Introduction

The Kodak EasyShare 5300 all-in-one photo printer is the middle child of the new multifunction line that Kodak trotted out earlier this year. The 5100 does not feature memory card slots or a display, while the 5500 has all the functions of the 5300, but it also includes fax, automatic document feeder, and a duplexer. The hype surrounding the release mostly had to do with the new ink technology Kodak employs, which allegedly produces quality prints at a much cheaper cost. The $199 price tag puts this unit competitively in the range of the Canon Pixma MP600 and the HP Photosmart 5180. Unlike these units, the Kodak 5300 employs a CCD scanning sensor instead of the CIS sensors normally employed in all-in-ones. If the cheaper print price claims and the quality of the 5300 stack up to the competition, this unit may be an attractive buy for those interested in a lower cost printer with multifunction abilities.