition of a CCD sensor. However, our hopes were not quite realized. The printer was slim on features in both the software and on-unit menus, and settings were also limited. Print, scan, and copy quality all lagged behind competing models, with comparable all-in-one printers from Canon and HP producing prints with superior color accuracy and wider gamuts. Failure of the unit to scan at 1200 dpi in three of our tests was also troubling and was a problem that did not occur in any other printer tested. The EasyShare 5300 also failed to read images from memory cards, even those wihtin the parameters stated by the manufacturer. Power usage was much greater than competing models, and document print speeds also lagged behind. One of the only tests in which the Kodak 5300 printer excelled was in photo print speeds, which outpaced the Canon MP600 and HPC5180 by a small margin.
What that leaves us with in Kodak's favor is cost. We were not able to test Kodak's claims ourselves, but based on their own information and the results of independent testing, the EasyShare 5300 does beat out many competing models. Including ink and paper, 4 x 6-inch prints form the Easyshare 5300 costs 31 cents each. Most other printers tested yielded costs of 50 cents or more.
Choosing a multifunction printer is getting more and more confusing as new models are added to the list every day. Consumers have to navigate the world of all-in-one photo printers, all-in-one office printers, and multifunction toner printers, with different features, resolutions, dpi, displays, etc. Unfortunately, Kodak only brings another mediocre model to the table. While cost per print is indeed lower than the competition, those users more concerned with quality than cost will want to look elsewhere to meet their all-in-one printer needs.
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