PCPhoto

Short Report: Epson Stylus Photo RX620

This all-in-one printer and scanner offers great quality and convenience

By Rob Sheppard

Epson Stylus Photo RX 620

Not too many years ago, the all-in-one printer and scanner was handy, but not particularly useful for the photo enthusiast. How that has changed! The Epson Stylus Photo RX620 is designed for some serious photo usage. Right from the start, the specs are impressive: 2,400 dpi scanning with 48-bit color, four memory card slots, a 2.5-inch color LCD for previews, 35mm slide and negative scanning, and six-color inkjet printing.

It was the use of the unit that really got me going, however. I love to be able to deal with photos quickly at times, and this unit let me do that with ease. I could load a memory card, check for the right image, then print an image immediately, without even being hooked up to a computer. I could also do this with a print, a slide or a negative.

The controls are straightforward, much easier to use than other all-in-one printers I’ve tried. A minor convenience is that the 35mm adapter stores in the top lid of the unit when not in use (no more searching for such an accessory).

The printer is fast, making a borderless 8x10 in less than two minutes. It will print up to 5,760 dpi, but that’s a waste of time and ink. You’ll see little, if any, difference when the unit is used at 1,440 dpi. The results are superb. Another cool feature is the auto-retouching tool for old photos, Epson’s Easy Photo Fix.

The preview monitor size is a bit misleading; it holds more information than just a preview image, and the image isn’t a high-quality preview, so it can only be used to confirm an image. Estimated Street Price: $299.

Contact: Epson, (800) GO-EPSON, www.epson.com.

Key Features

• Border-free printing at 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10

• Six-color photo dye inks with three-picoliter droplet size

• Can copy and print from slides, prints, negatives and more